What is a VLE?

According to a JISC’s Introduction to managed learning environments, the term ‘virtual learning environment’ (VLE) refers to the components in which learners and tutors participate in online interactions of various kinds, including online learning.

Thus, a virtual learning environment is any electronic space where learning can take place or where interactions occur. These are often but not always in the form of the kind of webs we can see on the Internet. Examples would be a virtual negotiation, such as you would see in the work of Paul Maharg at the University of Strathclyde. Other examples would be the setting up of a virtual courtroom or a virtual seminar. An example of part of a page from a VLE (Coventry University’s IOLISplus) is shown below.

Example of a page from IOLISplus

This webpage includes an exercise on psychiatric injury, the last of 12, asking the students to read an article in an electronic journal to which there is a direct hypertext link. Questions are graded according to their level of difficulty (one, two or three star). An icon for a discussion forum indicates to the students that their responses to the question should be posted to a designated forum for this area of study. Another link takes them to an electronic article that is recommended for additional reading.

More commonly in most universities there are commercially produced ‘shells’, such as WebCT, Blackboard or Learnwise. Students can be given access to the VLE on enrolment. Each student has their own web within which they can work, make their own notes and communicate with each other and their tutor. These products have similarities and some differences. Important distinctions will be referred to where appropriate. The example below of the home page of a VLE (WebCT) includes all its functions and some of its resources.

Example of a page from WebCT

Last Modified: 4 June 2010