Category: E-learning

As indicated by TC Global Insights (2020), “College isn’t just about course book learning and talks in class – it’s about the comprehensive experience of living on a grounds; it’s tied in with making deep-rooted companions and correspondence with individuals from different pieces of the world”. College education is tied in with having intense discussions sometime later overabundant cups of tea; it’s about amiability and flexibility – about figuring out how to live alone in another culture, new city, or even a new country. It trains you to be autonomous, as you move away from the solace of your home. In any case, the physical ‘blocks and concrete’ homeroom is beginning to lose its restraining infrastructure as the spot of learning. The Internet and the World Wide Web have rolled out huge improvements to practically all parts of our lives going from a worldwide economy, individual, and expert organizations to wellsprings of data, news, and learning. The Internet has made web-based learning conceivable, and numerous specialists and instructors are keen on web-based figuring out how to upgrade and further develop understudy learning results while fighting the decrease in assets, especially in advanced education. In addition, there have additionally been expansions popular for Internet gaining from understudies from varying backgrounds. Given the remarkable – some would say sharp – development of online training and its potential in advanced education, it is basic that specialists and instructors inspect the viability of Internet learning in teaching understudies and contrast with what degree online courses can supplant customary vis-à-vis learning.

Online learning has been on the ascent as of late, and it’s truly not difficult to perceive any reason why. That COVID has changed the manner in which we live isn’t news any longer. The deadly infection has prompted structural changes in pretty much every part of our lives – be it business, amusement, neighborliness, or schooling – we’re actually wrestling with the repercussions of these extreme changes. What we’re additionally discussing is the way perpetual these progressions are, and what the new ordinary in every one of these areas will be.

From one viewpoint, e-learning courses have gotten massively mainstream by the straightforward excellence of being a lot more helpful than conventional vis-à-vis courses. Understudies can fit them around their current obligations and responsibilities and can draw in with media content and learning materials at whatever time is generally advantageous to them. Surprisingly better: they don’t need to head out anyplace to examine, they can basically sign in to the virtual grounds from the solace of their own home or office.

There’s a second motivation behind why Internet learning has gotten so mainstream: it’s less expensive. Cost can frequently be a restrictive factor in why singular understudies don’t join up with courses they’re keen on. This is likewise an issue for partnerships who wish to urge their representatives to go through additional preparation, however, don’t have a very remarkable financial plan for meetings and preparing courses. Online courses are effectively available on a lot more modest spending plans.

Notwithstanding the accommodation and the expense, an enormous number of understudies are going to web-based learning courses since they have improved as a learning approach. Those understudies who are not kidding about working on their arrangement, mastering new abilities, and acquiring significant capabilities are quick to take a crack at the kind obviously that will be the best.

Admittedly, online education is data-consuming, secondly, it can be financially exclusive, and there are also some social constraints involved in online education. Nevertheless, there are some reasons why online learning can replace traditional classroom teaching. The first reason is that students learn more than they do in traditional courses. IBM has discovered that members learn multiple times more material in web-based learning courses utilizing media content than in conventional eye-to-eye courses. Since online courses give students full power over their own learning, students can work at their own speed. By and large, students work quicker than they would do something else and take in more data. They can move quicker through spaces of the course they feel OK with, yet more slowly through those that they need somewhat more time on.

Secondly, retention rates are higher with online learning. Numerous offline courses battle to hold understudies all through the length of the course. The Research Institute of America has tracked down that this isn’t the situation with e-learning. Maybe, online courses have expanded understudy degrees of consistency from anything from 25% to 60%. It’s been recommended that really captivating interactive media content, more command over how they take in the material and less probability of classes conflicting with different responsibilities all add to this ascent.

The third reason why online learning can replace traditional classroom teaching is that online learning requires less of a time investment. Numerous students are put off joining a face-to-face course because of the time speculation it will require. This by and large includes an opportunity to get to and fro to classes, in addition to the time spent hanging tight for guides and different understudies. A Brandon Hall report on e-learning inside partnerships tracked down that this way of adapting regularly requires 40-60% less representative time than learning in a conventional homeroom setting. It’s additionally key to take note of that e-learning choices by and large permit understudies to part the time they are putting resources into the course in whichever way works for them. They shouldn’t have the option to devote huge lumps of time to the course: it’ll work comparably well if they can save thirty minutes from their mid-day break every day.

Moreover, more frequent assessments can reduce distractions. An extraordinary aspect concerning web-based courses is that appraisal can turn out to be a greater amount of a continuous cycle. This is uplifting news for understudies as blending interactive media content and learning materials with customary short tests can further develop understudy commitment. Truth be told, research from Harvard showed that utilizing these short, customary tests halved understudy interruption, significantly increased note-taking, and understudies’ general maintenance of the substance improved. It’s likewise significant that the most frequent understudies are surveyed, the better their coaches can monitor their advancement. Expanded understudy following implies that guides can step in prior when help is required.

And finally, online learning is the greener option. Online learning is absolutely the more viable alternative for students, but at the same time, it’s better for the climate. The Open University in Britain has tracked down that online courses compare to a normal of 90% less energy and 85% fewer CO2 outflows per understudy than customary face-to-face courses. This surely makes Internet learning and interactive media content a more viable strategy for schooling in general. Advancing and participating in this sort of learning can help the two people and enterprises to do their touch for the climate and adhere to their very own natural objectives.

Summing up, the effectiveness of e-learning compared to classroom teaching include the following: flexibility, accessibility, clean energy, and convenience for learners; institutional cost savings and time savings over traditional classroom-based education; and ease in updating and revising courses. Learning is no longer confined to a certain time or place.

Parental engagement refers to communication, volunteering, particularly at the school where one’s children attend, promoting home learning, encouragement, decision-making, and community cooperation. It is the practices of support done by the parents, caregivers, and guardian to their children’s learning. The involvements of the parents can produce benefits to the learning performance of the students’ cognitive, social and emotional development, better parent-child relationship and increase community connection.

The parents referred are the parents, caregivers, guardian who have children who belong to the online learning. They are responsible of the support for the children’s need including education.

