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What Online College Students Should Know About Virtual Learning Environments

By Kelly Kingman
January 26, 2010

Gone are the days when taking a course online meant simply access to a group discussion board. A school's virtual learning environment (VLE), also called a learning management system or course management system, is the critical interface between instructor and student. VLEs today encompass a wide array of interactive and multimedia features that shape the learning experience.

Since VLEs are essential to the course delivery, a student's success can depend largely on the ability to get familiar with the interface he or she will be using. "It's important to become comfortable with whatever system is used. Most systems have some sort of tutorial, but it's still a good idea for the user to go in and play around a bit with the different features," says Gregg Feistman, who recently completed his Master's in Communication from Marist College online.

Heather Sell, who completed her MBA from American Intercontinental University (AIU) Online, agrees. "If you're aware of what you'll be using, what kind of navigation is available, as well as what kind of support is available to help if you get stuck, that's important in your success as a student." She adds, "As soon as you are able to access the learning environment, click on every link and familiarize yourself with every tab and nuance."

Features of VLEs

Blackboard VLE - Discussion Board (Click image for full screenshot)
• Synchronous vs. asynchronous: A lecture streamed through the online classroom live is a synchronous event. Video and audio that is pre-recorded is asynchronous and allows students to take in the material at different times. Synchronous events are often archived for students unable to participate at the time of the broadcast. With synchronous features, VLEs often provide a way for students to ask questions via a chat function.
• Multimedia capabilities: Depending on the VLE, instructors may include video and audio materials or set up video conferences with students. It's important to determine whether video will be streaming, i.e. playing through your Internet connection, or if you'll need specific software with which to download and play the video. It's Learning allows students to record audio and video using the classroom interface.

• Browser vs. application access: Will you be accessing the virtual classroom from any computer with an Internet connection (browser access) or will you need to download and install specific software on your personal computer (application access)?

Desire2Learn 2Go - Blackberry Interface (Click image for full screenshot)
• Mobile access: Increasingly, VLEs are beginning to allow for access from PDAs and smart phones. For example, Desire2Learn 2GO is a Blackberry-enabled platform for browsing course activity that complements their regular web-based platform.
• Document management: Documents can be organized in different ways. Often the VLE has both shared and private, or permission based, areas for coursework and other materials. The eCollege VLE includes a Webliography, dedicated area for sharing web links. Desire2Learn's Locker feature allows students to securely store their own documents and invite others to view selected items.

eCollege VLE (Click image for full screenshot)
• Discussion: Threaded discussions are the backbone of VLEs. Instructors can now add features such as video and audio conferences and live chat to the interactive options.
• Assignments: Most VLEs have something called a dropbox where students can upload finished assignments for review by the instructor. Epsilen's platform uses an ePortfolio to collect all relevant materials, can then select privacy settings and sharing options to allow their peers to view different sections.
• Real time interaction: eCollege's ClassLive feature combines a live chat with a whiteboard function, allowing the instructor to demonstrate information with graphs and slideshows. LiveRoom is a similar feature designed by Desire2Learn that can incorporate PowerPoint files and allow participants to ask questions in real time.
• Quizzes and tests: Instructors can administer quizzes and tests with most VLEs. Once a student begins the test, most often a series questions with boxes in which to type answers, they are prevented from backing up or exiting the quiz page.

Moodle VLE (Click image for full screenshot)
• Wikis: Companies such as It's Learning and Epsilen have added wiki-creation abilities to their VLEs. A wiki is a page or series of pages online that can be edited by multiple users, creating a collaborative body of content.
• Blogs and Journals: Personal notes taken by students in a VLE can be stored in blog or journal form. Similar to a notebook, the content can be selectively shared with peers and instructors.

Features vary in value from student to student. "I think it is important to know what VLE a college uses so that a student can make sure it matches his or her learning style," says Lisa Sims, who earned her Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from University of Phoenix Online. "For example, if a student is more of a visual learner, he or she needs a VLE that has some type of video or podcast component. It can really make a difference in how a student understands the class work."

Blackboard is the heavyweight in the world of course management systems. An estimated 75% of the online course delivery market uses Blackboard. What remains is divided amongst companies such as Desire2Learn and eCollege as well as open source solutions like Sakai. Epsilen, which is owned by The New York Times Company and It's Learning are among the smaller companies gradually gaining ground in the competition for college course delivery online. Alternatively, larger institutions sometimes invest in developing proprietary software for their VLE. With the growing popularity of learning online, it's no doubt that VLE developers will continue to add new and exciting features to their systems as the market expands.

For additional information, read BrainTrack's related article: 8 Tips for Getting the Most From a VLE

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