virtual classroom essay

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What is a virtual classroom and why is it the future of online learning.

Virtual Classrooms 101: Meaning, Use, And Advantage

Imagine this: a working professional also happens to be a part-time student. They study at their home desk or favorite coffee shop, attend classes in a virtual classroom and have meetings with their mentor using the best virtual meeting tools. At the end of their course, they get a certification of academic accomplishment without having traveled to their university overseas or, indeed, having met any of their classmates and mentors offline.

This is the world of distance learning.

Distance learning allows students to pursue academics while working a job or carrying out their personal schedules. It facilitates learning from home without the additional costs of accommodation and travel. This is done through the use of virtual meeting platforms and virtual conference software that mimic face-to-face interactions, albeit digitally. Today, 85% of surveyed online students said that they found distance learning the same as or even better than traditional classroom-based courses ( source ). The global online education market is also projected to reach US$350 billion by 2025 ( World Economic Forum ).

These courses are more accommodative without compromising on the delivery and impact of education. While distance learning is conducted online, many traditional aspects of academic learning have only metamorphosed into a digital version to suit the demands of distance learning. The virtual classroom is one such feature.

What A Virtual Classroom Is And Why It Matters

Today’s virtual classrooms are online spaces that share some features of brick-and-mortar classrooms but different in other ways.

A virtual classroom environment ensures human connection, a vital element of classroom teaching that video-on-demand courses don’t have and sorely miss. In a virtual classroom, teachers interact with students in real time; students can voice their questions and interact with peers similar to how they would in a regular classroom, albeit over the internet.

An additional perk of virtual classrooms is that they are scalable to accommodate a larger number of students. Physical classrooms often limit seating to a maximum number so that students can sit comfortably and have enough space to themselves. By contrast, virtual classrooms use virtual meeting solutions that have a higher cap on numbers, allowing more students to attend interesting classes at once. This enables better and higher participation rates and ensures knowledge is that much more accessible.

Like brick-and-mortar classrooms, virtual classrooms are also synchronous as learners and teachers appear online at the same time to facilitate immediate interactions. However, virtual classrooms also make use of pre-recorded components such as videos, presentations, and lecture slides to facilitate learning, much like offline classrooms do.

A virtual classroom includes the following features:

• Video conferencing: using the best web conferencing software to facilitate learner-teacher-learner communication
• Digital whiteboards: offering real-time demonstrations and diagrams
• Instant messaging : allowing typed conversations on lower bandwidths
• Participation controls : enabling students to participate in discussions, mute their surroundings or virtually “raise” their hands
• Sub-chats: breakout rooms to facilitate collaboration between learners
• Video recording: to save live lectures as video-on-demand for later reference
• End-to-end encryption: to ensure virtual classroom access is restricted to authorized learners

Types Of Virtual Classrooms That Are Learner-Friendly

Virtual classrooms can be tweaked depending on the use required of them. They may feature as an add-on in a course or form the backbone of an entire course; either way, virtual classrooms are highly customizable.

• Enriched virtual type In this type, the majority of the course is carried out online, save for a few offline components to augment lessons and curricula. These components are most popularly in the form of face-to-face meetings with instructors or collaborative meetings with fellow learners over a critical assignment or thesis.
• Rotation type Often used as part of the flipped classroom technique, rotation involves using both virtual and offline classrooms on rotation according to a schedule. In many cases, primary learning happens online, while in-person meetings happen for reinforcement and review.
• Fully online type As the name suggests, a fully online classroom doesn’t require or allow for face-to-face offline interactions. These course types could be synchronous or asynchronous in that they use pre-recorded videos and minimal live interaction through online meeting software.
• Flexible type In this type, the virtual classroom remains open and available for students to access at times convenient to them. Otherwise, learning is encouraged through small groups, with the virtual classroom forming a place to return to in case of questions.
• Mix-and-match type As the name suggests, this model allows students to select a method that works best for them, such that they gain maximum knowledge. It is a combination of digital teaching models and can either be student-led or institution-governed.

Why Virtual Classrooms Are Important For Democratizing Learning

Virtual classrooms level the playing field of education, allowing students from all over the world to access interesting classrooms regardless of where they live or work. Virtual classrooms can supplement existing education structures or be used as the main structure for imparting knowledge.

Virtual classrooms promote inclusive and democratic learning, and also help reduce the costs of highly coveted educational courses and certifications. And, seeing as how traditional classrooms have closed down across the world for the foreseeable future, virtual classrooms and online virtual meeting platforms ensure education continues albeit online and at home.

“ We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world .”– David Warlick

Advantages Of Virtual Classrooms Over Brick-And-Mortar Setups 

• High interactivity An effective virtual classroom is one that makes use of multiple communication channels, such as online virtual meeting software, chat rooms, messaging, voice calls, and conferencing options. This is so that learners with varying preferences are all able to benefit equally.
• Collaborative education Digital whiteboards, file sharing, virtual meeting applications, and chats facilitate collaborative learning between students. This mimics the real-time atmosphere of classrooms without having to meet physically; it also reinforces materials learned so that knowledge retention is higher.
• Student-focused teaching Virtual classrooms focus on students and their real-time education, unlike pre-recorded videos which are highly teacher-centric. Students can ask questions, clarify concepts, and discuss topics in real time.
• Range of content types Virtual classrooms make use of a range of media types to present knowledge such that a variety of student abilities and learning styles are catered to. These include videos, presentations, SlideShare, animations, digital whiteboards, and webinars.
• Comfortable learning space Virtual classrooms make learning online feel much less robotic. Human interaction is critical to the success of an education system; virtual classrooms ensure learners are able to interact and chat with peers and teachers without compromise.

What To Look Out For In A Virtual Classroom To Facilitate Better Learning

Virtual classrooms and the best virtual meeting software have essential features and those that are nice to have. The former is a necessity, so here’s what to look out for:

• Real-time instant messaging Every virtual classroom must have messaging features to accommodate lower bandwidths without destroying the potential for communication. Learners need to be able to chat with their instructors and peers and clarify small doubts that don’t need video or voice calls.
• High-quality video chat This option perpetuates the feeling of human connection and ensures students are paid attention to. It can be implemented through a handy video conferencing app for iOS and Android.
• Video streaming This feature is essential for classrooms hosting hundreds of students from all over the world. Some virtual meeting solutions for enterprise are intended for smaller groups; a virtual classroom needs a much more powerful solution such as video streaming.
• Secure file sharing An integrated two-way sharing system is critical for virtual classrooms. It allows for seamless collaboration and facilitates the sharing of assignments, reports, and projects on one single platform within the learning environment.
• Digital whiteboard Digital whiteboards facilitate content display, marking, annotations, and more vivid explanations. These can also be used by students who are presenting a project or a thesis to their class or an instructor. Digital whiteboards are best suited for touchscreen devices.
• Third-party integration Some virtual classrooms may need to be augmented with additional features because not even the best video conferencing software has it all. Seamless third-party integration allows knowledge providers to leverage the existing system and expand its use for students’ benefits.
• Student groups A separate group for students allows for bonding over academic and non-academic subjects, which is a key feature of traditional classrooms. They foster friendship and a collective appreciation; they also double up as a breakout room to discuss classes, topics, and interesting concepts.

The Final Word

“The future will be about pairing the Artificial Intelligence of computers with the cognitive, social, and emotional capabilities of humans so that we educate first-class humans, not second-class robots.” – OECD

Distance learning is gaining speed because of the current global crisis and changing demands in education. Technology is a major factor both driving and being included in this change; the models of developing and delivering content are becoming more nuanced, engaged, and personalized.

Virtual classrooms facilitate cross-border learning in a world where learning isn’t restricted to brick-and-mortar buildings, but out in the world. The virtual classroom is another transformative tool in a digital educator’s arsenal and will continue to rise in popularity and use.

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Technology in education are being used for developing course material; delivering content and sharing content; communication between learners, teachers and the outside world; creation and delivery of presentation and lectures; academic research; administrative support, student enrolment etc. The various kinds of ICT products available and having relevance to education , such as teleconferencing, email, audio conferencing, television lessons, radio broadcasts, interactive radio counselling, interactive voice response system, audiocassettes and CD ROMs have been used in education for different purposes (Bhattacharya and Sharma, 2007). Radio and TV broadcasting: Radio and television have been used widely as educational tools since the 1920s and …show more content…

Learners can have direct and immediate access to their instructor for instant feedback and direction. The virtual classroom provides a structured schedule of classes, which can be helpful for students who may find the freedom of asynchronous learning to be overwhelming. In addition, the virtual classroom provides a social learning environment that replicates the traditional "brick and mortar" classroom. Most virtual classroom applications provide a recording feature. Each class is recorded and stored on a server, which allows for instant playback of any class over the course of the school year. This can be extremely useful for students to retrieve missed material or review concepts for an upcoming exam. Parents and auditors have the conceptual ability to monitor any classroom to ensure that they are satisfied with the education the learner is receiving. In Higher Education especially, a virtual learning environment (VLE) is sometimes combined with a management information system (MIS) to create a managed learning environment, in which all aspects of a course are handled through a consistent user interface throughout the institution. Physical universities and newer online-only colleges offer select academic degrees and certificate programs via the

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Biden Education Secretary: We Must Keep Schools Open For Students From NBC News

With virtual learning, students are not getting the same opportunities to communicate with their peers and teachers, which can hinder their learning experience. Communication is essential for learning, as it allows students to exchange ideas and ask questions, leading to a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Furthermore, communication is like art: to express an experience, it must first be formulated. By limiting communication, students are not getting the chance to fully formulate their experiences and ideas, hindering their growth. In-person learning is an essential component of this social process, as it allows students to engage with their peers and teachers in meaningful ways.