Parental student-focused engagement includes the parent’s involvement and support for the child at home. In changing behaviour and in providing engagement, families play a key role. Unfortunately, often children’s parents or guardians who have disciplinary problems remain away from school instead of taking advantage of themselves and giving the school the necessary help. Eradicating behavioral problems in learners would strengthen the self-discipline of students, thereby enhancing academic performance (Friescen & Osher 1996). It is quite ironic that parents whose children most need their help are the ones who hardly comply with teachers or get out of their way to support the educational activities of their children in order to strengthen their self-discipline.

According to Litke (1998), parents do vary on their level of engagement and grouped as absentee, supportive, or participatory. Parents who belong in absentee as those who are mostly busy on their work outside home and spend a little time to be engaged in their children’s education. Second is the supportive parents who are more active to the status of their children in school when their children were receiving low grades. Moreover, they are not consistent on being part of their children’s education. They would often ask the progress hof the student and occasionally talk to the student’s teacher. The last category is the participatory parents. Compare to the two other categories, these parents are consistent in their engagement with their children’s learning. The differences in the categories also vary in the result of the student’s performance. Hence, the involvement of the parents are necessary for achievement, encouragement, and accountability of the students in online learning.

As per the study conducted about the interaction of the parents on the students learning, parents claim that they spend an average of 86 minutes per week in being involved in their children’s education. On the other hand, five of the 79 parents were reported to be not being involved in their children’s learning.

Zimmerman and Kitsantas (2014 ) claim that earlier scholars, such as Duckworth and Seligman, who studied the effect on academic success of students ‘ self-discipline, concentrated on addressing performance issues. Students produce stronger academic performance, according to Zimmerman and Kitsantas (2014), when they concentrate on learning mechanisms that are set up to help learners achieve the opportunity to strengthen their academic skills. The findings showed that the GPA variance predicted by composite self-discipline was much smaller than the variance predicted by self-regulation. High academic success also shows the mastery of material by students, thus learning. Various studies have shown that students may have high IQs, but they do not achieve high academic success if they do not practice self-discipline.

The existence of internet and the variety of technologies made online learning possible. Online learning is an innovated way of learning that uses educational applications that can be accessed through the use of technologies as its platform. It is stated that 1.9 million students were enrolled at online learning. Also, 53% of schools agree is a long-term strategy as per the innovation of our technologies. It is also expected that the number of schools who apply online learning and students who are enrolled in online learning will continue to increase its number (As cited by Stem, 2003). The demand on e-learning is expected for it is vast and easy. Clearly it made education possible no matter where you currently at. It also made possible to people from a certain country be taught by another person from another country. It is worldwide that makes everything possible for a person to learn according to his or her own choice.

The ability to access lectures anytime and anywhere makes the online learning popular (Castro and Tumibay, 2019). It is also believed that e-learning is already equal to or may surpass the effectiveness and efficiency of face-to-face education since the demand of online learning has been growing yearly and it offers convenience while learning (As cited by Stem, 2003). E-learning may provide an easy access to students but e-learning also lessen the interaction of instructors to instructors, instructors to students, and students to students compare to the traditional classroom setting. In addition, less interaction makes students learn how to be independent because they have to catch up with the lesson. Online learning can be uninteresting because it is made easy and comfortable for the students, this can challenge one’s willingness to education.

Students who are enrolled to a school that offers online learning are online students. Online learning of students can be done in synchronous, asynchronous, blended, massive online open courses, and open schedule online courses. The type of online learning a student will be enrolled at would depend on the online school they are enrolled to. Although for online students e-learning is easy and convenient, e-learning also include disadvantages such as: sense of isolation due to lack of face-to-face interactions, students may also have difficulties in motivating their selves, difficulty in having immediate feedback, the consistent use and need of technology, and occasionally some difficult with accreditation.

Some student prefer online classes for it avoids them from travel time to class and problems regarding their respected schedules. Also, the flexibility for the students in term of being able to be committed to outside school activities like working, bonding with family and friends, and being able to enroll to numbers of online courses cause them to prefer do education online than the traditional way of education.

In America, six million Americans are interested in taking an online education. The number of students in e-learning keeps growing every year making the number of online classes increase also. In addition, online learning is cheaper than the traditional learning. Not only the undergraduate take online courses but also professionals are taking e-learning.

As for Philippines, despite of 107 million households that do not have access to internet or computer, student who are enrolled to a school is already an online student for they have to be safe from COVID-19 while continuing their education. It became a must to Philippines that every school must perform e-learning to help lessen the probability of the spread of the said virus. Thus, e-learning made education possible despite of the country’s crisis.

Digital education plays a major role in the process of learning and teaching students around the world. Electronic education is an important part of our lives because of its popularity, companies and organizations have become using digital education because of the importance and efficiency in facilitating the online process via the Internet. The advantages of digital education effectively affect the continuity of the digital education process, and there are also some disadvantages that may face any service provided on the Internet.The challenges facing users are those that test whether digital education is appropriate for schools, universities or companies based on the role of the teacher in the school and university or the role of the administrator in preparing for these challenges. Opportunities and developments are what any system seeks to improve from the quality of the services provided, taking into account the obstacles that affect the progress of the educational process..

The Digital education is a large part of the educational system worldwide. It allows students and teachers to perform all tasks such as tests and assignments and explain the lectures online via the private website of each university. Although digital education is effective in its performance, it may negatively affect the traditional education process, such as going to university, but the objective is to continue the educational process without interruption, whether it is through the traditional way or through online education or what called digital education.[4]

It might stem from learners who aren’t enthusiastic about the content or aren’t interested in the subject matter. To overcome this hurdle, it’s important to make the eLearning course as engaging and inspiring as possible and you can make them more effective to make them to achieve and interesting your learners.

Sometimes a learner is not able to see the value or benefit of the eLearning course, and especially how the subject matter is going to help him/her in the real world. For learners to become truly engaged in the overall eLearning process, they have to be aware of how the content is going to translate in real world settings. Even the most informative eLearning courses aren’t going to be effective if learners aren’t made aware of how the material can help to improve their lives, either personally or professionally. To tackle this eLearning roadblock, you may want to integrate simulations or eLearning scenarios that help the learner to see how they can apply the information they’ve learned in real life, you can offer real example in real world or group collaboration project that are based around problems or issues they might encounter regularly outsides of the virtual classroom .

On the other hand Learning Management Systems and elearning can offer a lot of interesting opportunities. Here’s a few:

One of the greatest things about elearning is that the software and technology can easily evolve according to new pedagogical theories. Everyone is talking about Gamification and learners are asking for it? – no problem. You just need to develop a new module in your training platform and instantly get all the benefits to all your learners.

