What is a Virtual Learning Environment

Virtual learning has taken the world by storm, and for good reason. It provides students and educators with greater flexibility and more opportunities. But what is a virtual learning environment? A virtual learning environment is a platform or classroom that utilizes digital tools to improve the learning experience. There are many different types of virtual learning, each of which is designed for different types of learners and classrooms. Viewing virtual learning environment examples or searching for the top five examples of virtual learning environment platforms can give you a better idea of what this kind of learning entails.

Before getting started with a new platform, however, it’s important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of online learning. The primary advantage of virtual learning is that it offers greater freedom and flexibility to learners. You don’t have to be on-site to access training materials and can generally work at your own pace. On the other hand, one of the major downsides to virtual learning is that it can lead to a sense of disconnection between participants. As such, you should consider all virtual learning environment advantages and disadvantages before deciding to enroll in such a program.

Skytap’s virtual IT training labs allow users to provide flexible, scalable training. You can deliver training in whichever way you choose without IT support. With Skytap, you can scale resources to help cut costs while providing the learning materials that customers, partners or employees need. Best of all, you can provide around-the-clock training for anyone, no matter where they’re located. This option may be ideal for organizations with trainees spread out over a wide geographic area. By removing the obstacle of travel, you open the door to new opportunities for learners; you allow them to receive the training they need from the comfort of their own homes.

Examples of Virtual Learning Environments

Examples of virtual learning environment platforms can be extremely helpful for those that are considering either enrolling in a virtual learning course or offering one to others. But what is a virtual learning environment? As discussed previously, a virtual learning environment is a platform that allows learners to complete course material and participate in activities online. A virtual learning platform can bring people together, even if they’re located on opposite ends of the world, to achieve common learning goals. It is for this reason that more and more training programs are going online.

One of the key elements of virtual learning environment platforms is the ability to share resources virtually. Because learners and instructors aren’t meeting in person, they need to find other ways to distribute materials to each other. Virtual learning platforms make this easy, allowing users to chat with others on the platform and share different types of files. You can easily organize materials so that they can be found by others at a later time. Platforms like these  help users optimize their resources and get learners the help they need when they need it.

Importance of Virtual Learning Environments

The importance of virtual learning environment platforms largely lies in the fact that they can be accessed by anyone anywhere in the world, as long as they’re connected to the internet. Learners can come together from all corners of the globe to share ideas and trade materials, all while working on a fairly flexible schedule. Instead of meeting at a set time and place, learners are free to complete course material at a time and at a place that is most convenient for them. The virtual learning experience can thus be summed up as a flexible learning journey in which participants are able to take greater control of their training.

Still, it’s important to consider the disadvantages of virtual learning environment platforms as well. For example, it can be harder for instructors to keep learners on the same page when they are all accessing materials at different times. Some people may also struggle to connect with others in their training programs. Additionally, as is the case with all things related to the online space, learners will inevitably deal with some technical difficulties from time to time, which can impede group meetings and the submission of course materials. Weighing virtual learning advantages and disadvantages can enable you to make a more informed decision about whether or not an online training program would work well for your trainees or students.

At the end of the day, there are a myriad of ways that you can leverage virtual tools to improve the training experience. Just because one solution has proven ineffective doesn’t necessarily mean that another won’t yield favorable results. Finding the right learning environment for your students or trainees is crucial to improving the training experience overall and helping learners to reach their short-term and long-term goals.

How is a Virtual Learning Environment Used

So how is a virtual learning environment used? In essence, virtual learning environments work by compiling training materials into an online platform and allowing learners to work through those materials at their own pace. The advantages of virtual classroom technology during lockdown were extensive, but even with the pandemic abating, more and more businesses are opting for virtual learning options over in-person training. Understanding the characteristics of virtual learning environment technology, as well as the importance of virtual learning for students, can better position leaders to provide trainees with helpful, relevant course materials online.

But what is virtual learning environment technology? Essentially, virtual learning environment technology refers to the tools and software that are used to facilitate online learning. These range from chat tools to webinars to virtual quizzes. While the characteristics of virtual classroom technology vary somewhat between platforms, this technology is generally known for providing an added layer of convenience to the learning journey. By nature, the features of virtual learning environment tools make users’ lives easier. They can access course material wherever they happen to be working from and, in most cases, can complete tests and assignments at their own pace.

Virtual learning environment platforms aren’t without their downsides, however, and understanding some of the main disadvantages of virtual learning environment platforms is prudent for anyone considering using these kinds of tools. Becoming familiar with virtual learning advantages and disadvantages can better enable you to choose the tools that are right for your learners. This is crucial to providing a solid learning experience for everyone involved.

Advantages of a Virtual Learning Environment

The advantages of virtual learning environment technology are vast. For instance, one of the primary advantages of a virtual classroom for students is that they can work from home on days that they are sick or out of town — they aren’t tied to a specific classroom or location to complete assignments. Virtual labs for virtual learning equip employees, partners or other trainees with the skills they need to succeed in their respective roles and they can complete course material on their own time.

It’s important to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of virtual learning, regardless of the type of learners you work with. There are both pros and cons to online learning, and weighing them against each other can give you a better idea of what virtual learning brings to the table, as well as the challenges it presents. Although online learning is beneficial in many ways, the disadvantages of virtual learning environment tools should not be overlooked. It can be a good idea to discuss them with the rest of your team in order to find the solution that’s best for your business.

Impact of Virtual Learning Environment on Students

The impact of a virtual learning environment on students can be tremendous — in both positive and negative ways. When used effectively, virtual learning tools can transform the classroom experience and offer students a dynamic, flexible outlet for communicating with classmates and completing assignments. However, instructors must pair virtual training with proper communication to keep the course on track. 

To better understand the impact of a virtual learning environment on students’ satisfaction and engagement, recall, and retention, it can be helpful to dig into some research about virtual learning. This will outline the characteristics of virtual learning environment technology in greater depth. If you’re an instructor, you might also consider creating an impact of online learning on students questionnaire. Very often, the best way to understand the impact of a virtual learning environment and online education is by hearing directly from those who are engaged in such learning experiences. Your students will be able to tell you what specifically is working for them and what’s not. You can then use these findings to improve course content.

Ultimately, students and trainees are impacted by virtual learning in a range of different ways. Just as different people have different learning styles, different people may respond better to online or in-person learning. It’s important that businesses be receptive to feedback and redirect their efforts when necessary. This can lead to improved learning outcomes and a more positive company culture overall. Learn more about how Skytap supports virtual learning.

Read this case study to see how Skytap Virtual IT Labs supports virtual learning for online learners at the Norwich University College of Graduate and Continuing Studies.