Virtual Classrooms

http://education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/onlinelearning/virtual-classroom.html
The article from The Learning Place provides a clear definition of the virtual classroom. A virtual classroom is private online space in Blackboard that teachers can use to support student learning. It is accessible via the Internet, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just like your face–to–face classroom, a Virtual Classroom is a busy place. It has several benefits for students and teachers as well. The classroom is available during and outside regular school hours. Students do not need web authoring skills. Lesson overviews, assessment tasks, criteria sheets, links to web resources, downloadable files, worksheets, and tutorials are all part of a well created online classroom. Teachers absent on sick leave or attending a professional development activity can leave work for their students in their Virtual Classroom and check progress. Students on holidays can also check in with their class.

Virtual classrooms have to be well organized, just like a traditional classroom. It includes calendar and timetables, unit overviews, important information for students and parents, student grade book, and criteria sheets. It may include a place for student comments, and student homepages. Students can submit drafts, plans and assessment items through the digital drop box, and their progress during collaborative projects can be tracked. Students can work together conveniently after class hours.

I believe that online learning is a great opportunity for learners to attend school, just like myself. It is especially successfully used by higher education institutions, like colleges and universities. Virtual classrooms are accessible whenever a learner is available, so you can be part of a learning community, even if you have to work, or have a family.

Virtual classrooms are the next generation classrooms, however many teachers do not want to develop full online learning courses. Further research would be useful how to help the teachers to use the internet to support student learning, and create clear and open forms of communication between the school, students, parents and community members.