As I mentioned before, nowadays elearning can be delivered also via mobile devices. This means that people can start learning pretty much everywhere, any time they want. Learners can take courses during their morning commute to their workplace by simply bringing their smartphones along with them!

In order to gather useful information, and data you can actually use, you have to be extremely precise while reporting by using standards and a unified approach. Thanks to modern technologies it’s extremely easy to automatically create reports that fit your needs, no matter how many learners you’re trying to evaluate.

Obviously it’s important to get reports right away, but it’s also very important to keep your data and reports in a place where you will be able to retrieve them at any time for future analysis and history tracking. Say no to huge paper folders that can easily get lost or ruined. It’s now time to leverage databases and online storage to keep your learner’s records in a permanent and easy to browse organizational system.

Higher education is a resource for sustainability. In order for students to be able to assume their responsibilities and responsibilities towards society, you must have a foundation based on experience, knowledge, and innovation, and students must be among the graduate support programs that prepare them to maintain sustainability, and they must be able to achieve community goals. This can only be achieved if there are qualified and experienced faculty and administrative staff to assume this responsibility.

•However, the consequences for students and teachers alike in using a blackboard may vary between universities depending on the efficiency of the technology used as well as training on how to use and handle the blackboard. Each university also has its own evaluation system based on university laws and policies on how to use the board and use it in a correct and appropriate way for everyone.

Education is the essence of development and progress, whether at the individual level or the collective level, and gives a valuable interactive addition to economic and social groups and makes learning more enjoyable and exciting.

Learning is obligatory up to a convinced age. Learning is an extensive intermediate of obtaining necessary knowledge and skills. Learning is inherently split into two types i.e., distance education (virtual learning) and mainstream education (real learning). Has we know learning online is an immense concept. The term online learning, virtual learning, e-learning, distance learning is identical. Each one of them refers to act of applying technology and software in learning. Virtual learning indicates that it is an arrangement that furnish tutor digitally-based clarification anticipates at constituting reciprocal, progressive learning environment. Notably virtual learning made use of computer software and the Internet to convey guidance to learner. Whereas the term real learning, traditional learning and offline are one and the same. Real learning is generally face-to-face learning reciprocal action that takes place in a materialistic locale. This refers to lecture-based learning where educators provide guidance to students. Virtual learning and real learning both are the concepts of learning but how students engage in that process is slightly different. Virtual learning has received much attention in this epidemic circumstance. This technological era made our works much effortless because Internet technology has been considered as an important medium for many aspects of our lives including academic learning. In these prevailing conditions virtual learning has made students busy in obtaining education. This study compared the student perspective towards virtual and real learning, even though virtual learning boost traditional learning, students are satisfied with real learning. This study sought to compare virtual and real learning are two level- usage or adoption of technologies, level of satisfaction. Though these comparisons, we investigated whether students are opting for virtual or real learning, due to face-to-face interaction, immediate responses and flexibility student view is towards real learning.

Objectives of the Study

• The main objective of this research is to know the level of fulfillment in virtual learning.
• To know the awareness, cleverness and posture of students towards virtual learning.
• To know how digitalization works in higher education sector in current pandemic situation.

Review of Literature

According to Valentine, before any discussion of virtual learning we need to look at the way the term has been defined in the past and how it is currently defined in the literature. Virtual learning has been around for well over 100 years. One of the earlier forms of virtual learning was done through correspondence courses started in Europe. This stayed the primary means of distance learning until the middle of this century when instructional radio and television became more popular.

As technology has change, so as the definitions of virtual learning. Videotaped lectures have been started in university and professional courses for the last two decades (Moore and Lockee, 1998). In these days the Internet and compressed video have taken virtual learning in new directions, and also, they allow virtual learning to occur in real time. Live video instruction is the most popular and fastest growing delivery mode in the United States (Ostendorf, 1997). But real learning plays very big role in student satisfaction level.

Impact of Virtual and Real Learning

The existing condition of Covid-19 has resulted in shutoff all the institutions and universities over the universe, this consequence situation altered education system completely, with the idiosyncratic hike of distance learning, where learning is tackled remotely on digital platforms. Essentially considering students health, on popular demand by the government and concerned education departments to make students engaged with their academics, universities are offering e-learning. By the immediate transformation of traditional learning to virtual learning, these impact on student level of fulfillment. Classes on Microsoft teams, Skype, Zoom, Google meet are becoming problematic to learners because classes get disturbed due to Internet issues. Even though student doesn’t have specific knowledge on using the technologies related to virtual learning it is necessary to go with virtual learning rather than real learning only to avoid the wide spread of Covid-19.

Expansion in virtual learning prepare student to utter numerous courses, training programs with in a time span. In reality learners are haste to complete their courses for the certification desire, rather than procuring more proficiency.

Level of Student Satisfaction in Virtual Learning and Real Learning

Tutoring is not only the process of gushing knowledge into a learner’s head but also to make students to engage in learning. In real learning fundamentally students are accommodated in a particular classroom space which generate focus and interest to learners towards studies. Educator interaction with learners at appropriate time impact positively on learners these leads to students’ high level of satisfaction. In virtual learning through one-to-one learning, there is no chance for group learning or personal interaction between the teacher and the students, this has a negative effect and possibly their chances of being less satisfied.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

90% respondents indicated high level of satisfaction with real learning and 10% were disagree, where as 11% respondents of virtual learning indicate high level of satisfaction and 89% were disagree.

The students of UG and PG were considered for this survey who pursuing their degree in various institutions and universities.

Educator role is extremely important in learning environment. Educators well-timed reply empathetically impact student satisfaction. The face-to-face interaction of teacher and student are tremendously impressive and students adore the learning environment.

Government and concerned educational departments need to work on the developmental programs of virtual learning which is beneficiary for learners. If they are not gratified then the concept of virtual learning is onerous to extend. Here educator and learner face-to-face interaction and quick responses are the main points that lead towards student satisfaction. If these two factors are undoubtedly entertained then student fulfillment will increase otherwise, it leads to student dis satisfaction.