Why Is Radio So Popular In The 1920s

The 1920’s saw a big boom in the entertainment after World War I. With having World War I done, people wanted something to do and had extra money to spend which led to entertainment bombing. Some entertainment, like radio, led to sports becoming more popular and movies becoming a weekly event. These forms of entertainment are still very big and used a lot today. During the 1920’s radio became a very important aspect of most Americans lives.

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Opposing Argument For Online Education

Outline Introduction Online education, which is also known as distance education, is an education that is based on the internet and utilise many types of technology. This type of education is different from the traditional or classroom education . Some people think that online education is not an adequate method of learning, however, others think that online education is an easier and more efficient way of learning. Moreover, survey result from Pew research center in 2011 shows that around 23% of college graduates attend the online class and about 15% of those completely acquired the degree from online education. Body Argument 1: Lower total cost Opposing Argument: Since online education utilizes the latest and modernized technology devices,

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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Education Essay

To combat this issue, many online courses offer forums or chat rooms in which students can discuss ideas with other students, virtually but in real time. 

The Importance Of Live Television

According to Gilbert Seldes, “the greatest success of television has been triumphs of transmission, not of invention” (Sterne 503). The possibility that something might happen to disrupt the television’s everyday flow of information compels viewers to continue watching. The cable industry formerly recognized as, ‘Community Antenna Television’ originated during the 1940’s (Streeter 223). They aim to provide enhanced signal reception in remote areas, which was distributed on a coaxial cable network owned by AT&T throughout the fifties and sixties (226). Live television builds an audience by guaranteeing direct access to current affairs and providing accurate information.

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Even though many things were paused, a lot of the things we were able to continue virtually. Thanks to the best technology, virtual learning has quickly become the new norm and teachers have adapted to new technology and screensharing options .

And most importantly, virtual learning means our children continue to learn throughout the pandemic. A personalised learning experience, the flexibility of long-distance learning and new options for collaboration are just a few benefits to improve the whole learning experience in a new setting.

Virtual classrooms help our children to learn, grow, and have fun from the safety of home. Plus, they gain important life skills, while parents save time and gain more flexibility over the learning process. Digital learning makes the learning process affordable , timely and significantly improves visualisation with students. 

So let’s take a look at the main 7 benefits the virtual classroom can offer you and your child...

#1 Safety comes first 👩‍🏫  

In the current situation we encounter large difficulties . Parents try to protect their kids even more in times of the pandemic and the best way to put safety first is to stay home. This difficult time does not mean our children should face barriers while learning!

A virtual classroom lets your children interact with our highly qualified tutors in the safest way possible. Tutoring lessons can be taken from anywhere and are affordable for everyone. Our highly qualified tutors make the learning experience fun and dynamic.

Through a personalised interaction with the student, our lessons are completely different from the frontal teaching method used in schools. Our individual, transparent rating system will help you pick the right tutor for your child, to give you that extra peace of mind, when finding the right learning partner.

👉 Let us show you how effective virtual learning can be when done right! Book your first free trial lesson here .

#2 Tutoring anytime, anywhere 🏡

Through digital learning, you can experience the right learning experience right at your doorstep! Our 100% flexible platform means you can schedule a session at any time that suits your family. If your child is an early bird , kick the day off with a lively morning session, then you’ve got the rest of the day free. Prefer to have your weekends free for quality family time? Then line up a tutoring session during the week.

It’s totally up to you, and our flexible booking system means if something comes up, you can easily reschedule at the click of a button. We want to make it as easy and stress-free as possible for you and your child. 

For your convenience, we also have the option for students to record all their sessions . Simply hit record, and we’ll automatically create a file. It’s a fast, simple and convenient way to build up a library of personal study resources. In this way, your child can refresh their learning at any time and won’t forget what they were taught in the individual sessions!

#3 Boost your child's confidence 💪

Just as a physical classroom teaches children important social skills like patience, sharing, respect and kindness , a virtual classroom has many hidden benefits. your children will gain vital skills using technology as part of their everyday life, and get more confident interacting online. .

Learning online also helps them prepare for a career in a digital environment, which offers tons of opportunties! Our high-powered technology like the interactive online whiteboard supercharges the learning environment, and your children will get to experience it all!

These skills are vital for future workplaces. Arming your children now will help them get ahead later in life! At GoStudent, we see it as our mission to help to create a generation of confident, tech-savvy children who are fully prepared for their future career. Independent learning in a virtual setting, makes them become self-starters and prepares them for a digital workplace.  

#4 Digital learning for everyone 👐

Not only are virtual classrooms significantly cheaper than traditional established schools , but you can also save when it comes to travel expenses and lock-in contracts. Think of all the time, money and hassle you can save by bringing the learning experience to your living room. Once you try it, you’ll never want to go back to the standard tutoring setting!

We have a variety of packages starting from just €19.20 per session to suit every budget. Plus, our guaranteed replacement tutor means you’ll never be out-of-pocket. Our packages are the most competitive on the market, as we are trying to suit everyone’s needs. Depending on your learning requirements, you can speak to our team and they can find you the right tutor, so your student makes the jump to a better grade! 

#5 Giving you a break ☕

Parents, you deserve a break . Even if you enjoy helping your kid with your homework at home, there are always going to be some subjects where you feel slightly out of your depth and outside of your comfort zone. So let a tutor who specialises in that field help take away some stress and lighten your load.

We handpick the best qualified tutors , for you to face the next exam of your kid with a relaxed mind. Our tutors will work individually with you to discuss specific learning goals and then focus on reaching and celebrating big  learning milestones along the way.

GoStudent offers over 11,000 verified tutors . They have been independently evaluated for their friendliness, expertise, reliability and teaching skills across 16 subjects. They make sure to be available 7 days a week, to make tutoring fit into your schedule. Plus, we make it easy for you to stay updated through a private WhatsApp group to ensure you receive constant communication, progress, updates and advice first-hand.

#6 We make learning fun 🚀

Is your child feeling frustrated or losing motivation ? A change of environment might just be the trick!

Let our tech-savvy tutors instantly grab your child’s attention with their toolbox of tricks such as YouTube videos, virtual quizzes, music, games and competitive challenges. Virtual classrooms have access to a world of resources at their fingertips, so lessons will never be boring. We love to bring in playful learning through games such as Kahoot! for students.

Students can face their competitive spirit, whilst playing classic warm-up activities like Charades, Simon Says and Pictionary. These games make online learning fun! In fact, one of our students Max loved his tutor sessions with Alex so much, he told his Mum he wants to be a tutor when he grows up. These achievements really bring a smile on our face and make us really enjoy our mission to build the #1 global school worldwide!

#7 Work smarter, not harder ✔️

We speak with many parents daily, who tell us they would like to see results immediately! That’s why we have built the most technologically advanced tutoring platform available. Tutors can send students a link to a resource, or screen share so both student and tutor are on the same page, without any distractions.

Your child will receive instant feedback on spelling tests, tricky maths equations or quiz results . Plus with 24/7 communication, tutors can give students instant help on the problems and challenges they are facing. The future of learning is here!

The accessibility, flexibility and individual focus that students get from a virtual classroom can help them reach their full potential, in a way that suits them. Virtual classrooms provide an effective, affordable and safe experience for children to learn from home, relieving some of the stress busy parents can feel.

By individually analysing your child’s needs, we’ll find the best match and create a learning plan that is perfectly suited to each student. Our mission is to want to get more kids as excited about achieving their learning goals! 

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Teaching Online: Tips for Engaging Students in Virtual Classrooms

• Published: 14 October 2020
• Volume 30 , pages 1673–1675, ( 2020 )

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• Abi Sriharan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8191-7050 1 , 2  

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Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge for academic institutions: to adapt classroom teaching to the online learning environment rapidly [ 1 , 5 ]. As higher learning institutions are investing resources to increase the capacity of their technological infrastructure and prepare their faculty for the use of digital teaching tools, it is imperative for educators to focus on the pedagogical aspects of online teaching. In online learning environments, educators are often challenged by the need to strike a balance between delivering content to meet the course objectives and keeping learners engaged in the class activities. I’ve spent more than 10 years studying Master Teachers in Canada, the USA, and internationally to understand what sets them apart from the rest in online and in-person teaching environments. Based on this experience, in this article, I will share five tips for improving online learning for learners.

Tip #1: Curriculum Blueprint

A well-developed curriculum blueprint logically maps out your teaching objectives, learning activities, and learning assessments for your course [ 4 ]. It can help you assess which aspects in your class are suitable for synchronous learning and also the elements of your class that are suitable for asynchronous delivery. Several weeks prior to your class, create a blueprint of your teaching plan, logically mapping out the teaching objectives, learning activities, and learning assessments for your course. As you map out your class, use the guiding questions in Table 1 to assess which elements are suitable for synchronous learning and which are suitable for asynchronous delivery. If you have multiple topics to cover, make sure that you provide a clear link between them. In your planning stage, be reflective, prioritize, and have realistic expectations of your learners.

Tip #2: Agile Plan

When you are planning an online class, you will need to master effective class room management skills. Set clear expectations about the class start and end time, and as you deliver the class, keep it within the planned time. Ensure you have an appropriate number of concepts to cover within your allocated time. Usually, activities and discussions end up taking more time than initially planned. If your session spans longer than sixty minutes, consider including breaks in your session to ensure your learners can move away from the computer and return with increased attention. Take care of the timing of the small group activities and discussions to ensure they are progressing within the allocated timelines.

