Do you truly grasp the benefits of a virtual classroom? Do you know in depth what it offers to the teacher and the student?
In this article, we’ll explain what it is, what it’s for, and delve into its benefits and other details so you can determine if it’s what you need to teach your classes remotely.
Take note!
Characteristics and benefits of a virtual classroom
Differences between the virtual classroom and the traditional classroom
Although the virtual classroom stands out for its capacity for two-way communication, as if it were a traditional educational classroom, virtuality, as we will see below, is what makes the difference.
In contrast to the traditional classroom, the door to the online classroom is always open and presents a completely different dynamic.
Later on, we will discover what a virtual classroom is and we will delve into its characteristics. In particular, to clear up confusion with regard to e-learning platforms.
To cite the basics:
- Classes are taught via a computer (with a good internet connection, of course).
- Trainers must be specialised in e-learning methodology.
- Trainees participate in the training from any destination and in an active way.
What is a virtual classroom?
First of all, it should be clarified that a virtual classroom is the digital environment in which the exchange of knowledge takes place, making real-time learning possible.
In other words, a virtual training classroom is the space, within the elearning platform, where teachers and learners share content in real time, and where queries, doubts and evaluations of the participants are dealt with.
As such, it has no physical or (always) temporal limits. The student can access it whenever he/she wants to take classes, without having to be subject to physical displacement.
In any case, it can be used for distance learning or as a complement to a face-to-face class.
Uses and benefits of a virtual classroom
Virtual classrooms are used to develop the classes and are one of the main hubs of the training platforms.
As we mentioned just a few lines ago, they are a space integrated into a platform. However, in addition to sharing certain tools, which we will see below, they are not the same thing.
Mainly, in the virtual classroom, classes are taught in real time. However, in an e-learning platform, the learner can also receive training asynchronously.
In other words, the learner can find synchronous and asynchronous resources, and the administrators and tutors can find materials to create, deliver, manage, evaluate and monitor the training process and the evolution of the course.
Among other things, virtual classrooms are used to foster contact between teacher and learners.
In fact, they are the ideal place to ask questions, propose activities or solve doubts, not only by posing them to the teacher, but also by using other learners’ own questions.
Specifically, global classrooms are one of the ways used to involve students by encouraging interaction, as they are equipped with certain tools that make this possible.
We are referring to chats, forums or videoconferences, which are ideal (or at least should be) for communicating with teachers and students in a direct and easy way.
On the other hand, it also offers tools to create and upload audiovisual class materials, and others to follow the evolution of learners throughout the course.
In short, with a global classroom you can teach your classes without complications and host a large amount of content that is easy to access and download (by subject or module).
Now that you know what it is, read on and discover the benefits of a virtual classroom.
Advantages and disadvantages of a virtual classroom
Advantages of virtual classroom
Let’s explore the advantages of virtual classrooms for students, teachers, and educational institutions.
Goodbye to geographical barriers
For a start, this tool gives access to a wide range of teachers and educational establishments around the world.
At the same time, it makes it possible for students to share knowledge with other cultures, thus breaking down barriers of communication, location and time.
Saving time and money
Afterward, another of the benefits of virtual classrooms is that it allows you to do more with less. In other words, it saves on material resources such as notebooks, sheets, and prints since the content is already available online.
It also saves time. By allowing connection from anywhere and at any time, it not only reduces costs, but also adds hours to invest in other tasks.
More resources, new possibilities
As you know, we need to provide learners with materials in different formats.
By providing audio and video resources, monotony disappears and learners have the option to access the recordings whenever they want. That’s what e-learning is all about, isn’t it?
Differentiated and flexible learning
Afterwards, it is an ideal solution to facilitate the assimilation of knowledge without becoming demotivating.
In this way, students with greater difficulties gain more confidence and self-confidence, as they can access the material at any time.
At the same time, they can help themselves with complementary documents and count on the support of the tutor or other colleagues in a collaborative way.
Continuous interaction
In the same way, the student can be informed of the timetable of the teacher’s activities for consultations or tutorials, something that favours group cohesion.
Responsibility for learning
Finally, we would like to emphasise that technology, among other things, makes it possible to order documents and make them available.