Awareness, Cleverness and Posture of Students Towards E-Learning

Learning is obtaining of knowledge and getting expertise in something by study. Learning can be expedited by directly means student individually visit classes conducted in the institutions or by indirectly means such as virtual learning. The current study investigates the awareness, cleverness and posture of students towards virtual learning. It is known that technology assist learners to become maverick, efficient and investigator and also it can mislead learners if they become regular practitioner of technology. In these pervasive circumstances unexpected shift from real learning to virtual learning found problematic to students because they don’t have required knowledge in adoption and usage of tools related to virtual learning (this is not with every student) learner awareness and cleverness also depend on system and home environment. Not everybody knows how to use tools related to virtual learning, students with IT background can use related technologies and tools without any complication, where as if we take into consideration of students except IT background students doesn’t have specific awareness in usage of tools.

In the survey students of commerce background were taken into consideration. 47.6% of respondents indicate that they don’t have knowledge regarding the usage of tools or technologies 38.1% of respondents indicate that somehow they can manage with the available tools, 14.3% of respondents indicate that they doesn’t have required tools related to virtual learning

To bring awareness and cleverness in usage of technologies among the student government and other education departments should give various programs to learners to get specific knowledge related to usage of tools.

Conclusion

Student satisfaction level is one of the main pillars of learning. The research suggest that satisfaction level of graduate students is not up to the mark due to various reasons like no face-to-face interaction among educator and learners and also dis connectivity of classes due to issues with the Internet. If concerned education departments and government work on these factors virtual learning can increase the satisfaction level among the learners. The survey indicates that most of the student does not have required knowledge in the usage of tools and technologies related to virtual learning. Here ministry of higher education department should consider the student awareness towards the technology and should educate learners by IT professionals regarding the adoption or using of tools and technologies.

The growing adoption of modern information and communications technologies (ICT) in the dissemination of pertinent information through the Internet tools has occasioned significant improvements in both teaching and learning experiences among lecturers and students. Sneha & Nagaraja (2013) submitted that, one notable online platform for achieving enhanced quality educational outcomes are virtual learning environments (VLEs).

Wikipedia (2020) defines a virtual learning environment (VLE) as “a web-based platform for the digital aspects of courses of study, usually within educational institutions”. The 2008 UK educational policy was driven towards the adoption of VLEs to enable student have access to online classroom learning information that will improve their learning experience (Ronnie, 2011).

These learning management systems have over time been proven to be very effective for teaching complete online courses with millions of students taking such courses at their convenience from different locations across the globe (Rahmany, Sadeghi & Chegini, 2014). Thus, Barker & Gossman (2013) explained that the principal goal of VLEs is to facilitate, stimulate and offer learning experiences that are well established outside the physical classroom engagements.

Rationale

VLEs have been widely adopted in several learning institutions at various times for enhancing learning processes. However, the exact nature of its impact has been reportedly mixed. For instance, Posey, Burgess, Eason & Jones (n.d.), Barker & Gossman (2013) and Mosquera (2017) found that, VLEs boost academic performance, meet the learning needs of all students and prepare administrators, educators, and students with current progress and performance reports.

Nevertheless, Godwin-Jones (2012) and Walker & White (2013) have argued that, VLEs are a waste of time, drains students, promotes social class variations, a worthless resource with no value addition to the teaching-learning process, an institution-oriented rather than a teacher-oriented system, which discourages many instructors. Consequently, in order to validate the actual impact (positive or negative) of VLEs on students’ learning experience, the study of this nature becomes essential.

Research Objective

Essentially, the study aimed at examining the impact of VLE on students’ learning experience at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, London Campus using both primary and secondary research approaches.

Literature Review

This current study draws from earlier studies of Dudeney & Hockly (2007), Green, Brown & Robinson (2008), Mogus, Đurđević & Šuvak (2012), Barker & Gossman (2013), among others, who offered a detailed conceptualization of virtual learning environments in relation to their impacts on the general learning environment. As earlier emphasized, VLE represents a virtual teaching/learning space such as video or Web conferencing which is designed to enable instructors and learners to interact over the Internet (Dudeney & Hockly, 2007).

Relevant information regarding class activities, instructional resources, and regular coursework are shared with the aid of VLE Moodle (Green, Brown & Robinson, 2008). Thus, students can simply login to the class online portal to access all available information relating to their course structure, complete their assignments and tests and, make online submissions accordingly (Christensson, 2008).

It is worth knowing that, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 and the eventual enforcement of the 2020 global lockdown, a large number of institutions of learning have fully resorted to the use of VLEs with students now having access to scheduled online exams and submissions within the time frame (Soni, 2020; Ahmady, Shahbazi & Heidari, 2020). These technologies have in can in several ways assist learners to gain easy access to a bulk of educational resources irrespective of their location.

The growing application of Web 2.0 programs, chat rooms, e-mail, or online fora is gradually replacing the physical classroom meetings thus, facilitating students’ access to the desired information (Safa, 2012). These programs also stimulate regular interaction and collaborations among instructors and learners with a number of individuals now transiting to virtual schooling (Solomon & Schrum, 2010).

A number of earlier studies on the link between a VLE and students’ learning experience, have been documented with several empirical outcomes. For instance, a study by Ronnie (2011) showed that a VLE effectively boosts student Learning through the provision of real-time responses and feed-forward to students in the London borough secondary school with greater motivation to correct their work and take full responsibility for their learning. Barker & Gossman (2013) found that, the use of VLEs Moodle exerted a positive and statistically significant impact on student’s independent learning and learning outcomes in the UK.

Rahmila (2015) also found that the use of virtual learning for sharing materials, posting notes and other up-to-date information, wields positive effects on students learning outcomes in Indonesia. Study of Clarence (2017) showed that, simplicity of usage, instructor assistance, learner control, technical capability, technical support, as well as visual learning tools, significantly influence the use of a VLE in promoting skills development. Mosquera (2017) found that, students feel excited and inspired towards the application of VLEs in Colombia. They however noted that, the principal threats to application of VLEs include inefficient educational technologies, low laboratories and computers capacity in addition to delayed Internet connectivity.

Research Methodology

Research Method and Methodology

The study adopted a combination of survey and case study research methods for the collection of relevant information, while the method of data analysis includes frequency and percentage distribution as well as graphical analysis of the responses.

Quantitative, Qualitative and Combine Approach

The research approach adopted in this study include both quantitative and qualitative approach. Essentially, in the course of gathering and analyzing data, quantitative research entails the use of numbers and statistics like time spent on VLE, whereas qualitative research relies on the use of words and connotations like list of benefits and challenges of VLE.

