Understanding Virtual Classroom and the eLearning Experience
1. Introduction The processes by which learners learn and teachers teach are about as ever-changing as the seasons. Throughout time, pedagogical researchers have developed new methods for the educational process, but none have been quite as revolutionary or as controversial as e-learning.
E-learning, often referred to as distance learning or online learning provides a platform that facilitates learning through communication without requiring a face-to-face contact in the same space and time. Optimistic commentators see a new world of an educational process: “Every learner can, at his or her own choice of time and place, access a world of multimedia material…immediately the learner is unlocked from the shackles of fixed and rigid schedules, from physical limitations…and is released into an information world which reacts to his or her own pace of learning.”[5]
E-learning has, indeed, redefined education, but it has not replaced class-based learning. Teachers and schools cannot simply ignore this new technology. Rather, e-learning can be used as an interactive enhancement to the established classroom.
E-Learning introduces a new term to education, as Virtual Classroom, where students will be present with their teachers and co-learners in classroom virtually.
This type of physically separated but logically connected education system can be termed as “Virtual Education” where the education is independent of the time and space of the learners.
2. What is Virtual Education Virtual education refers to instruction in a learning environment where teacher and student are separated by time or space, or both, and the teacher provides course content through the use of methods such as course management applications, multimedia resources, the Internet, and videoconferencing. Students receive the content and communicate with the teacher via the same technologies.
Characteristics of virtual education: Virtual education is a term describing
E-learning, often referred to as distance learning or online learning provides a platform that facilitates learning through communication without requiring a face-to-face contact in the same space and time. Optimistic commentators see a new world of an educational process: “Every learner can, at his or her own choice of time and place, access a world of multimedia material…immediately the learner is unlocked from the shackles of fixed and rigid schedules, from physical limitations…and is released into an information world which reacts to his or her own pace of learning.”[5]
E-learning has, indeed, redefined education, but it has not replaced class-based learning. Teachers and schools cannot simply ignore this new technology. Rather, e-learning can be used as an interactive enhancement to the established classroom.
E-Learning introduces a new term to education, as Virtual Classroom, where students will be present with their teachers and co-learners in classroom virtually.
This type of physically separated but logically connected education system can be termed as “Virtual Education” where the education is independent of the time and space of the learners.
2. What is Virtual Education Virtual education refers to instruction in a learning environment where teacher and student are separated by time or space, or both, and the teacher provides course content through the use of methods such as course management applications, multimedia resources, the Internet, and videoconferencing. Students receive the content and communicate with the teacher via the same technologies.
Characteristics of virtual education: Virtual education is a term describing