What is a Virtual Learning Environment?

The (synonymous) terms "Virtual Learning Environment" (VLE), Learning Platform, Learning Management System (LMS) and Learning Content Management System (LCMS) are frequently used in education and training, but what do they mean?

A VLE is an integrated set of computer software tools to support learning. The name is somewhat unfortunate as it tends to imply the learning (rather than the environment) is somehow virtual or unreal.

These tools traditionally include:

• Authenticated access to various sections of the environment (eg courses) on an individual basis.
  
• An organized and searchable repository of content, together with a streamlined means of managing that content. By streamlined I mean that instructors are able to upload and organize materials through a Web-based interface rather than using technical tools such as FTP.
  
• Asynchronous and synchronous communication tools, ie bulletin boards, real-time chat rooms, e-mail lists and possibly an internal e-mail system. It is likely there will be a facility for dividing learners into various sub-groups and for making discussions public or private. The communication tools typically offer learners access to tutorial support as well as promoting learner-to-learner interaction. Often a student-only discussion area (eg student 'cafe') is provided.
  
• Assessment tools allowing learners to test themselves, and for instructors to securely administer assessed tests.
  
• An assignment drop box allowing learners to securely submit assignments. This feature prevents disputes over whether or when a particular assignment was handed in.
  
• A means of tracking who has viewed what. (Beware of placing too much significance on this data, eg if a learner view a page 20 times does it mean s/he finds it very interesting - or very difficult?)
  
• Intelligent access controls, eg timed release of material, release based on test performance.

More recently VLEs have begun to incorporate Web 2.0 features such as Wikis (eg to form a student-generated glossary of key concepts) and blogs (eg as reflective learning journals that may be private or shared)

VLE vendors and traditional publishers also provide packaged ready-to-use course materials. These materials may contain course content, interactive and multimedia components and assessments.

Uses of VLEs

VLEs are widely used in colleges, universities and throughout the corporate training industry. They are used with both on-campus and distance learners. On-campus they provide students with access to learning materials ahead of class times, thus transforming sessions into discussions rather than lectures. In distance education they can go a long way in helping overcome the isolation often experienced by independent learners juggling study with work and family commitments.

Commercial vs Open Source

A battle is currently raging between commercial VLE providers, such as Blackboard, and Open Source alternatives, eg Moodle. Though there is no clear winner at the time of writing it would appear inevitable that critical mass will ensure an increasing number of institutions will eventually adopt the open source model.

The program code of open source software is freely available, and developers and users are permitted, and actively encouraged, to improve and extend its capabilities, provided any such improvements are also made freely available. The academic ethos of collaboration and the sharing of knowledge appears a perfect fit with the open source philosophy, and there are already numerous modules and plugins for open source VLEs (eg Moodle Modules and plugins).

A related term Managed Learning Environment (MLE) refers to a VLE that is integrated with institutional administration systems, eg as soon as learners enrol on a course they are automatically granted access to course materials within the VLE, or when learners take an online test their grades are automatically fed into their student records.

Effective Use of VLEs - an online infoKit from the UK JISC which aims to enable tutors to make informed decisions, based on sound educational principles, about the use of technology in their teaching and their students' learning when using a VLE.