In an online environment, keeping the learners’ attention on your teaching can be difficult. According to a 2015 study commissioned by Microsoft, the average human attention span shifts every eight seconds [ 7 ]. Educational psychologists recommend that passive learning content delivery can work when it is chunked into 10 to 15 minutes of content [ 2 ]. For example, TED talk expects presenters to keep their talks to a maximum of 18 minutes. The success of your teaching will depend on how well you can keep your learners engaged in the class discussion. As you deliver your online class, pay attention to your learners. When you notice that your class’s attention level is getting critically low, adapt your teaching methods to counteract it. The group may need more breaks, new agenda items may pop up, and so on.

Tip #3: Learning Environment

Learning environments are crucial for the success of online learning. A good learning environment promotes learner engagement through collaborations [ 6 ]. In a face-to-face environment, these collaborations and networks occur organically. However, in the virtual environment, learners rely heavily on the faculty to cultivate a learning community and to foster a sense of belonging [ 8 , 11 ]. There are different types of interaction—ranging from individual work to small-group and large-group discussions. Consider having a healthy balance of interaction types throughout your session. It will help your learners stay engaged.

When you are facilitating online learning, consider the following activities to keep the environment supportive and to ensure a positive learning experience:

Clarify goals: At the beginning of each session, remind the students of the expectations for classroom engagement. Encourage learners to participate in the classroom discussions using virtual chat options and questions and answers.

Small group activities: Try icebreaker activities at the beginning of the session to prepare learners for active learning during the core content of your session. Use the breakout room options to create small group discussions, use chat functions to promote reflection activities, and online polling to help encourage learners to actively participate in the classroom.

Synthesize: Your main focus as the faculty is to keep up a sound momentum of the group activities. Regularly summarize the discussions and link the discussions to the course content. Highlight points of consensus and summarize critical takeaways.

Tip #4: Master Facilitator

In the online learning environment, the teacher plays two key roles: the subject matter expert and master facilitator. As a subject matter expert, you are there to share your disciplinary expertise by presenting theoretical content [ 9 ]. Your role is to pass on the content expertise to your learner to encourage their learning. As the master facilitator, your role is to help your learners to engage in the learning process and encourage them to participate in the classroom activities, take ownership of their learning, and reach their learning objectives. An efficient facilitator will ask questions, summarize discussions, connect new concepts to previous concepts, confirm students’ grasp of the learning materials, and keep up the momentum of the class discussions [ 12 ]. When you deliver an online course, try the following techniques to practice your mastery of facilitation skills:

Probing: Probing questions allow you to assess your students’ learning comprehension. Expertly planned probing questions can reinforce learning, develop analytical and reflective thinking, and clarify concepts.

Redirecting questions or comments: Try redirecting queries to the class instead of answering them. Give the class a chance to respond, then clarify and respond as required.

Bridging and referring back: Connect previous class discussions to the current discussion to demonstrate how ideas, theories, and frameworks are connected.

Shifting perspective: If the class gets stuck at some point in the discussion, try to change the discussion by bringing up a different perspective and looking at the problem from a different angle.

Summarizing: In the middle and toward the end of the class, summarize what has been discussed so far. This will help the learners to build upon the conclusions they have already made.

Tip #5: Teaching Presence

Master teachers bring their passion for the subject and their confidence in teaching to the classroom to create authentic connections with the learners [ 10 ]. Your confidence and ease with online teaching will create a positive learning environment for your learners and promote intellectual stimulation. You can build your confidence with online teaching by becoming familiar with your online teaching platform, preparing your content, and organizing the optimal technological setups such as the right microphone, speakers, and video. You can also practice online course delivery and record yourself on camera to observe your verbal and nonverbal communications. Your nonverbal cues affect how your learners see you as faculty. For your next online lecture, consider trying the following:

Technology: Test your audio, video, and screen-sharing options at least 30 minutes before the start of class. During the class, if you run into a technical issue, do not panic. Turn off your video and audio and check the system. Fix the problem. Inform the learners there is a technical issue and ask them to wait online or reconnect at a set time. Once you resolve the issue and feel more relaxed, turn the audio and video on, and take control of the lesson calmly and confidently.

Position: If you are used to lecturing in a classroom by standing, do the same in the virtual environment. Studies show that standing up can boost your sense of self-confidence and affect how others see you [ 3 ]. Set up your computer and audio system to allow you to deliver your course by standing up.

Greet: As learners are coming into your virtual classroom, greet them. Engage in small talk—similar to what you would do in a normal classroom.

Feedback: At the end of your session, give your students an option to reflect on their learning experiences informally. Be open to their feedback and do not be defensive. Your willingness to listen to feedback will allow your learners to feel comfortable in sharing their reflections with you. Table 2 provides sample list of questions to ask.

Reflect: After each session, reflect on the strengths and areas in need of improvement. Celebrate your strengths and continue to hone in on the areas you can improve.

Remember, online course delivery can feel like a daunting task. Like everything else, practice makes it perfect. Continuously reflect on your teaching and adapt techniques and tools that work for you. For successful course delivery, focus on your teaching strengths and bring your authentic self to the virtual classroom.

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Sriharan, A. Teaching Online: Tips for Engaging Students in Virtual Classrooms. Med.Sci.Educ. 30 , 1673–1675 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-01116-7

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Lessons for/in virtual classrooms: designing a model for classrooms inside virtual reality

“Virtual reality (VR) is a promising tool in domains such as remote learning, where the medium can help resolve or bolster the holes in classroom curricula. While efforts have been made to bring VR into the classroom, this process comes with unanticipated challenges and successes. Here, we present pedagogical observations made by the teaching staff throughout the iterations of “Virtual People”, one of the first and largest courses offered inside VR. We discuss the importance of first, acclimating and accommodating students into VR before they can learn inside VR; second, finding appropriate material and tasks to do inside VR; third, navigating unexpected technical challenges; fourth, planning the  physical  configurations of the course; and fifth, planning the  virtual  configurations of the course. We offer recommendations for how to integrate VR into appropriate educational contexts in sustainable, equitable ways.” 

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More publications, temporal rvl: a depth stream compression method, the unbearable likeness of being digital; the persistence of nonverbal social norms in online virtual environments, a framework for interactivity and presence in novel bodies.

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How to Set Up a Virtual Classroom

Micah Castelo is a web editor for  EdTech: Focus on K-12 . Her experience includes education and community news coverage for the  Syracuse Post-Standard  and international news reporting for the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. 

Setting up a classroom looks vastly different for many educators this fall with  continued remote learning in place . Instead of decorating bulletin boards and planning seating arrangements, most are figuring out  how to provide engaging, meaningful learning experiences  for their students online.

The unexpected shift to remote learning in the spring revealed that many educators are not prepared to teach online. More than half of teachers shared that they don’t feel prepared to facilitate learning remotely, according to  Class Tag’s report  on how teachers are turning to technology amid coronavirus school closings.

Now, many teachers are stepping out of their comfort zones to learn new tools and online teaching strategies. That includes knowing how to create an environment that enriches student learning and contributes to effective instruction, even if it takes place over the internet. Here are four tips educators can use to get started with setting up their virtual classroom.

1. Get Your At-Home Workspace Ready

Creating a designated space for work and online teaching is crucial for educators working from home. Doing so can help them stay productive and focused throughout the day and minimize distractions that may disrupt student learning.

Teachers don’t necessarily need to have a home office or retrofit an existing room into one. Some have invested in new equipment such as professional cameras, headsets and whiteboards to provide higher-quality synchronous and asynchronous instruction. However, making small adjustments — from moving to a well-lit, clutter-free room to live stream or record a lesson to using a stack of books to raise a webcam up to eye level when videoconferencing — can make a huge difference in how well they teach online.

Day 1 for "year 3" is in the books! My home classroom was super effective with the kiddos in our journey into #SelfAwareness ! #First5Days @SpringISD pic.twitter.com/vVXtSWNdDz — @TutorTime_MissJ (@TutortimeM) August 17, 2020

2. Test Your Tech Before the Start of Class

Educators should also be aware of common technical issues that they or their students may encounter during online learning, such as microphones not working properly or embedded videos not playing in presentations. This is especially important, as many IT departments are swamped with tackling more urgent requests and bigger challenges now that schools are largely distributed.

It’s a good idea for teachers to conduct a video and audio test on any devices or platforms they’ll be using. They should also consider doing a run-through of their lessons before livestreaming or recording them. Taking these steps can help minimize the amount of troubleshooting they have to do throughout the day and can make them feel more prepared and confident with online teaching.

READ MORE:   Learn how to use audiovisual equipment for effective remote or blended learning.

3. Set Classroom Expectations, Goals and Routines

Even if students aren’t physically in a classroom, educators will still need to set clear expectations for their classes. Emily Kirsch, instructional technology coach at Educate, tells  EdTech  that establishing class norms and goals with students encourages them to take ownership of their learning and fosters productive learning environments.

Many schools have set expectations and guidelines for students when using school-issued devices,  videoconferencing platforms  and other digital tools. Teachers have also created posters and presentations to share on  Google Classroom ,  Microsoft Teams  or the learning management system of their choice to help students navigate their new classroom setting.

Seeing everyone in our meeting today had to be the highlight of my week! It was nice to hear what you have all been up to, thank you to everyone that joined and made sure to follow our Virtual Classroom Expectations! ☺️👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/uqdfiqL4No — Ms. Medeiros (@msjmedeiros) May 29, 2020

4. Make Communication and Survey Tools Available

Open lines of communication are key to a virtual classroom, especially now that face-to-face conversations are limited. By providing accessible and consistent communication, teachers can keep parents and guardians informed on the latest school news or their student’s progress. This also lets educators check in on their students and  ensure their social and emotional needs are met .

