How to Cultivate the Perfect Virtual Learning Environment

A virtual learning environment (VLE), or learning platform, is an online system that allows educators to share learning materials and communicate with their students via the web. Usually with built-in tools to create engaging learning content.

A modern virtual learning environment should include some degree of the following:

• Video-Based Modules

• Video Conferencing

• Visual Presentation

• Collaboration

• Experiential Learning

• Digital Library

• Online Homework

Video-Based Modules

Video modules are great for visual learners and create an interactive way for students to engage with the material. Services like Powtoon and VideoScribe provide easy to use platforms where educators can choose from a plethora of images and music to make their content fun and engaging. Prezi is another fantastic tool that can be used for creating aesthetically pleasing visuals. It’s not a video provider per se, however, the presentation software does allow for animated slideshows using their templates and graphics which can do the trick nicely. 

Video Conferencing

Conferencing apps such as Google Hangouts, Skype, or Zoom provide learners much-needed face to face time with their instructor as well as with one another. One of the great things about Zoom is how easy it is to share your screen with all attendees or participants. A cool feature to note when using the application’s screen sharing capabilities is their Whiteboard. This virtual board mimics typical whiteboards found in classrooms and, if the dual monitor feature is enabled, you can have more than one screen sharing Whiteboards at the same time. Students can use these boards for collaboration and idea generation.

Visual Presentation

The way information is shared can have a big impact on how well it is received and retained. Quality visual presentations can enhance understanding by more than 400%. Approximately 65% of the world’s population are visual learners so stimulating slides, graphs, charts, and images can greatly aid in the efficacy of a professor’s lesson plan. 

Collaboration

Discussion breaks allow students to share and discuss their understanding of the subject matter. For online classes, Zoom’s breakout rooms allow you to split the classroom up into separate groups. Professors can choose to split the students into these separate sessions automatically or manually and can switch between sessions at any time. 

Discussion forums are another way to keep the conversation flowing. They also make it easy for a professor to tell who is participating or not. Popular online education platforms like Moodle and Blackboard have discussion boards built-in. 

Experiential Learning

Simulations are another way to boost engagement while providing a hands-on way to explore classroom concepts in depth. They’re a nice compliment to lecture as they offer a space to put theories into practice. Instead of just learning audibly, which has a retention rate of 20%,  students can learn by doing, which has a retention rate of 90%. Additionally, these virtual learning activities can be easily woven into in-person and online classes alike.

Digital Library

The heart of a well functioning VLE is a healthy supply of elearning materials. Digital arsenals can consist of any of the following: podcasts, teaching slides, videos, texts, images, etc. Even if your lesson plan doesn’t consist of podcasts or videos, for example, your digital library can host a vast number of related materials allowing students to access additional resources and expand upon their knowledge effortlessly.

Online Homework

Major textbook publishers such as McGraw Hill have their own online platforms that provide assignments related to the concepts covered in the readings. Platforms such as these provide computer-assisted grading. This aid is especially beneficial to professors who are responsible for grading hundreds of students in large lecture classes. The technology also helps enforce a strict due date. Additionally, there's even the potential of learning analytics to support their teaching.

For more information on how to improve the virtual learning environment, visit Processim Labs.