Data: Primary and Secondary Data

The primary data used in this study are direct products of the author’s survey and case study through research instruments, while the secondary data employed in the study were generated from previous empirical studies for further discussion.

Data Collection Process

The data were collected using research instruments (questionnaire, class notes and lecturer’s narratives) in the course of the survey and case study. Quantitative data were collected using close-ended and Likert Scale questions, while the qualitative data were collected using open-ended questions which enabled the participants to express their observations regarding VLEs implementation and their learning experience.

Population, Sample and Sample Size

The population of the study comprised all the students at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, London Campus. However, a sample of 24 students was drawn from Health and Social Care department for convenience and easy accessibility.

Ethics in Data Collection

During the survey, no respondent was compelled to fill in any section of the survey questionnaire under coercion, and all information given was handled with strict confidentiality. There was no observed nor perceived conflict of interest between concerned parties and all literatures have been cautiously cited with a list of references provided in the reference section. Explicitly, the data were processed and utilized solely for the objective of this study. Thus, only the researcher can access the raw data stored on a password-protected computer.

Result/Findings, Analysis and Discussion

Primary Data Analysis

Essentially, the data extracted from the research instruments were transferred to Excel spread sheet further analysis, leading to the production of frequency and percentage tables and graphical representations of the quantitative responses. The result revealed that, out of the 24 students that participated in the survey, 11 (45.8%) of them reportedly use laptops, while 2 (8.3%) use a desktop. Similarly, 6 (25%) use tablets, while 5 (20.8%) use smartphones for virtual learning. Thus, most students access the VLE using laptops, followed by tablets and smartphones.

The result also showed that, 3 (12.5%) students received average satisfaction, while 16 (66.7%) feel good about online classes with 5 (20.8) of them judging it to be excellent in the course of the study. Thus, most student have good impression about the implementation of VLEs. It was further established that, all the 24 students (100%) reportedly have the quality of their learning improved using the Moodle. Also, 4 (16.7%) of the students indicated that their lecturers are moderately helpful, 17 (70.8%) indicated that, their lecturers are very helpful, while 3 (12.5%) indicated that, their lecturers are extremely helpful when studying online. Logically, most of the lecturers are very helpful to student who use VLEs to study.

In terms of the usefulness and familiarity of the students with the application of Microsoft Teams, 1 (4.2%) of the student adjudged it to be slightly useful, while 13 (54.2%) of them deemed it to be moderately useful. 10 (41.7%) of them adjudged the program to be very useful to them during online academic activities. Thus, Microsoft Teams remains useful for virtual learning.

In terms of play times, students were asked to rank how they manage their time while learning online. The result showed that, 3 (12.5%) and 2(8.3%) of the student ranked themselves 5 and 6 respectively, while 8 (33.3%), 9 (37.5%) and 2(8.3%) of the them ranked themselves 7, 8 and 9 respectively. Thus, most students properly manage 70-80% of their play time, when learning online.

In terms of academic schedule, students were asked to rank how they manage their time while learning online. The result showed that, 2(8.3%) and 5 (20.8%) of the student ranked themselves 5 and 6 respectively, while 7 (29.2%), 8 (33.3%) and 2(8.3%) of the them ranked themselves 7, 8 and 9 respectively. Therefore, most students properly manage 70-80% of their academic schedule time, when learning online.

In terms of daily time consumption on virtual learning, it was gathered that, 4 (16.7%) of them spend 1-3 hours on virtual learning daily, while 14 (58.3%) and 6(25%) of them spend 3-5 hours and 5-7 hours daily. This suggests that most students spend 3-5 hours on virtual learning daily, while few of the spend 1-3 hours on same activities.

In terms of the overall students’ experience with the VLE Moodle platform of UWTSD, 10 (41.7%) of the students considered their learning experience somewhat better, while 14 (58.3%) considered their learning experience much better. Thus, the implementation of VLEs significantly enhance students learning experience.

The use of VLE proved to be yielding enormous benefits such as regular information about course works, access to online resource materials, proper guide on coursework among others, while the disadvantages include connection problems, poor concentration, among others, with Internet connection problem and delays dominating the list of problem noted by the participants.

Secondary Data Analysis

A study of Rogers (2004) reported that VLE boost students’ learning outcomes by 79%, while traditional teaching approaches only enhance of student learning by 28%. Also, Barker & Gossman (2013) found that 75.8% of students have easy access to VLE, while 20.6% of the students encounter difficulties when utilizing the VLE Moodle. It was further established that 53% of students have their learning outcome improved through the VLE Moodle. Rahmila (2015) found that, 50% of students engage in online learning with 92.5% having their learning experience significantly improved and 2.5% having no improvement.

Sclater, Peasgood & Mullan (2016) established that VLE accounted for 25% of the differences in students’ final grades. Paulo, Luísa & Carlos (2017) found a 60% positive relationship between students’ access to the VLE and students’ academic performance in Portugal, given 80.0% of student having very high accesses to online learning platforms. Mosquera (2017) noted that, VLE enhanced the learning experience of 75.46% of students.

Summary of Findings

The major findings of the study include: most students access the VLE using laptops and have good impression about the implementation of VLEs. Also, all the students have their learning improved using the Moodle, most of the lecturers are very helpful to student who use VLEs to study, most students appropriately manage 70-80% of their play and academic schedule time, when learning online, while most students spend 3-5 hours on virtual learning daily.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The study shows that, the use of VLE proved to be yielding enormous benefits such as regular information about course works, access to online resource materials, proper guide on coursework among others, while the disadvantages include connection problems, poor concentration, among others, with Internet connection problem and delays dominating the list of problems noted by the participants. However, when those problems are adequately addressed, the implementation of technology-based learning will significantly enhance students learning experience.

The study therefore recommend that the University of Wales Trinity Saint David should swiftly make efforts to address the problems highlighted in this study to enable both students and lecturers to tap from the enormous benefits of VLEs implementation. Also, free Internet access should be provided for the student to enhance access to the VLE Moodle.

Education is extremely important in the life of people. Whether it’s online or in a school or college. Nowadays online learning turns out to be more and more practiced around the world due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic. Online Learning represents an easy and comfortable method to achieve knowledge from the comfort of your home. I agree that virtual learning is the better way of learning these days especially due to Covid-19 spreading all across the world.