Besides the standard phone calls, emails and text messages, educators can post class updates and schedule one-on-one meetings using their LMS to streamline all communications and reduce the need for any additional IT support.

MORE FROM EDTECH:   Adopt these best practices to improve parent communications.

It’s also important to gather feedback from students and their families to identify areas of improvement. With online surveys such as Google Forms and apps like Seesaw, Kahoot and  Microsoft’s Flipgrid , educators can ask questions about students’ online classroom experiences. They can also collect valuable data, such as what time students are doing their online schoolwork and how long it takes them to complete it, and use that data to adjust how they prepare and deliver their lessons.

Setting up a fully virtual classroom is no easy task, especially for educators who are unfamiliar with online tools. But being open to new ways of using technology for learning can bring teachers one step closer to making online learning more accessible, engaging and effective for all students.

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Essay on Virtual Classrooms

• 18 Works Cited

Virtual Classrooms "It's student driven. They set the pace. It's like a high school class except it's computerized . . . lecture, quizzes, mid-terms and tests are all on the computer” (Charmoli). In this quote, Lance Jewett it describing some of the benefits of a virtual classroom. He is a teacher for an alternative school of online classrooms in Manton, Michigan. Many people have differing opinions of Virtual Classrooms, but as Jewett points out, virtual classrooms are “student driven” meaning the student has almost complete control over the pace and atmosphere he or she wishes to learn. With this, it is necessary to look more in depth at virtual classrooms for one to gain a better understanding such as; what are …show more content…

Many times class rosters are accessible on the online classrooms platform . This allows students to access to their fellow classmates as well as a way to contact each other. This also provides contact information for the instructor of the course. Another feature is access to announcements provided by the instructor. This gives the instructor a quick and easy way to let students know of any changes or important events. There is also a section for course information, course documents, and assignments which will provide the students with any important details of the class or assignments that may be required. Probably one of the most important features of an online classroom is its form of communication. Most platforms will use a whiteboard or discussion board in order to hold class discussions and provide a form of input from both students and teachers. Tools for the students use are also very important. Digital drop boxes make it possible for students to forward assignments to the instructor without the use of email and attachments. Calendars allow students to record important dates and keep track of what is planned for each online lesson. A student information section is also readily available to provide a profile on students as a way of recording personal information. Some platforms will also provide small amounts of web space to host a homepage for students and

He Authors of the Article Being Summarized, Nagel, Blignaut, and Cronje Discuss the Factors That Lead to a Successful Online Learning Community. Their Study Was Conducted on an Online Class at the University of Pretoria

To obtain answers to the concerns previously listed, an 8 week study of students in an online class was conducted. This study consisted of monitoring online communication and classroom activity among students with different backgrounds with geographical location and age being two of the main contributing factors.

Implementing Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan

Class Websites: Class websites are a great communication tool that allows the teacher to communicate with parents, students, and the global community at large. These websites can be used to communicate basic information, such as the teacher’s background and classroom policies (Dunn, 2011, pg. 60-62). Different levels of complexity allow teachers to decide the purpose of the website and how much time needed

Norfolk City Jail Analysis

To be specific, in the absence of the communication with their teachers, it is hard for the students to succeed in their learning. Healy, Block, and Judge (2014) states that online education limits the opportunity to share ideas, collaborate with others, and to communicate effectively. Communication with the teacher and other students is significant for a student because it is helpful to improve learning efficiency through asking question to the teacher, sharing ideas, and experience with each

Annotated Bibliography

This section of the encyclopedia talks about what students and teachers can contribute to online learning environment. It talks about who the average online learner is and the online relationship between the student and the teacher, and the student and their peers. Above all the author stresses that thinking differently is important to make online education work.

(1) What is the book about? It talks about advance application and developments in the online class room. You will find that most new communication technologies were for recreational or personal use. Over time, they have been employed for education and knowledge applications. They examine a variety of applications in detail. The Author also talks about the impact of PowerPoint and Discussion forums. They share ideas for effective questioning strategies in the online class rooms.

Proposal And Annotated Bibliography

This class was one of most effective classes for teacher in 21 century because it teaches how to integrate technology into classroom and shows how much technology changed face of classrooms. Now student doesn’t have to come to actual classroom or even teacher. Online classrooms start to become so popular because students and teacher in both side can reach to the class at any time.

Teachlive Field Experience: Virtual Classroom

TeachLivE is a virtual classroom with simulated students that replicates a variety of actual teaching experiences. There are a diversity of students including a student that is an English-language learner (ELL), a student with a learning disability, and students who are unintentionally disruptive. Students participating in this experience act as a teacher with prepared lesson plans for elementary and secondary classrooms. The teacher is graded on written, oral, and nonverbal (gestures) communication with the provision of directions for instructional activities. The teacher is also evaluated on teaching and learning enthusiasm, acceptable knowledge of content for the specific subject taught, and appropriate or professional clothing. The teacher is expected to move around the room to involve all students while clearly identifying objectives to keep students on task.

Online Learning Vs. Traditional Learning

To summarize, the topic presented in this article is about online courses which are widely used in colleges providing easy access to course materials, classroom discussions, and feedback to instructors. The course materials and activities may be accessed from any computer, whether it is from the University or from the comfort of your own home.

Personal Narrative Analysis

Currently, students around the country, even the world, have the choice to either attend a class face-to-face with a teacher inside a classroom or computer-generated classes in online colleges or Universities. Even though they are similar, the differences between the two are somewhat remarkable. Obviously both types of learning require instructions and some form of assessment and they differ in terms of the learning process and communication.

Essay about Online Education Versus Traditional Education

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However, advocates of classroom learning believe the online method isolates the students from one another as well as their professor minimizing the overall value of taking the course. They also claim that students learn better when working together with their instructor and their fellow classmates. Students learn better when they are given the opportunity to ask questions, join in class discussions, and they move the process of learning forward through their participation. Face-to-face advocates firmly believe that this kind of interaction is not possible over the Internet; and for many types of education, e-learning will never meet the potential of live human interaction in the classroom. An article in the New York Times titled, “Second Thoughts on Online Education,” backs up the points made above. A recent research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, comes to the conclusion; “A rush to online education

Essay on Distance Learning vs. the Traditional Classroom

• 5 Works Cited

Non-traditional students are finding it easier and easier to maintain a job, a family, and pursuing a college career at the same time. This is possible because more and more non-traditional students are receiving an education using distance learning, as opposed to traditional, in-the-classroom teaching. Distance learning is basically taking college level, credit-bearing courses via the Internet. One of the most obvious advantages of distance learning is that it puts the classroom in your home, office, or wherever you can find a computer and log on to the Internet. However, there is much controversy regarding the quality of the courses being offered on the Internet versus the quality of

The Negatives Of Online Education

There is a lot of poor communication in online classes. There will be students who will never email the instructors for more details about an assignments, or, there will be older students who don’t know how to email the instructors for more details. If the student doesn’t understand an assignment, and never emails to ask for more details, can result in a poor grade for the lack of knowledge in knowing what they’re doing. There’s one final drawback to not having social interactions with instructors; Students can potentially miss out on building relationships that can result in helpful guidance and recommendation letters down the road when needed.

Essay on Impact of the Internet on Education

For the majority of people, it is difficult to imagine what life would be like without the internet. The world of education has also undergone tremendous change since the advent of the internet. It allows students to quickly obtain a vast amount of information on every subject. They also get the convenience of going to class and completing assignments, permitting them to schedule their time with great flexibility. The internet has become one of the easiest, fastest and most effective tools that can be used to explore and comprehend more about the world; however, it is not without problems. The uses of the internet by students changes their thinking patterns, distracts their attention and reduces their interpersonal skills.

The Developments and Issues of E-Learning Essay

E-Learning is trying to provide a more individualized, self-paced, self-directed learning experience (Clark). A survey by a Sociology Professor at CSU-Northridge showed that students in his virtual class performed 20% better than students in his traditional class (Clark). On the other hand, issues concerned with E-Learning includes the fact that students may not be as motivated since, another survey found out that only 66% of the students involved with E-Learning earned credit with a passing grade for their classes (Washington

Online Teaching – Now and the Future Essay

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Online teaching is defined as any educational activity that requires a student to complete some learning or assessment activity via a personal computer and a connection to a network (Murdoch University Academic Council 1999). This network connection is usually to the Internet (Demirdjian 2002). It is a seen by the Murdoch University Academic Council as a teaching and learning technology, not a method of study (2002), but this depends on how it is to be used and by whom. For example, distance education student using online teaching would be more inclined to see it as a study method than a QUT student who uses online teaching to download and print lecture notes to attend a lecture on campus.

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Essays About Online Class: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Essays about online class tell many stories. If you need to write about e-learning, discover the top examples and prompts for the subject in our guide.

With over 5.8 million American students attending in 2021, online classes are now one of the education sector’s most popular and modern learning methods. Although it became prevalent because of the pandemic, it’s believed that the concept of distance learning began in the late 1800s .

Online classes pose many benefits that many still take advantage of even after the pandemic. However, not everyone adjusts well to this technology-centered learning due to no face-to-face contact and difficulty learning without the back-and-forth of lesson question time. 

1. My Experience as an Online Student by Debra Sicard

2. how to succeed in online classes essay by anonymous on ivypanda.com, 3. essay on advantages and disadvantages of online classes by anonymous on selfstudymantra.com, 4. online school vs. traditional school essay by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 5. short essay on online classes by anonymous on byjus.com, 7 helpful prompts on essays about online class, 1. online classes: defined, 2. my experience with online classes during lockdown, 3. how does online class work, 4. the best sites for online class, 5. the pros and cons of enrolling in online class, 6. review of a book about online class, 7. should online classes be the norm.

