Virtual Learning
What is a Virtual Learning Environment?
Your teacher may set up a virtual learning environment (VLE) for your class. This can have lots of different names such as “online learning environment” or “virtual classroom” but the purpose is always the same. A virtual learning environment is an online space, accessed through a web browser or app, that makes learning easier. It lets you safely find resources that your teacher has shared and also access your own work.
Can You Tell Me in One Sentence How it Will Help Me?
Overall, a virtual learning environment helps you by giving you access to teaching materials and your own work from anywhere with an internet connection.
What Can I Do in a Virtual Learning Environment?
- Get Help
One big advantage for you is being able to find teaching materials such as tutorial videos, handouts, files, documents, presentations and web links from anywhere with an internet connection. You can then use these to complete tasks and develop your learning. This can be helpful if you miss a class or if you just need more time on something. You can also safely communicate with teachers and other pupils in the class if you ever need to ask a quick question.
- See Your Own Work
When you’re working on something, you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection. No more forgetting to put work in your bag or having to log–in to a specific computer where you saved it. All of your work is saved online. You can’t leave it on the bus or have a dog mistake it for dinner. As well as being safe, this also lets you finish off something you need more time on, revise previous learning and show people at home your achievements.
- Find Out Your Strengths and Weaknesses
You can see teachers’ feedback which might be a score or grade, written comments, annotations or even audio/video clips. This makes it easier for you to know where you are with your learning. You can remind yourself what is going well and what areas you should focus on to improve.
Can Everyone See My Work?
Teachers can see work completed by every pupil in the class, you will only be able to see your own work – unless a task has been deliberately set as a collaboration.
What Will My Virtual Learning Environment Be Called?
There are many different virtual learning environments which your class might use. Popular options include: Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Apple Classroom and Apple Schoolwork. While these all do many of the same things, they each have their own style and appearance. Some teachers may even customize the virtual learning environment to look like the real classroom. You might use different versions of a virtual learning environment for different classes.
How Does an Online Classroom Work With My Real Classroom?
A virtual learning environment can never replace the physical classroom, nor does it simply recreate it online – the face to face, social interactions in a classroom are vital. A virtual learning environment allows you to do things you would do in a classroom when you are away from the classroom. However, they are not only beneficial for homework and when you can’t attend school. They also allow some classroom tasks to be done more efficiently – like circulating a handout. In this way, a virtual learning environment may be used even when you are sitting in the physical classroom in school.