In other words, students can access them whenever they want.
Therefore, students with organisational problems will find the virtual classroom a new, more flexible way of learning.
Virtual classroom, disadvantages
Beyond understanding the benefits of virtual classrooms, it’s crucial to explore their drawbacks.
Fortunately, these challenges are not insurmountable, as they primarily stem from human factors that can be addressed and resolved.
The role of the teacher
Whether in a global classroom, a virtual campus or a distance learning platform, the role of the online teacher is decisive.
That is to say, the teacher must be qualified and have certain requirements, such as mastery of technologies, the creation of digital materials or be a good counsellor in this environment. To name but a few.
Therefore, if the teacher is not familiar with e-learning training, opting for a remote classroom can be negative.
Technology
At the same time, there is the handicap of technology and poor internet connections.
In this sense, students must have sufficient technological resources to access virtual classes. And, of course, to be able to attend them normally and without the risk of crashes of the educational platform or the Internet.
You already know what a virtual classroom is, the disadvantages it can bring and the advantages it offers for teaching.
Now let’s take a closer look at the tools you should use to meet your training objectives… and those of your students!
Virtual classroom tools
How to make a virtual classroom with substance if we don’t have the necessary tools!
These are the right ones to achieve good results:
- Audiovisual content and materials for the different subjects.
- Calendar of events and activities.
- Internal messaging for asynchronous two-way communication between teachers and students.
- Discussion forums for the implementation of activities.
- Chat for learners to interact with the teacher.
- Various tasks and activities. Both uploads and downloads by the student and the teacher.
- Configurable developmental or self-training tests and exams.
- Certificates or diplomas that students can download.
- Grades of exams, assignments or forums.
- Videoconferencing for work sessions, tutorials or webinars (with the corresponding online whiteboard).
- Student or course progress reports.
Tips on how to create a virtual classroom
First of all, when creating a virtual classroom you have to have the necessary logistics for distance learning.
We are talking about:
- Computer
- Webcam
- Smartphone or tablet
- Headphones with microphone
- Internet connection
Once we have found the basics, we will be able to create the classroom environment.
These recommendations will come in handy!
1. Define very well the topic of your class and the objective you are pursuing with it.
2. Get to know the platform in depth, the possibilities and tools that you and your students will have to use.
3. Equip yourself with sufficient technological resources in case any of the ones you use suddenly fail.
4. Prepare the class in detail in order to get to the point and quickly clarify any doubts arising from the lessons.
5. Put yourself in the learner’s shoes and try simulating the lesson to see what you will find and establish solutions or improvements.
6. Engage learners with ingenuity, using a variety of content and making use of the tools offered by the platform.
7. Control the environment from which you will teach the virtual classroom (lighting, ambient sounds, camera placement).
8. Pay attention to your appearance, posture and voice.
Best platform for online classroom
In reality, there are many global or virtual classroom platforms.
However, in order for a remote class to be delivered with total quality and comfort, it has to integrate a series of qualities, many of which are, of course, related to the platform on which you will carry out the remote class.
evolCampus, for example, offers a virtual classroom designed so that anyone can use it with total agility, no matter how unfamiliar they are with distance learning.
It also offers the synchronous and asynchronous tools required for online classes.
These are:
- Bulletin board from which to send messages and report on activities, communications, exercises...
- Calendar to schedule activities, videoconferences or any other event.
- Discussion forums for group activities
- Internal messaging for the purpose of sharing information, rules or files with students or teachers.
- Chat for teachers and students to interact
- Videoconferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and other relevant providers)
- Certificates and accreditations are customisable and downloadable.
- Monitoring reports on students, teachers, activities...
Thanks to the integration of these resources, the educational activity and the dialogue between teacher and student is excellent.
It also has other useful tools for:
- Upload or create multimedia content and to manage online classes in a fast and automated way.
- Evaluate and follow up the course
It is also a classroom adapted to provide subsidised training to companies, as it strictly complies with the regulations in question.
In short, virtual classrooms are part of the present (even more so in the wake of the pandemic).
Whether you want to offer supplementary classes to a curriculum, a blended programme or fully online training, look for an easy, convenient and effective learning paradigm.