“I am not a traditional student, so I have non-traditional needs… online classes fit my lifestyle.”

Sicard shares her positive experience with online classes, primarily centering her essay on convenience. She says that with online courses, she can fit more lessons into her schedule, save her money on gas, and have more time with her family. In addition, she mentions she can work and do other things besides taking her credits.

To have a proper perspective of the topic, Sicard also includes the disadvantages of virtual learning, such as devices catching viruses and missing in-real-life interactions with her professors and classmates. But, she believes that an online student can learn as much or even more than what students learn in traditional classes.

“In an online class, a student can only achieve success if he is committed to time management, balancing personal obligations, finding an ideal study environment, asking questions, and applying more effort to completing the course requirements.”

This essay contains steps a non-traditional student can take to avoid failing online classes. The author says that students, especially multitaskers, must know how to manage and balance their time to avoid losing focus. In addition, having a dedicated study spot is necessary to avoid distractions.

“Online classes or online method of learning presents an easy and comfortable method to achieve knowledge. Online classes have now become a great alternative to traditional classes.”

The writer delves into the benefits and drawbacks of online versus traditional learning. Virtual classes offer students freedom regarding their schedules and whereabouts. Some schools also allow students to learn for free. E-learning effectively trains individuals to be responsible and disciplined. 

However, individuals who are not computer literate will find online classes frustrating. Plus, electronic devices can be bad for health, and a lack of personal interaction can hinder personality development.

“[Online course] will also help you become more self-motivated, a trait that will make you stand out in the workplace and beyond.”

By listing the similarities and differences between online and traditional schools, the author demonstrates what classes a student should pick. The writer concludes that while traditional schools prepare students for the real world by interacting with diverse people, online schools help students become more self-motivated to stand out.

“The advantages of online classes take over their disadvantages. If students want to learn, then they have immense opportunities to learn from online classes.”

The author defines online classes as a type of education system where students use electronic devices with an internet connection to learn. However, while online learning improves the quality of education, it can also make the student lazy and cultivates a sense of isolation. Ultimately, they believe that to have the best education system, school teachers and officials must learn how to combine the two methods.

If the topic you’re thinking of is still confusing and you don’t know where to start, here are seven easy writing prompts to inspire you:

Explain the topic to your reader and give a brief history of the origins of online classes. Then briefly compare it to the traditional class to make the differences clear. Finally, point out the distinct features of online classes that conventional learning doesn’t offer, such as face-to-face interaction and question-and-answer debates. You can also discuss various online classes schools offer, such as hybrid learning, interactive online courses, etc.

Tell your story if you’re a student with experience with online classes. Narrate how your school switched to virtual classrooms. Relay the challenges you encountered, including how you adapted. Finish your essay by stating your current preference and why. 

For example, you favor e-learning because it cuts your transportation expenses, helps you be more responsible for managing your time, and lets you sleep in the mornings.

Relate your experience when your school moved online. Discuss any equipment or devices you need to buy before enrolling in your online class. Explain how your school handles online courses and what it does when there are technical difficulties. Add how these challenges (such as unstable internet connection and sudden power outage), such as attendance and participation, impact a class.

To make your essay more intriguing, add the average price of your online classes and if you think it’s fair. For instance, you can argue that since schools don’t provide computers and save expenses on cleaning and utilities when physical classrooms are unused, they should cut their laboratory or miscellaneous fees. You may also be interested in these articles about back to school .

Zoom, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Team are just three of the most popular online teaching software for online classes. In this prompt, look for the most useful and efficient software sites teachers or schools should incorporate into e-learning. Find examples or reliable data that show the number of students or schools that use them. Finally, ensure the details you add are accurate to make your essay credible.

Do you want to write about technology instead? Check out our  essays about technology .

Discussing online classes’ positive and negative effects is a usual essay topic. To make your essay stand out, pick the most impactful points on everyone involved. Don’t just explore the students’ perspectives. Include how virtual learning influences teachers, parents, and businesses.

To give you an idea, you can look into businesses near the campus that closed down when the school shifted to virtual classrooms.

This prompt requires you to search for publications about online classes and share your opinion on them.

For example, John F. Lyons’s book, How to Succeed in an Online Class , published in 2011, introduced technology students encounter in online classes. Suppose you read this book. First, enumerate Lyons’ advice, tips, and learning techniques to prevent a student from failing their online course. Then, briefly explain them individually and include examples or proof that his advice helped.

Online schooling has been around for a long time but has only become widespread because of the pandemic. Use this prompt to write your opinion on whether schools should make virtual learning a permanent option for students. Whatever your answer is, explain your reason to your readers.If you’re interested in learning more about essays, check out our essay writing tips !

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Online Classes Vs. Traditional Classes Essay

Online vs. in-person classes essay – introduction, online and traditional classes differences, works cited.

The article compares and contrasts online classes and traditional classes. Among the advantages of online classes are flexibility and convenience, while in-person classes offer a more structured learning environment. The author highlights that online lessons can be more cost-effective, although they lack support provided by live interactions. Overall, the online vs. traditional classes essay is very relevant today, and the choice depends on the individual student’s needs and preferences.

Modern technology has infiltrated the education sector and as a result, many college students now prefer taking online classes, as opposed to attending the traditional regular classes. This is because online classes are convenient for such students, and more so for those who have to both work and attend classes.

As such, online learning gives them the flexibility that they needed. In addition, online learning also gives an opportunity to students and professionals who would not have otherwise gone back to school to get the necessary qualifications. However, students who have enrolled for online learning do not benefit from the one-on-one interaction with their peers and teachers. The essay shall endeavor to examine the differences between online classes and the traditional classes, with a preference for the later.

Online classes mainly take place through the internet. As such, online classes lack the regular student teacher interaction that is common with traditional learning. On the other hand, learning in traditional classes involves direct interaction between the student and the instructors (Donovan, Mader and Shinsky 286).

This is beneficial to both the leaner and the instructors because both can be bale to establish a bond. In addition, student attending the traditional classroom often have to adhere to strict guidelines that have been established by the learning institution. As such, students have to adhere to the established time schedules. On the other hand, students attending online classes can learn at their own time and pace.

One advantage of the traditional classes over online classes is that students who are not disciplined enough may not be able to sail through successfully because there is nobody to push them around. With traditional classes however, there are rules to put them in check. As such, students attending traditional classes are more likely to be committed to their education (Donovan et al 286).

Another advantage of the traditional classes is all the doubts that students might be having regarding a given course content can be cleared by the instructor on the spot, unlike online learning whereby such explanations might not be as coherent as the student would have wished.

With the traditional classes, students are rarely provided with the course materials by their instructors, and they are therefore expected to take their own notes. This is important because they are likely to preserve such note and use them later on in their studies. In contrast, online students are provided with course materials in the form of video or audio texts (Sorenson and Johnson 116).

They can also download such course materials online. Such learning materials can be deleted or lost easily compared with handwritten class notes, and this is a risk. Although the basic requirements for a student attending online classes are comparatively les in comparison to students attending traditional classes, nonetheless, it is important to note that online students are also expected to be internet savvy because all learning takes place online.

This would be a disadvantage for the regular student; only that internet savvy is not a requirement. Students undertaking online learning are likely to be withdrawn because they hardly interact one-on-one with their fellow online students or even their instructors. The only form of interaction is online. As such, it becomes hard for them to develop a special bond with other students and instructors. With traditional learning however, students have the freedom to interact freely and this helps to strengthen their existing bond.

Online learning is convenient and has less basic requirements compared with traditional learning. It also allows learners who would have ordinarily not gone back to school to access an education. However, online students do not benefit from a close interaction with their peers and instructors as do their regular counterparts. Also, regular students can engage their instructors more easily and relatively faster in case they want to have certain sections of the course explained, unlike online students.

Donovan, Judy, Mader, Cynthia and Shinsky, John. Constructive student feedback: Online vs. traditional course evaluations. Journal of Interactive Online Learning , 5.3(2006): 284-292.

Sorenson, Lynn, and Johnson, Trav. Online Student Ratings of Instructions . San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2003. Print.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Virtual Classrooms – Beginning of a New Era

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of virtual classrooms? Recently, and especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual learning has been a huge part of educational talks.

You might think that virtual learning is a new trend in education given how rapidly it has entered every educational institution.

Depending on preference, virtual learning has been criticized by some students and teachers and highly appreciated by others. The truth is, virtual classrooms have been around for some time and whether some people like it or not, they will remain a thing for quite some time.

So let us discuss the concept of virtual learning and go through what makes it a huge convenience for some and a nightmare for others. 

Table of Contents

What are the types of virtual classrooms?

1. synchronous classes:.

These classes take place where students attend online classes and/or lectures using video conferencing platforms simultaneously with the instructor who is teaching. This type is particularly beneficial for students that demand instant feedback and interaction from their instructors.

It can also make online discussions easier for teachers that rely on them as the basis for their curricula. 

2. Asynchronous Classes:

In an asynchronous setting, students are not required to attend online lectures or classes. Instead, the student can learn through pre-recorded sessions, interact with their instructors through emails and discussion platforms, and access online resources like textbooks through virtual libraries.

This type of learning is useful for those who prefer learning at their own pace in a manner that suits their schedule and retention rates. 

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3. Hybrid/Blended Classes:

Hybrid classes have been getting huge praise lately because they take the best of both worlds; the teacher and student can receive the benefits of online classes as well as real-time classes.

