E-Learning and Virtual Learning Environments
by SoftwareGuru
posted Monday 17th November 2008 12:09 GMT
Here's an interesting gem that caught our eye this week at SAM UK.
A report for the government on the future of British higher education online suggests the UK is seen as world-class, and often world-leading, in networking, content and digital libraries, as well as access management and many areas of e-learning.
But it lags behind in generating and making available high-quality modern online learning and teaching resources.
The report also states that institutions should be encouraged to use virtual education technologies for their students and share them with similar universities.
Lighting up the country
Connecting everywhere in the UK with ultra-fast broadband is this century's equivalent of putting electric light in every village, town and city.
Before there was darkness. Now we have closer social ties (email, video messaging, social networking), greater learning capability (using Google or LiveSearch) and more resources to enhance our productivity (databases, IT & software solutions).
Only now with broadband use becoming the norm are we starting to scratch beyond the surface of what opportunities there are available to us. If we can imagine them, it's more likely we can create them and make them real.
What is a Virtual Learning Environment?
Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) are online systems that provide collaborative interaction between tutors and pupils, and between students as peers, while also providing asynchronous learning resources for individualized use by students at any time.
Students use the internet to reach a login screen, where they connect using their unique ID and password. Once connected, they are able to communicate with their tutors and peers; view course materials; work on projects in small, collaborative groups; engage in asynchronous (and sometimes synchronous) discussion; and access wider reference materials.
How Schools Can Benefit
E-learning and Virtual Learning Environments are part of this embryonic growth process that is happening worldwide with the aid of broadband.
We're not at the Matrix-esque stage yet where we can input data directly into our brain but if you draw a line from ancient parchment scrolls used to record data right through to today's online search engines, there's huge scope for imagining future steps in the transfer of ideas and information.
In the present day, we are connected even more closely with mobile broadband use now up 25% and rising rapidly.
It is natural therefore, that schools will look to benefit from these developments and seek out more cost-effective and time management conscious learning platforms.
SAM UK recognises the role of E-learning and Virtual Learning Environments in schools, colleges and universities. The 'making available' aspect that the aforementioned report highlighted, is an issue that we feel strongly about.
We believe that the smartest investment you can make is in our hosted platform solutions because they will save you time and money and enhance the learning capability of every single student and teacher.
Transforming the internet into an essential, powerful environment for the educational experience is of vital importance not only to us but to every principal throughout the country.
It's where the next generation will learn how to lead the country forward as the old economy as we know it changes forever.
For honest and expert advice on VLEs for schools, colleges and universities, why not give one of our friendly SAM UK representatives a call? Phone now on 020 7193 5335.