Online Learning proves to be a good way to learn as well. Students have the choice to study on their own time. It represents a great way to study many fields and subjects and helps to build up self-motivation. Online learning is very effective because students can finish their homework quickly and there is more time left for daily-life activities and hobbies such as household chores and family activities.

A cheap and reliable internet connection is good enough to attend an online class, it makes virtual learning very cheap. This will help people who have financial problems. Virtual learning is the only way for people to study during the current Covid-19 Pandemic. All schools and educational institutes are closed to avoid anyone getting infected by the virus and therefore putting their lives at risk.

Furthermore, Virtual learning gives the opportunity for all people regardless of their nationality and color to communicate with each other and be friends. Students and Teachers are able to communicate through VOIP. Zoom and Microsoft Classrooms have developed to become of the leading virtual learning software’s with a lot of good tools and features for students and teachers.

Virtual learning does indeed have disadvantages as well. Power breakdowns and internet connectivity issues are very common which may make the teacher or student not attend the class. Cheating is also very common in virtual learning as the teacher does not know exactly what you are doing at all times. For some people, the lack of opportunity to express their knowledge in words can make a negative impact on knowledge assimilation.

Education is very important in the life of every person. Without education, no one can get a good job and earn money for themselves and for their family support. Virtual learning is a great way to study during these hard times, it is much safer and cheaper.

Compact application joining into e-learning structures to help report and evaluation over various stages for giving reactions is of earnest essentialness in the informational division. Various establishments delay in creating reports for their understudies and this influence show speedy decision is made similarly as assessing their execution both by the association and their people. Access to flexible mechanized contraptions with arranging supports for e-learning are compelled to develop high information move limit media correspondences establishments leaving the remaining isolates and less access to a relationship with such system. What’s more, furthermore there are up ’til now different informational foundations who don’t have their results on the web, prepare or give school brings about a customary way. Most of them use different programming and database to set up their results yet don’t give contributions to structures adequately accessible to understudies from different geographical areas with different access media interchanges organizations. To deal with the above-communicated issue, this work gave the periods of plan and progression of online result gateway system to support helpful, convincing and successfully open data sources. The structure supervises understudy academic records and creates reports for examination on understudy execution and contributions for understudies, watchmen, etc. This system has both on the web and detached capacities regarding the web and this made it proper for both nation and urban use for various schools. The passage structure gives minute access to educational reports similarly as a phase for reports age.

E-learning arrangements are accepting a basic activity in the way we pass on activities and give contributions to our enlightening structures in current time. With all of these responsibility of massive online open courseware systems and e-learning stages, only an automated zone of our overall population with better use to specific media transmission organizations have busy with the determination and seems to benefit by the dedication of e-learning instruments with dynamic substance capacities. These are those with higher openness to consistent power supply and high data transfer capacity organize framework and further with access to gadgets with abilities to help web2.0 advances. . Notwithstanding the way that learning structures are supported today in hybrid shapes than to unadulterated e-learning movement subordinate in regards to the issue being told and when everything is said in done, the recently referenced elements, for instance, receptiveness to such advancements limits doesn’t exist much of the time. Accordingly for specific organizations for most e-learning structures needs a cross stage approach to manage support interoperability between these applications, so a cross stage undertakings can be enough deployable, for instance, understudies getting their assessments as SMS organizations, portion of costs by methods for flexible money organizations, watchmen getting to gives a record of understudies by methods for versatile organizations, visits assessable by methods for SMS, application organizations, etc. Thusly in our strategy, we consolidated our structure with the ultimate objective that report organizations and various kinds of reactions can be accessible using disparate contraptions.

E-Learning can be shown as an product reply for educational purposes, which relies upon theoretical estimates, slants in abstract science, man-made cognizance, and instructing method. The Learning Management System approach in formal guidance molded an explanation behind a reliable eLearning stage that followed checks and best practices they are recommended by acceptable enlightening and corporate accomplices in the creating e-Learning market. Such an answer is utilized in instructive offices for the plan and execution period of courses that help homeroom preparing .

E-taking in has been experiencing changes from its reality regarding its adjustment and incorporation of new advances also the figuring in of the necessities of the student. It has risen up out of being an extreme thought – the viability of which was yet to be demonstrated – to something that is broadly viewed as standard for supporting lesson conveyance. It is the center to various marketable strategies and an administration offered by most schools and colleges. What’s more, presently, e-learning has been advancing with the World Wide Web in general [3]. As for cutting edge instruction, a regularly expanding number of data are available on the enthusiasm for electronically passed on cutting edge training, or advanced training. Factual reviewing revelations will all in all be held immovably by monetary researchers and their clients. Data are available in the open space yet enthusiasm for cutting edge instruction has been on the development and similarly as enthusiasm for e-propelled training. The rapid joining of different stages to support particular contraptions and empowering systems in the insightful condition is a test inside the field of information development due to rapidly creating progresses. In the field of acknowledging, where learning the officials systems are used for courses progression, their mix with various stages and applications are getting the opportunity to be captivating, explicitly with automated vaults.

Díaz, Francisco Javier, et al. in their work portrayed the joining of Moodle with the DSpace archive. The joining procedure comprised of two phases, so as to set up full correspondence to and from the store. The correspondence from Moodle to the storehouse was accomplished by exchanging components. Their new stage executed a particular module so as to set up correspondence the other way and permit exchanging assets from the LMS to the storehouse. The module turned out to be helpful for instructive material that can be made freely accessible through an archive and in this way rising above the fringes of an instructive domain.

The dedication of eLearning in numerous homerooms nowadays with the most notable one, Moodle, has changed the learning and demonstrating experiences of both the understudy and the educator independently. Following a long time of the utilization of learning the administrators systems in homerooms, indicating practice, there has been creating stressed over the understudy correspondence and analysis affinities with these structures.

