What Is A VLE?

Date First Published: 17th June 2022

Topic: Computer Networking

Subtopic: Network Services

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty Level: 4/10

Learn more about what a VLE is in this article.

Stands for a virtual learning environment. A VLE is a web-based teaching platform that allows teachers to upload resources to the site, such as presentations and worksheets and share them with students. It acts as a virtual classroom where students and teachers can communicate through typed messages and class members can participate in online forums if they have any questions. Students can upload work to the site and teachers can mark submitted work on the VLE.

Students may also receive a notification by email each time a new assignment has been posted, when their teacher has left them a comment, and when their teacher has marked their submitted work. Students log into the VLE site to view their assignments, which are accessible on the web. A good example of a VLE is Google Classroom. VLEs are a very useful web-based service for home learning.

Note:

VLEs are not normally designed for one specific course or subject. They can support multiple subjects from multiple classes.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of VLEs

• Students can access their assignments from any location with internet access. This is a very useful way of teaching students in a lot of different locations.
• Much more flexibility. Students can study where and when they want to, allowing them to fit their studies around other commitments.
• Students can learn at their own pace.
• It saves a lot of money and greatly reduces teacher's and student's carbon footprint. Since VLEs do not require students and teachers to travel long distances to traditional classrooms, this will overall reduce their carbon footprint.

• Unlike traditional classrooms, teachers cannot directly monitor students. This increases the chances of students procrastinating and missing assignments. In addition, if teachers uploaded assessments or tests, there is a much higher possibility of students cheating since they are not directly observed.
• If there were any technical issues, like a loss of internet connection or the VLE going down, students would be unable to access the VLE and receive new assignments.

Can VLEs Replace Traditional Classrooms?

Since most learning can be accomplished online, most of the time, VLEs can replace traditional classrooms and there is no need for having to attend classrooms. This will be much cheaper as it will reduce the costs of maintaining large buildings for all students and teachers and students far away from the classroom will not have to travel long distances. Students will have freedom to study where and when they want to and not be limited by the time and location, which is very useful for teaching students in a lot of different locations and helps students fit their studies around their other commitments.

However, VLEs do come with some limitations as not all learning can be accomplished online. For example, students would not be able to conduct a chemical experiment at home without special equipment and tools. That type of learning would require a traditional classroom where students can see the teacher demonstrate it and provide the special equipment and tools inside the classroom. Also, teachers cannot directly monitor students, so they would have no way of finding out whether they are currently completing a task, doing something else, or whether someone else has completed that task for them. Overall, VLEs can replace traditional classrooms most of the time, but for things like exams, assessments, tests, and experiments, a traditional classroom is required.