This can be achieved by incorporating online learning materials into the real classroom.

Students usually report better feedback from this type of learning as it allows them the benefit of increased interaction with the teacher along with the real feel of a classroom experience.

Read more: What is flipped classroom?

The good side of the coin: What are the advantages of virtual classrooms for students?

Available learning materials , uncomplicated and intuitive student dashboard .

• Adaptable schedule 

Reasonable costs

More room for self-paced learning , encourages self-learning.

One of the benefits of virtual learning is the availability of learning materials. Nowadays, virtual classrooms are implemented through Learning Management Systems that simplify all learning operations in a digital manner. A good LMS platform can incorporate cloud-based storage that allows instructors to upload countless learning resources for the use of students.

Instructors can also suggest online resources for the students as extra learning material. These can take shape in books, articles, videos, presentations, ebooks, guides, and much more. 

An effective LMS platform usually offers a user-friendly dashboard that streamlines the communication between instructor and learner. LMS developers have also made virtual learning much better through the option of online classes and virtual office hours.

It is almost like the real class experience only without the hassle of having to physically attend the class.

Adaptable schedule

One of the main benefits of virtual classrooms is the ability to study and learn from anywhere and anytime. This is particularly useful for overseas students as well as international students.

Students can easily adjust their schedules according to the timings suitable for them and they can learn from anywhere around the world.

Virtual learning is far from being a restrictive experience; it caters to students who have side jobs or graduates who are looking to elevate their standards of knowledge in other fields.

If students can learn from home or anywhere else, they would not have to spend much money on transportation, accommodation, and travel fees for their school or university. For this reason, virtual learning is a convenient choice for those looking for affordable, quality education. 

E-learning has given learners the space to learn flexibly and at their own pace. This is even more comfortable for students who have a hard time focusing while under pressure.

That is why students who are looking for convenience and flexibility will highly benefit from undergoing that learning experience.

At the end of the day, learning is not acquired within a day and night; so taking proper time is quite necessary for productive learning.  

Virtual learning can definitely teach students to be more independent and self-sufficient. This will help build students’ characters and prepare them for the workplace and life in general. As we all know, self-learning is crucial to the development of students’ academic life as well as independence.

Teachers have reported that e-learning helps enhance the skill of self-learning.

This is because teachers have started to give more attention to student-centred approaches that prioritize students and aim to up their involvement and independence when it comes to studying and learning by themselves. 

Schools that implement Learning Management Systems can also use additional features like game-based learning, the process of integrating some game principles into the classroom. Its goal is to encourage students to engage, work in teams, and take part in strategic thinking.

If you are a teacher, implementing game-based learning in your class is a sure way to make sure your students are keener on learning. The virtual learning advantages are numerous, it is about time to start thinking about how to maximize your teaching as well as learning experience!

Watch this video to gain ideas about encouraging creativity in your classroom. 

Learning during a worldwide pandemic: Advantages of virtual classrooms during lockdown

After the year 2020 took us all by surprise, schools and universities have had no option but to resort to virtual learning. Though it might seem like a rushed and inconvenient measure, it did have its benefits.

But how is virtual learning affecting the students? 

A)This study investigates the teachers’ and students’ take on online learning during the pandemic. The results of this study found that students supported learning virtually, deeming it a great method for student-centred learning and a convenient option during the lockdown circumstances. 

B) Another study explores the integration of game-based learning into the online classroom in the higher education sphere. This form of active learning is found to enhance the students’ performance and engagement with the learning material.

The study also detects an increased sense of social connection among the students, even more than in a traditional class setting.

Learn more: 7 Strategies For Active Learning In Online Continuing Education

But what’s the catch? – Disadvantages Of Virtual Classrooms

If we are talking about the advantages and disadvantages of virtual classes, we need to address the main issues that students face with that type of learning.

Internet connection might not be widely available 

The internet connection problem remains among the top reasons why schools refrain from implementing virtual education. It is difficult to focus in the classroom when your internet keeps lagging or losing connection. 

Students’ lack of concentration

In the shift to online learning, some students might find it difficult to actually focus in class during a non-traditional class setting. Most students attend their virtual classes in their bedrooms and sometimes even on their beds!

This creates a sense of idleness and demotivation to put energy into the learning material.

Students feeling of loss and/or confusion 

Unlike the real feel of a classroom, an online lesson might be inconvenient for learners that require extra attention and dedication. Some students feel confused about their assigned tasks or feel lost due to some gaps in understanding the learning material. 

Almost no socialization among students

A study by Kolloff in 2011 found that student engagement “is vital to building community in an online learning environment, which supports productive and satisfying learning, and helps students develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.”

Student engagement, in traditional classes, would be present without much effort required from the teacher.

The situation is a bit more different and complex in an online environment, though. This is because students do not often interact with their classmates during the lesson as the teacher’s concern is mainly on delivering the lesson. This shortage in interaction among students may very well discourage them from being alert and engaged in a virtual class. 

Now, can we find a way around it?

How can students and teachers overcome these shortcomings in exchange for a great virtual learning experience? Let us take a look at some ways to maximize the efficiency of virtual learning classrooms. 

Importance Of Virtual Learning : A Hype That Changed Education

Keep students engaged 

To avoid an idle classroom, you can challenge your students by assigning them to group activities that boost their creativity and engagement. A tip is to give priority to the most important tasks at hand.

Try to keep your tasks simple to avoid cluttering classwork on your students and keep it easier on your own workload as well.

Your students will never be interested or focused if they feel pressured and required to do a million tasks at the same time. The transition to online learning should be smarter not harder on you and your students. 

Make sure students are listened to/cared for 

During the e-learning atmosphere, it is likely that you will find that some students can feel left out or lost due to the lack of real student-instructor connection. That is why your role as a teacher is to try to bridge that gap by stressing the importance of interaction with the students.

You can also reassure your students that you can carry out online meetings for those students that need extra class attention. It would help if you specify virtual office hours dedicated to addressing students’ queries and gaps in understanding. It is important to remember that not all students function the same way; neither do they retain information at the same pace.

Addressing this problem will definitely make the whole distance education journey much more productive for students.

Ensure regular feedback and evaluation 

Keep in mind that students at this time need constant feedback because they will already feel lost. It is necessary to prioritize your students’ handwork and give them constant feedback so that they feel like they are actually being productive and active. 

Include the parents

Virtual education can be a new experience for students who are used to traditional class education. As discussed before, this can occasionally lead to confusion and frustration as they can have a hard time adjusting to this novel learning process.

The students might also feel lost or unable to communicate with their teachers and classmates and that might discourage them from attending their online lessons or even taking part in active class discussions.

That is why parents should exert effort with their children at home by giving them necessary moral support like helping them focus, eliminating possible distractions, giving them needed guidance in certain subjects, or even advising them with studying in times of need.

Parents can provide effective academic support in which they make sure their children are on track regarding their academic anxieties and be around when they need to fill gaps in understanding certain class materials. 

Incorporate technology 

In the shift to e-learning, it is wise to avoid using the same real classroom techniques. Technology-integrated classrooms require more effort on the part of the teacher to make it interesting for the students.

Try to incorporate active learning into your online classrooms to keep your students engaged and look forward to their upcoming classes.

Include online activities, introduce mini breakout sessions, and take your students on virtual trips to give them an amazing distance learning experience. Go the extra mile in your lesson planning and you will definitely reap the benefits and see a difference in your students’ achievements. 

Ever heard of Classroom Management Technologies ?

Embrace hybrid learning 

In essence, hybrid/blended learning is all about mixing both learning experiences – the real classroom and virtual classroom –  into one. With Skolera , teachers can easily and effectively implement hybrid learning in their classrooms. Using Skolera’s Learning Management System , get access to powerful features for your school’s operations.

We offer the best features in our SMS solution that will guarantee you a seamless and effort-free management experience.

Keep reading our blog to learn about our experiences with schools, new features, and the latest news.

You can also subscribe to our newsletter to be the first one to receive real-time news and regular webinar attendance. 

Learn more about Skolera’s School Management System

Decision-makers in schools and universities have taken on the decision of implementing virtual learning for their students. This transformation has been great for most users (teachers and students) due to its convenience and ease of use.

This article discussed the a dvantages and disadvantages of virtual classrooms and solutions to overcome these drawbacks to attain an effective and productive classroom. 

About Aida Elbanna

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Education  |  Mar 31 2020

Virtual Classroom: The Future of Distance Learning

A virtual classroom is an online space that shares many functions of a brick-and-mortar classroom. Through a variety of tools and features, a virtual learning space promotes engagement and collaboration. Virtual lessons can be integrated into a curriculum in a variety of ways ranging from supplementary to fully digitized learning. 

And teachers have found a surprising number of situations where a virtual learning environment is beneficial. The advantages of virtual classrooms range from their excellent interactivity to providing a comfortable and familiar learning paradigm.

So keep reading to learn more about virtual classrooms and what to look for in an effective distance learning tool.

Virtual classrooms are a popular solution to some of the main problems of distance learning. Many online courses focus on pre-recorded content that students study at their leisure, submit some standardized assessments, and move on. It’s convenient and easy to scale up, but it is missing something. A lot of online learning lacks human connection.

By contrast, a virtual classroom connects people. Teachers can interact with their students in real-time. Students can collaborate with peers. And the system is still scalable to educate an ever-growing number of digital natives who may want to supplement or replace traditional learning paradigms.

What Is a Virtual Classroom?

A virtual classroom is an online space that simulates a live classroom. Lessons are usually synchronous with the educator and the learners all appearing in an online space to interact in real-time. However, many virtual lessons include pre-recorded components depending on the needs of the educator or learner. Like real-world classrooms, virtual classrooms are flexible to the style and needs of all users. 