In crafted by Hölbl, M., and T. Welzer, they presented the experiences and delayed consequences of a survey with respect to Moodle and eLearning. They explored the trades capacities of Moodle. They further showed an assessment of understudies’ info affinities using Moodle concerning the assessing of educators, indicating accomplices and the course all things considered and besides explored understudy’s general slant on eLearning and experiences with particular issue while using Moodle they researched understudy usage of Moodle’s correspondence limits. Tragically, it was detectable that understudies are not as prepared and energized as their instructors to use correspondence capacities in Moodle, particularly impelled web 2.0 correspondence segments like social events, talks, web diaries, and wikis. One of the results is showed up in the graph in figure one underneath. Most of these segments are at a high rate unused by the understudies assessed understudies. The clarifications behind such direct of understudies were found to show up as something different..A genuinely high level of understudies guarantee that they were currently acquainted with the particular correspondence abilities. This was somewhat unforeseen since similar abilities were utilized by understudies every day at other website pages (for example at the personnel’s site page). Different reasons why understudies don’t utilize correspondence abilities included absence of time or basically that they would prefer not to utilize them.

In giving an amazing stage to analysis on results by methods for organizations, for instance, SMS, etc we proposed a system that regulates understudy educational records and makes reports for assessment on understudy execution and contributions for gatekeepers, understudies in SMS talk conversations, etc. This structure has both on the web and detached capacities as for the web and this made it sensible for both common and urban use for various schools. The passageway structure gives minute access to educational reports similarly as a phase for reports age.

In giving an astounding stage to examination on results by techniques for associations, for example, SMS, and so on we proposed a framework that directs understudy instructive records and makes reports for appraisal on understudy execution and commitments for guardians, understudies in SMS talk discussions, and so on. This structure has both on the web and detached capacities as for the web and this made it sensible for both common and urban use for various schools. The passageway structure gives minute access to educational reports similarly as a phase for reports age. Direct observations of processes were done as well.

The last application has capacities of preparing messages from SMS administrations to discussions, ready students on assignments, and they give feedback to and from understudies. The System likewise scatters data to guardians/gatekeepers to get data on understudy progress and exceptional needs by connecting with comprehensive new methodologies of parent’s association in direction and guiding procedure of the understudy. The framework connects the distance between different application correspondences. students in-country networks just as guardians who don’t approach advanced cells can likewise get some degree of criticisms and reports from the assembled framework.

When is the time we ever stop learning? We adapt to the digital era by learning, and it also adapts the way we learn. We used to rely on traditional learning because it was the most efficient way of learning. E-learning, a new form of learning we implement starting this digital era. E-learning manifest some new possibilities, it is more cost-friendly, it lessens limitation, better accessibility to learning materials.

The cost of learning varies dramatically, depending on the learning method. Cost of learning methods is affected by various factors. To reduce transportation fees, the student must rent a unit around the school, which is costly. “For many college students, living costs may exceed the cost of tuition and fees, as affordable housing options are becoming increasingly hard to find.” (Screenivasa, Wise, 2019). However, transportation fees and rental will not be a burden for e-learning student. In addition, usually, traditional learning could be more expensive compare to e-learning when it comes to the fees of learning materials and tuition fees. E-learning is more cost-friendly as there are fewer expenses.

Both learning methods have their own limitations. According to Singh (2019), traditional learning process is carried out in a supervised environment. Li, Qi, Wang and Wang (2014) claimed that The learning behaviour in a supervised environment tends to be passive. It is confined to a fixed time period and a particular location for students to be present to attend lectures. Space and times do not limit e-learning, students can attend the lecture through the internet from anywhere, anytime they want, providing them more flexibilities. E-learning covers a broader range of practices (Bates, 2005, p.9). However, attending lectures through internets is one of the advantages of e-learning method and it is also a limitation. If some students have a limited amount of internet access, exercises and participation they received will be less compared to others (University of Illinois Springfield, n.d.). Although both learning methods have limitations, the limitation of e-learning is easier to overcome in today’s advanced world.

Learning materials play a significant role in learning, it helps people to have a better understanding. In the case of traditional learning method, it requires a textbook and it is costly. The textbook will eventually be outdated, damaged or lost. Eventually leading students to buy a new textbook. E-book usually cost less than the physical textbook, as there is no need for printing and delivery expenses. Also, it does not require maintenance, it will update to the latest version automatically, and students can review it whenever they want. The e-book has a greater value against the traditional textbook inefficiency.

Everything considered, although there are some advantages only traditional learning can provide, the fact of e-learning being much efficient is undeniable. We might not be able to completely adapt to e-learning now, but it is definitely the future way of learning. E-learning created many new paths for us to explore, it allows us to study ably.

E-Learning is learning utilizing electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom (Elearningnc.gov, 2019). South Africa’s public education system is going through massive transformation, moving away from limited educational opportunities based on race and poverty levels to social and educational inclusiveness.

Most of e-learning systems are oriented to support higher academic levels of education. However, soon after the universities, many high schools also have implemented e-learning systems as an additional option to the traditional educational process(Nikolova et al 2008).

The idea of e-learning is to empower learners to absorb personal accomplishment, basic schooling or to obtain a certificate, without actually attending the school or any other academic institute(Edsys, 2019). The major advantage of e-learning lies in its flexibility and ability to cover distances(Van Thinh, 2016).

From a secondary school’s perspective, E-learning frees up school resources, enabling teachers and teacher aides to focus on students who need even more help and can be used to deliver extension courses for bright, motivated students to further accelerate their learning(The Yale Tribune, 2019). According to Temitope (2015), e-Learning alleviates educators’ workload; it allows more interactions between educators and learners; and it makes teaching and learning resources more available.

According to Arkorful and Abaidoo (2014), The disadvantages of e-learning include:

Deterioration of institutions’ socialization role and also the role of instructors as the directors of the process of education.

Since tests for assessments in e-learning are possibly done with the use of proxy, it will be difficult, if not impossible to control or regulate bad activities like cheating.

When it comes to improvement in communication skills of learners, e-learning as a method might have a negative effect. The learners. Though might have an excellent knowledge in academics, they may not possess the needed skills to deliver their acquired knowledge to others.

To curb the problem of students taking notes or cramming when a teacher delivers a lesson in class, the Gauteng Education MEC launched a digital e-learning platform at a Soshanguve East Secondary School on the 16th of October (Mahlase, 2019). While it has many benefits, the e-learning approach also faces many challenges. As is well known, a significant segment of the population still does not have access to the Internet or lacks the required IT skills(Shraima and Khlaifb, 2010). This places into question the e-readiness of south african schools to allow for the widespread adoption of E-Learning technologies.

