Creating a successful virtual learning environment: Introduction

1. Introduction

A virtual learning environment is a structured digital space designed to support distance learning and teaching. Such a space is not just a place to store educational materials, but an integrated system that integrates various tools for content delivery, organisation of educational activities, monitoring of student progress, communication between participants and evaluation of learning outcomes. By using various functionalities such as forums, quizzes, video lectures, collaborative learning tools, and automatic and manual assessment systems, a virtual environment allows teachers to plan and implement educational processes in a structured way, while providing students with flexibility, autonomy and access to learning regardless of physical location.

OLDI (Open Learning Design Intervention) model is a useful framework authored by Verena Roberts, which recognises four phases: building relationships, jointly shaping the learning path, creating and sharing knowledge, and creating personal learning networks. The OLDI approach allows educators to iteratively develop and adapt virtual environments based on feedback and real-world student experiences. More information is available at the link.

It is also useful to consult Gilly Salmon's five-stage model, which is based on the idea that if online learning is to be successful and stress-free, learners need to be supported through a structured developmental process. The five-stage model provides a framework or step-by-step support for a structured and time-phased programme of e-activities. The five-stage model envisages strong support and development for learners at each stage of their learning journey through the online learning process:

approach and motivation
online socialisation
information exchange
knowledge building
development.

Each of the phases consists to some extent of two important components: e-moderation and technical support, with an increasing amount of interactivity from the first, lowest step, or the approach and motivation phase, all the way to the last, highest step of development.