Want to learn more about synchronous education?  The Pros and Cons of Synchronous Distance Learning

A virtual classroom often includes the following features:

• Videoconferencing that facilitates communication with both the teacher and with peers.
• A digital whiteboard to offer real-time explanations and/or collaboration. 
• Instant messaging for low-bandwidth communication.
• Participation controls so that students can still “raise their hands” or otherwise participate in lessons.
• Sub-chats or group chats for students to collaborate in small groups online (sometimes also called breakout rooms.)

Want more on virtual classrooms? Check this out: Distance Learning & Virtual Classrooms: Where Learning Never Stops

Types of Virtual Classroom

As a flexible remote learning tool, virtual classrooms have a lot of variety in both form and function. A virtual classroom’s function in a curriculum can range from an optional supplementary resource to the whole education program. And given the vastly different needs of different groups, even virtual classrooms built on the same platform tend to be customized to the instructor’s needs.

It’s all up to the educator, and the way a virtual class works starts with the model for integrating e-learning into the course as a whole.

Enriched Virtual

An enriched virtual program is one that is mostly taught online with occasional offline components to augment the lessons. In many cases, the in-person component takes the form of one-on-one meetings with teachers or instructors for face-to-face assistance and personal connection. 

The rotation model of virtual classroom combines virtual learning with live, in-person lessons in a fixed schedule. The rotation model is typically reserved for single-subject classes at higher levels like high school or university.

This often works as part of a flipped classroom where students do their primary learning at home – usually online – and time in the classroom is reserved for review and reinforcement.

Fully Online Classroom

It’s all in the name. A fully online classroom is a virtual classroom that only exists on the Internet and does not include a real-life version. In this type of online learning, the virtual classroom represents the only time students and teachers will interact with each other directly, and many fully online courses are asynchronous and have no real-time interactions at all.

A flex model applied to distance learning usually involves a virtual classroom that remains open and available for students to visit on their own time. Students are encouraged to work digitally on their own or in small groups. The teacher will be available periodically, either online or in-person depending on the needs of a particular course.

The flex model is especially popular in trying to reach non-traditional learners that may not respond well to rigid structures but are still interested in learning. As the name suggests, the flex model provides a great deal of flexibility to how students opt to learn.

À La Carte Model

An à la carte model is one that combines a variety of digital teaching models and makes multiple channels available to students. This mix-and-match nature of these virtual classrooms can be up to the person or institution running the course, or it could be student-driven. 

This is by far the most flexible model, but it sacrifices structure and ease of setup for its flexibility. 

Why Are Virtual Classrooms Important?

Virtual classrooms fill a number of needs in education that have gone unaddressed for too long. Though technology in the classroom continues to evolve, we need to develop other learning channels. 

Here are just a few reasons why we need to develop and implement virtual learning online now and in the future:

• Educators can supplement existing classes with virtual lessons, especially as part of a flipped classroom or blended learning.
• Virtual education methods promote inclusive learning though accessibility to students who are differently-abled or unable to physically attend classes.
• Extend the reach of educational materials without sacrificing the interactivity or collaboration of synchronous lessons.
• Implementing a virtual learning infrastructure maintains educational continuity in the face of school closures, especially long-term closures.

“If you want to teach people a new way of thinking, don’t bother trying to teach them. Instead, give them a tool, the use of which will lead to new ways of thinking.”

Buckminster Fuller , author, inventor, architect, futurist

Advantages of a Virtual Classroom

Given the ever-growing need for innovation in education, educators and institutions need to be ready with solutions. This will inevitably mean picking increasing the availability of digital learning tools, including both distance learning and virtual classrooms. And as they assess the needs of their students, schools will have to take a good look at the best system for their desired learning outcomes.

So while virtual learning environments aren’t perfect for every situation, they have distinct advantages as an online synchronous learning system and overcome many challenges of distance learning .

High Interactivity

As previously mentioned, an effective virtual classroom will have multiple communication channels. This would include instant messaging, voice chat, and videoconferencing. Ideally, there would also be the ability for students and teachers to use shared workspaces to maintain engagement with the course materials. For example, there’s the option of video-assisted learning . 

Collaborative Learning

Related to interactivity is a virtual classroom’s ability to collaborate, and often in real-time. Through shared chats, files, and digital whiteboards, students can work together on solving problems and reinforcing course materials. And to simulate group work, breakout rooms allow students to work in pairs or small groups similar to group work in a physical classroom.

Student-Centered Teaching

One of the challenges of digital learning is the fact that pre-recorded materials naturally make lessons more teacher-centered. And while standardized teaching materials like texts and videos are convenient and easy to teach at scale, they are harder to adapt to individual students’ needs. A virtual classroom – especially a live one – has much of the agility and responsiveness of in-person education.

Content Variety

Just like an interactive whiteboard in the classroom, a virtual classroom can easily make use of a wide range of media to present, review, and reinforce educational materials. Through links, files, and embedded media, the teacher can tap into a wider range of educational content to more fully engage with students across a wider spectrum of interests and abilities. 

A Safe and Comfortable Learning Space

A classroom filled with warm and welcoming people is much better than an empty or automated space. This much is true whether it’s a brick-and-mortar room or a virtual space. Having both mentors and peers to interact with goes a long way to helping students open up and engage with virtual learning, especially in a format that closely emulates the real-world equivalent.

What to Look for in a Virtual Classroom

Certain functions are just necessary to make a virtual classroom work. Others are nice to have and may improve the user experience, but you can still run an effective lesson without these frills. Here’s a look at some of what you should look for in a virtual teaching environment.

This is the bare minimum for communication. Students should be able to write directly to their instructors and each other to ask questions, participate, and collaborate. And in some environments, text-based communications may be all you need. 

Being able to read the text at one’s own pace – or re-read as necessary – can go a long way to improving understanding and retention. But it is also limited in how much can be shared how quickly with easy misunderstandings based on tone or writing style.

Voice chat is faster than text and offers a more natural learning experience. It can also help connect participants to a real person on the other end of the line. For weaker connections, it isn’t as demanding as video. 

However, in a lot of ways voice chat is a compromise between messaging and videoconferencing. It provides more natural communication than messaging but lacks the visual cues of video or in-person communication.

Video Streaming

Videoconferencing has been around for a long while in the business space, but it’s designed to handle small groups of collaborators. Most classes are larger than video conferencing can handle, so video streaming is used to teach full classes of tens, hundreds, or even thousands of learners all at the same time. 

Video streaming to a virtual classroom is about as close as an educator is going to get to teaching in person. Most students will not be able to broadcast themselves under this system, but that results in the whole group getting a smoother online experience.

File Sharing

Though nearly every communication platform has some degree of file sharing, it’s extremely important for a virtual classroom to have an integrated, two-way sharing system. This could be through an integrated cloud storage system or baked into the virtual environment, but teachers need to have a way to share assignments and resources with students. And students need a way to submit their work to teachers directly within the learning environment.

Participation Management

Participation management refers to students’ ability to “raise their hands” or otherwise signal they would like to participate in a lesson. The system is an effective way to allow students to offer input, answer questions, and otherwise contribute to the class as a whole. And with the ability to switch students’ channels on and off, it gives the online teacher a classroom management superpower many educators wish for: the ability to silence disruptions.

The only downside to this system is that it does require the teacher (or a moderator’s) constant input to allow students to speak up. This can stifle some of the impromptu give-and-take discussions that pop up in lessons, but these can be brought up on other channels for later.

Digital Whiteboarding

A digital whiteboard is software the emulates a whiteboard. It allows for writing, drawing, and annotating just like the physical fixture, and it also allows teachers to import pre-made content, rich media, and custom software. Many virtual classrooms also make whiteboards available to students – either as a full class or in smaller collaborative groups. 

To get the most out of digital whiteboarding, it’s best to have a touchscreen device. The teacher should also seriously consider having a touch monitor available to facilitate lessons. Having the larger touchscreen more closely mimics the real thing (only with the addition of a wider range of available media).

Student Groups

For a complete virtual classroom, it is necessary for students to be able to work together in separate groups. Group work is an important part of exploring and reinforcing taught materials, so the online experience needs to include the necessary channels for collaboration. 

However, setting up how students interact with each other will depend very much on the capabilities of your virtual classroom solution. In some situations, it may be enough for them to simply share a digital whiteboard. In other cases, however, they may need to communicate more directly as part of a breakout room or virtual huddle with messaging, voice, or even video.

Collaborating online can be challenging for students, so be sure to check out these tips .

Integrations

In a digital learning environment, no system exists in a vacuum and no software performs every necessary function. A good virtual classroom will overcome its own limitations by supplementing its functionality with other services like Google Drive , Google Classroom , or Zoom . 

While adding integrations to a system increase complexity and require users to learn more systems, it does help keep the purpose-built software focused on what it does well. myViewBoard’s Classroom easily integrates with third-party applications to provide students, and teachers a seamless learning experience 

Final Thoughts

Distance learning is growing at an exponential rate, and it’s only primed to grow more. There’s no reason all education has to happen in the same physical space. A better-connected world means more flexibility for teachers and students alike. 

Imagine a world where learning happens not just in our schools, but as part of a live event, while traveling and exploring the world, and even from the comfort and safety of our own homes. A virtual classroom is an ideal way to get a real connection in real-time from anywhere in the world as yet another tool in the digital educator’s toolbox. 

Just getting started with online learning? Click here to learn more about distance education. Or see ViewSonic’s complete list of education solutions .

