Impact of Virtual Learning Environment on Learning Experience of Students at UWTSD London Campus

This study discusses the impacts of virtual learning environment on students’ experience and ways in which they can accomplish their goals. It also discusses some problems that students as well as tutors face within virtual learning along with strategies to solve these problems.

Digital Skills and Research Methods
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Table of Contents
TITLE: IMPACT OF VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ON LEARNIG EXPERIENCE
OF STUDENTS AT UWTSD LONDON CAMPUS......................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Rationale of the study..................................................................................................................3
Research objectives.....................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
Concept of virtual learning..........................................................................................................4
Impacts of virtual learning environment on overall academic performance of students.............4
Ways of improving learning experience within virtual learning environment............................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................5
RESULTS AND FINDINGS...........................................................................................................6
DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................11
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................13
Questionnaire.............................................................................................................................13
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TITLE: IMPACT OF VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ON
LEARNIG EXPERIENCE OF STUDENTS AT UWTSD LONDON
CAMPUS
INTRODUCTION
Virtual learning refers a type of learning that is being done or completed by through
computers, laptop internet. A type of learning environment where students and tutors do not have
face to face interaction and each detail regarding their course and learning is being online, is
being considered as virtual learning (Govindarajan and Srivastava, 2020). This present study is
going to discuss impacts of this type of learning on students’ experience and ways in which they
can accomplish their goals. Along with this, it will discuss some problems that students as well
as tutors face within virtual learning along with strategies to solve these problems. It will then
discuss both primary and secondary type of data collection and sources of collecting them.
Rationale of the study
The reason of selecting this topic is to help out students in improving their academic
experience by understanding better ways of learning within virtual learning environment. This
study has great scope as it can help out students at academic level and can make them able in
accomplishing their academic goals in this post Covid-19 environment and improving virtual
learning.
Research objectives
Aim: The aim behind conducting this study is “To identify impacts of virtual learning
environment on students’ learning experience”. Study on UWTSD LONDON CAMPUS
Research objectives
 To understand the main concept of virtual learning.
 To discuss impacts of virtual learning environment on overall academic performance of
students.
 To identify ways of improving learning experience within virtual learning environment.
 To recommend the best strategy of improving students virtual learning experience.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Concept of virtual learning
According to the Almarzooq, Lopes and Kochar, (2020) virtual learning environment is a
web based platform on which students can increase their knowledge and learn everything related
to their modules by making use of internet and computers. For virtual learning, students do not
have face to face interaction with other students and tutors as they just need accessible and high
speed of internet and sources like computers and laptop from which they can connect to their
tutors. In addition Bogusevschi, Muntean and Muntean, (2020) stated that learning experience
that is being delivered via computers and high speed internet to students online can be known as
virtual learning. Students can enjoy flexible schedule within this environment.
Impacts of virtual learning environment on overall academic performance of students
In regard to virtual learning, Allcoat and von Mühlenen, (2018) stated some advantages
that students can take if they understand the best way of increasing knowledge within this
environment. One of the main advantages and positive impact that this virtual learning can have
on students is: flexibility, travelling time and cost. Students do not need to go to schools and
universities and need to travel for longer hours. It can save their time and money and this time
can be invested in social activities or studies. Along with this, students have an opportunity to
listen and review their online classes even after completing classes if they have not attended or
missed classes. So, on this basis, it can be said that students can learn everything by using
recorded videos and by listening them on continuous basis, they can accomplish academic goals.
Almarzooq, Lopes and Kochar, (2020) argued and stated that there are number of negative
impacts of virtual learning as students fin difficulties in sitting continuously and watching on
laptop screen. It affects them physically and mentally. On the basis of secondary data, it is found
that more than 40% of students of virtual learning are facing poor eye sight, back pain and other
physical issues. Along with this, students find difficulties in solving their mathematical and other
practical doubts in this environment as tutors cannot pay attention on each students within this
environment. So, it may affect their overall academic performance.
