Question

1. Provide examples of two positive and two negative observations that you have made thus far in the virtual form of education.

2. What recommendations would you like to see implemented right away to enhance education in the current virtual form?

3. What new opportunities would the virtual form of education bring to the table that the physical classroom environment does not?

Answer 1

Virtual Education :

Education / Courses taught entirely online, where physical distance between teacher and student is immaterial

Another name for e-learning, but referring more to electronically aided learning conducted without any face-to-face components

1.Two positive and two negative observations that you have made thus far in the virtual form of education

Two positives

Virtual education refers to instruction in a learning environment where teacher and student are separated by time or space, or both, and the teacher provides course content through course management applications, multimedia resources, the Internet, videoconferencing, etc. Students receive the content and communicate with the teacher via the same technologies

A form of education which is outside the classroom or partially outside the classroom that is based on taking advantage of the telematic potential of the Internet to carry out formal or other types of education, by means of learning activities supported by virtual learning environments

Two Negatives

In a virtual classroom, instructors cannot see the learners. While some will always participate more than others, you cannot observe non-verbal cues. The instructor cannot tell whether the lack of participation by a learner is due to their being introverted, being highly focused on observing rather than participating or not being engaged properly. The best the instructor can do in this situation is encourage the learners to participate and open up clear lines of communication, so if someone has a question, he or she will feel free to ask it during the session.

In a physical classroom, instructors can pick up a marker and draw or write on the whiteboard, change gears easily based on the responses they receive from the learners, use allegories and metaphors based on their learners, and so on. In virtual classrooms, their options are somewhat limited, especially if the learning platform does not support multimodality. You can address this challenge by using a platform that does support multimodality.

2. Recommendations to enhance education in the current virtual form

(a) The best the instructor can do in this situation is encourage the learners to participate and open up clear lines of communication, so if someone has a question, he or she will feel free to ask it during the session

(b) In virtual classrooms, their options are somewhat limited, especially if the learning platform does not support multimodality. You can address this challenge by using a platform that does support multimodality.

(c) To remedy the problem of Distracted learners, Virtual instructors should turn theory-based content into fun, engaging and interactive sessions. For example, they can use virtual breakrooms, have learners connect with each other in smaller groups and conduct polls during the training.

(d) When interacting with learners in a virtual classroom, instructors can always share their professional email address with them and tell them they can reach if they have any questions. When instructors promptly reply, they will build trust, and learners will reach out the next time they are looking to upskill themselves

3. New opportunities would the virtual form of education bring to the table that the physical classroom environment does not

(a) Schedule can be flexible, according to the needs of both teacher and students.

(b) Class duration is easily extendable, instructor and student time permitting.

(c) Schedule extra classes at your convenient time and study from the luxury of home

(d) Students can be a heterogeneous group, even global, with a variety of non-intersecting

(e) Student composition may vary greatly in age, profession, and academic background.

(f) Classes can be technology-driven and learner-centric, with the teacher as a facilitator. Teachers have better teaching tools to effectively engage learners. Virtual classrooms allow students more freedom to create, experiment, explore and steer the class. This freedom can produce improved student performance.

(g) Modern teaching tools are used, such as multimedia, animation, 3D modeling, virtual, etc.

(h) Teachers and students collaborate online via audio, video, and text chat.