The World Bank (2002) categorizes e-readiness criteria into four components: Connectivity (the quality and extent of Internet infrastructure), Capability (a country’s ability to deliver and consume e-Learning), Content (the quality and pervasiveness of online learning materials) and Human capacity Policy and Cultural environment whereby the legal and regulatory environment affecting the ICT sector is considered, and finally the size of the ICT sector.

South Africa currently ranks 46th and 75th globally on a variety of metrics termed ‘readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution’(Janse van Rensburg, 2019). We can therefore deduce that there is an immense load of research and implementation work that needs to be carried out across the country. The sole purpose of said research and relative work is to bring the country to a more formidable ranking within the readiness scale, in order to provide adequate value and support to our high school students. Since most of the research on the topic of E-Learning is targeted at Higher education, this study aims to contribute to enhancing our understanding within the high school domain.

As indicated by TC Global Insights (2020), “College isn’t just about course book learning and talks in class – it’s about the comprehensive experience of living on a grounds; it’s tied in with making deep-rooted companions and correspondence with individuals from different pieces of the world”. College education is tied in with having intense discussions sometime later overabundant cups of tea; it’s about amiability and flexibility – about figuring out how to live alone in another culture, new city, or even a new country. It trains you to be autonomous, as you move away from the solace of your home. In any case, the physical ‘blocks and concrete’ homeroom is beginning to lose its restraining infrastructure as the spot of learning. The Internet and the World Wide Web have rolled out huge improvements to practically all parts of our lives going from a worldwide economy, individual, and expert organizations to wellsprings of data, news, and learning. The Internet has made web-based learning conceivable, and numerous specialists and instructors are keen on web-based figuring out how to upgrade and further develop understudy learning results while fighting the decrease in assets, especially in advanced education. In addition, there have additionally been expansions popular for Internet gaining from understudies from varying backgrounds. Given the remarkable – some would say sharp – development of online training and its potential in advanced education, it is basic that specialists and instructors inspect the viability of Internet learning in teaching understudies and contrast with what degree online courses can supplant customary vis-à-vis learning.

Online learning has been on the ascent as of late, and it’s truly not difficult to perceive any reason why. That COVID has changed the manner in which we live isn’t news any longer. The deadly infection has prompted structural changes in pretty much every part of our lives – be it business, amusement, neighborliness, or schooling – we’re actually wrestling with the repercussions of these extreme changes. What we’re additionally discussing is the way perpetual these progressions are, and what the new ordinary in every one of these areas will be.

From one viewpoint, e-learning courses have gotten massively mainstream by the straightforward excellence of being a lot more helpful than conventional vis-à-vis courses. Understudies can fit them around their current obligations and responsibilities and can draw in with media content and learning materials at whatever time is generally advantageous to them. Surprisingly better: they don’t need to head out anyplace to examine, they can basically sign in to the virtual grounds from the solace of their own home or office.

There’s a second motivation behind why Internet learning has gotten so mainstream: it’s less expensive. Cost can frequently be a restrictive factor in why singular understudies don’t join up with courses they’re keen on. This is likewise an issue for partnerships who wish to urge their representatives to go through additional preparation, however, don’t have a very remarkable financial plan for meetings and preparing courses. Online courses are effectively available on a lot more modest spending plans.

Notwithstanding the accommodation and the expense, an enormous number of understudies are going to web-based learning courses since they have improved as a learning approach. Those understudies who are not kidding about working on their arrangement, mastering new abilities, and acquiring significant capabilities are quick to take a crack at the kind obviously that will be the best.

Admittedly, online education is data-consuming, secondly, it can be financially exclusive, and there are also some social constraints involved in online education. Nevertheless, there are some reasons why online learning can replace traditional classroom teaching. The first reason is that students learn more than they do in traditional courses. IBM has discovered that members learn multiple times more material in web-based learning courses utilizing media content than in conventional eye-to-eye courses. Since online courses give students full power over their own learning, students can work at their own speed. By and large, students work quicker than they would do something else and take in more data. They can move quicker through spaces of the course they feel OK with, yet more slowly through those that they need somewhat more time on.

Secondly, retention rates are higher with online learning. Numerous offline courses battle to hold understudies all through the length of the course. The Research Institute of America has tracked down that this isn’t the situation with e-learning. Maybe, online courses have expanded understudy degrees of consistency from anything from 25% to 60%. It’s been recommended that really captivating interactive media content, more command over how they take in the material and less probability of classes conflicting with different responsibilities all add to this ascent.

The third reason why online learning can replace traditional classroom teaching is that online learning requires less of a time investment. Numerous students are put off joining a face-to-face course because of the time speculation it will require. This by and large includes an opportunity to get to and fro to classes, in addition to the time spent hanging tight for guides and different understudies. A Brandon Hall report on e-learning inside partnerships tracked down that this way of adapting regularly requires 40-60% less representative time than learning in a conventional homeroom setting. It’s additionally key to take note of that e-learning choices by and large permit understudies to part the time they are putting resources into the course in whichever way works for them. They shouldn’t have the option to devote huge lumps of time to the course: it’ll work comparably well if they can save thirty minutes from their mid-day break every day.

Moreover, more frequent assessments can reduce distractions. An extraordinary aspect concerning web-based courses is that appraisal can turn out to be a greater amount of a continuous cycle. This is uplifting news for understudies as blending interactive media content and learning materials with customary short tests can further develop understudy commitment. Truth be told, research from Harvard showed that utilizing these short, customary tests halved understudy interruption, significantly increased note-taking, and understudies’ general maintenance of the substance improved. It’s likewise significant that the most frequent understudies are surveyed, the better their coaches can monitor their advancement. Expanded understudy following implies that guides can step in prior when help is required.

And finally, online learning is the greener option. Online learning is absolutely the more viable alternative for students, but at the same time, it’s better for the climate. The Open University in Britain has tracked down that online courses compare to a normal of 90% less energy and 85% fewer CO2 outflows per understudy than customary face-to-face courses. This surely makes Internet learning and interactive media content a more viable strategy for schooling in general. Advancing and participating in this sort of learning can help the two people and enterprises to do their touch for the climate and adhere to their very own natural objectives.

Summing up, the effectiveness of e-learning compared to classroom teaching include the following: flexibility, accessibility, clean energy, and convenience for learners; institutional cost savings and time savings over traditional classroom-based education; and ease in updating and revising courses. Learning is no longer confined to a certain time or place.