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What is a virtual classroom

When you do a search of what a virtual classroom is exactly, you come across a wide variety of definitions. Some of them relate the virtual classroom to course materials, homework, tests, and assignments that are typically used in self-paced (asynchronous) learning. However, all of these activities are external to the classroom experience. That is why the definition of a virtual classroom should be related to synchronous online learning, which happens in real time and provides the participants with an experience very close to traditional face-to-face teaching. Here is our understanding of what a virtual classroom is:

What is Virtual classroom

A virtual classroom is an online learning environment that allows for live interaction between the tutor and the learners as they are participating in learning activities.

In other words, the virtual classroom is a shared online space where the learners and the tutor work together simultaneously. Usually, these interactions take place through videoconferencing. The participants have tools to present learning content in different formats, as well as to implement collaborative and individual activities. In this type of interaction, the teacher has the particularly important role of the moderator who guides the learning process and supports group activities and discussions.

The most common tools you can find in a virtual classroom are:

• Videoconferencing
• Online whiteboard for real-time collaboration
• Instant messaging tool
• Participation controls
• Breakout rooms

Synchronous virtual classrooms have the potential to provide significant added value to online learning by addressing the needs of the learners as they relate to social interaction and psychological safety. They can also create a new standard in the learning experience that goes above and beyond the physical space of the classroom and traditional teaching methods.

The virtual classroom provides an abundance of opportunities, especially when combined with self-study platforms (learning management systems) or when used in addition to traditional classroom learning activities. Unlike asynchronous learning environments, the synchronous virtual classroom allows for instant feedback, direct teacher-student interaction, and engaging activities to increase motivation and active participation. Immediate communication favors relationship building within the group, as well as a sense of community.

Although teaching and learning in a virtual classroom provide an experience similar to the physical one, it requires new pedagogical approaches and a redesign of the instructional model that includes the following characteristics:

• Virtual Classroom’s high Interactivity
• Collaborative Learning
• Student-Centered Instruction
• Variety of Content Presentation and Learning Activities
• Psychologically Safe Environment
• Positive and Constructive Feedback

1. Virtual Classroom’s high Interactivity

Training in a synchronous virtual classroom can only be successful with the active participation and engagement of the learners. This creates a positive learning environment and helps the participants achieve the expected outcomes. During the virtual session there should be opportunities for frequent interaction between learner and tutor, learner and other learners, and learner and content. Over the course of the virtual session, the tutor should encourage the students to participate every 3-5 minutes. This can be achieved by a variety of activities such as brainstorming, small group discussion, collaborative and individual tasks, Q&A sessions, hands-on experience, etc.

2. Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning means that the learners work together to achieve a common goal, exchange views, clarify the meaning of concepts, or solve problems together. It creates opportunities for cooperation in skills development. The emphasis is placed on interaction in which common understandings are subject to discussion and are developed precisely through exploring the differences in the participants’ level of knowledge, skills, and positions. Applied in the virtual classroom, this approach is associated with an active process of the collective construction of knowledge using the group as a source of information, a motivational agent, and a means of mutual support.

3. Student-Centered Instruction

The lecture, which is a classic teaching format, often makes students more passive as the focus is on the content and the students must work independently with little opportunity for collaboration. This approach is more applicable to asynchronous virtual teaching – the tutor creates video lectures and self-directed activities, which the learners cover at their own pace. Synchronous virtual classes require student-centered instruction in which the learners and the tutor interact equally – active participation, collaborative work, and communication are encouraged in this type of classroom. The tutor creates opportunities for both independent learning and learning from one another, and guides the learners in developing and practicing the skills they need. This increases the motivation level of the learners, as well as their interest in the learning activities.

4. Variety of Content Presentation and Learning Activities

This approach is related to differentiated instruction, which takes into consideration the differences in the needs, levels, and learning styles of the learners. It favors the creation of a more personalized learning experience and individual success. When a teacher uses various sources to present the content – text, images, diagrams, audio, video, etc. – this can greatly improve the learning process by providing a flexible learning experience that is tailored to the various needs and preferences of the students. Presenting the content through various types of media retains the attention and interest of the learners.

Blending different types of learning activities within one virtual session also creates opportunities to meet a wider range of the needs of the students. Switching between individual work, small group collaboration, and class discussions addresses the specific learning preferences of all of the students – either to work alone, to interact with the others, or to express themselves in front of a larger group.

5. Psychologically Safe Environment

Interactions in a virtual classroom create the sense of a more informal and safer emotional environment as the learners usually participate from the comfort of their homes. The learning process is much more focused because of the absence of the usual physical distractions that are found in the conventional classroom.

Psychological safety leads to better learning outcomes. It also fosters creativity, confidence, and a willingness to experiment on the part of the learners. The virtual teacher also has a crucial role here – they need to encourage safe discussions, mutual respect, equal opportunities to participate, and the free sharing of different viewpoints. The teacher can enhance the psychological safety of the learners and make things more personalized by adding options for self-directed learning, as well as by communicating more frequently with every student through a Learning Management System.

6. Positive and Constructive Feedback

Unlike asynchronous virtual platforms, the synchronous virtual classroom allows for immediate feedback from both the tutor and the other participants in both an individual and a general way. The key role of the tutor here is to create an atmosphere of positive feedback by guiding the group’s interaction. The need for feedback, which acknowledges the positive aspects of the learners’ performance and gives valuable comments and recommendations for improvement, benefits the education and progress of the students. It also builds the habit in the group of trying to maintain a positive and constructive tone. All of these factors are vital in assisting the learners to overcome their mistakes without feelings of negativity, as well as by fostering confidence and inspiring them to achieve their full potential.

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Veronica Racheva

Real Classrooms vs. Virtual Classrooms: Which Is Better?

Real classrooms vs. Virtual classroom s, if put into comparison, which is better? Which one should you choose? Such a dilemma has been going on for years and years now. However, it’s been quite important to reach an agreement now, with 2020 coming to an end.

The answer to the questions really depends on a lot of factors. We will try in this blog post to address each one of them and let you decide for yourself!

Despite the calls for restricting the use of technology and detoxifying it from our lives, the truth remains that edtech revolution and virtual learning mean more productivity, flexibility, and money in less time for online trainers and tutors…

Instead of working full time going from a center or educational institution, to give a class on your field of expertise, e.g., languages, science, or even communication skills, to another, you get to work while commuting, staying at home, or even having fun at the club with your kids.

So, Can Virtual Classroom Really Facilitate Learning? Yes, virtual classrooms may never completely replace real classrooms. But the keyword here is ‘completely,’ right? Real, warm, and authentic communication with students within the classroom can never be replaced. This may be the case.

However, how about after-school tutoring? This may not only be the case for those who are struggling within the class, who need a little bit more attention than other learners, or those who just feel more confident with an extra bit of tutoring.

And what about high schoolers and those of senior academic levels, from college to graduates, looking to upskill on the personal or professional side?

Real Classrooms vs. Virtual Classrooms regarding Teacher-Student Interaction aspect

1. learners aren’t expected to sit back and listen in virtual classrooms.

In contrast to real classrooms, learners in virtual classrooms aren’t expected to sit back and listen to their tutor. Active learning is used more. However, the main reason for this goes back to both the tutor and choosing the right virtual classroom software.

Only experienced tutors will be able to make use of the virtual classroom system and its various tools to make students more engaged. In fact, a recently published research on IEEE Xplore states that the following:

“teachers who succeed in engaging students in the online courses are characteristically young, excellent in technology management, good with interpersonal interactions and maintain a robust social presence; or they are experienced teachers proficient in the use of technology, very well trained in didactic techniques, and who competently manage transactional distances.”

Moreover, the most commonly used tools in education technology have been designed by experts in the same field. Some of the virtual classroom tools are as follows:

• Whiteboard tools
• Live presentation and session tools
• Asynchronous video (recorded videos) tools
• Screen sharing tools
• Quizzes and assessment tools

2. Learners and Online Trainers Have Better Control over Their Own Time

Unlike in traditional classrooms, virtual classrooms let you and your learners pick the time and date of your classes. This is not really the case in traditional classrooms.

“An increase in technological literacy among students, he said [Jesse Gipko, Dean of Academic Affairs at Belmont College], has been a boon both for flexibility in scheduling and in providing a more effective learning environment. More importantly, though, the more clearly defined expectations and deadlines allow students to learn at their own rate.”

Normally, class time would be limited to the time available in educational centers. In essence, all classrooms work around the educational center’s own schedule. With virtual learning, it’s the other way around.

3. Online Learning Inspires Self-Learning and Better Productivity

The number of tutors shifting to giving online courses is multiplying continuously. But more so is the number of learners opting to attend online classes.

Not only do they feel that online learning saves them a ton of energy as well as time, but many of them feel that it is a safer environment to be themselves and keep track of their lessons in their own way.

Fundamentally, this is called self-learning. In virtual classrooms, all lessons are recorded and detailed. All learning materials, FAQs, and assessments are online so there is structure and organization, inspiring more productivity.

The Center For Teaching And Learning, Columbia University, suggests the following framework to use in active learning:

• Introducing new knowledge and ideas to your learners by live sessions, live presentations, recorded videos, or learning materials using your preferred virtual classroom software.
• Asking your learners to discuss the previously introduced information with each other. This encourages student-centered learning, independence, and self-learning. This can be facilitated by live presentations and video conferencing tools offered by online course systems.
• Requiring your learners to examine and reflect on what they have studied. That could take 5-10 minutes of the class time. And it helps more engagement, productivity, and collaboration.

If you’re a tutor looking forward to trying a virtual classroom with all your needs in one place, StorkyApp is your window. Take your training to the next level with StorkyApp .