Ways of improving learning experience within virtual learning environment
On the basis of above discussion, it can clearly be said that increasing knowledge within
virtual learning environment is not an easy task. In regard to improving virtual learning
experience Huang and et.al., (2019) stated that by avoiding excessive information and by setting
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expectations upfront, tutors can solve all problems that students face. By focusing on only
specific topic and taking a doubt session class on the very next day, students can increase their
experience and can accomplish academic goals. Along with this, tutors can ask random questions
throughout related to their learning modules in order to know as whether students are listening or
not. Students can change their sitting place as they can sit on bed comfortable by which they can
protect themselves from physical problems.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methods: In regard to research methods, it can be said that it refers ways of
collecting as well as analysing data (Dźwigoł, 2019). For conducting research study, researcher
requires collecting data in an accurate manner and for that they need to select better methods
from qualitative and quantitative.
Qualitative and quantitative research: It is stated that qualitative and quantitative are 2
research methods that help out researcher in collecting and analysing data. Qualitative research
study is the one in which data are being collected in theoretical form. In quantitative, research
information is being collected in numbers form. For this research study, researcher has
conducted qualitative research.
Primary and secondary data: For accomplishing goals, researcher needs to collect
accurate data and they may be either primary or secondary and may be mixed (Land Dr and
Vander Linden, 2019). Primary data are those that are being collected for the first time and
secondary data are known as existing literature that is published. For this research study, both
primary and secondary data have been collected.
Data collection process: As it is known that researcher has collected both primary and
secondary data. For making this study effective and knowing impact of virtual learning
environment on students’ performance, researcher has conducted questionnaire for primary data
collected and conducted literature for secondary data collection.
Sampling: When researcher collect primary data then he must need to target population
and select sample. A process and way of selecting sample is known as sampling. Random and
non-random are 2 main types of sampling. In random, sample are being selected without any set
criteria and in non-random, sample are being selected on the basis of specific selection criteria.
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For making sample feel valued and promoting diversity, 10 students have been selected
randomly for this study.
Research ethics: Ethics can be known as moral principles that enable researchers and people
in identifying the difference between the right conduct and wrong conduct. This difference leads
successful completion of research study (Glasius and et.al., 2018). While conducting study,
researcher also needs to consider ethics. Some factors that have been considered by researcher
for this study include:
 To select participants randomly and providing them fair and equal opportunity to share
their views on research topic.
 To allow them to skip questions if they do not want to answer.
 To maintain confidentiality by protecting their personal information secure and safe.
 To not share any information related to research with other researchers and universities.
RESULTS AND FINDINGS
Theme 1:
Any issues using moodle? Respondents
Yes 1
No 9
Total 10
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Interpretation: On the basis of above graph, it can clearly be said that out of 10 students there is
a ratio of 1:9 which means only 1 student face any problem related to moodle. 9 students do not
face any problem related to moodle.
Theme 2:
Did you get familiar very easy using moodle? Respondents
Yes 8
No 2
Total 10
Interpretation: In this context, 8 or majority of students said yes as they find very easy to use
moodle. Whereas, 2 students denied about this.
Theme 3:
How many hours you spend a day on your
moodle?
Respondents
1-2h 1
2-4h 8
4-6h 1
6-8h 0
Total 10
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Interpretation: In regard to hours spending on moodle, 1 student said that he spend 1-2h, 8
students said they spend 2-4hours. 1 more student stated that he spend 1 hours and no one said
about 6-8 hours.
Theme 4:
How moodle impact the learning of students? Respondents
Good 7
Very good 3
Bad 0
Very bad 0
Total 10
Interpretation: In regard to effectiveness of learning, 7 students said that they had good
experience and 3 stated that moodle had very good impact. No one said about bad and very bad
impacts.
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Theme 5:
Rate your experience about using moodle, on a
scale from A - G?
Respondents
A 0
B 0
C 0
D 0
E 2
F 2
G 6
Total 10
Interpretation: Students were asked about giving rating to their experience with moodle and
virtual learning. No one gave rating from A-D. 2 students rated it E, 2 more rated it F and 6
students rated it G.
Theme 6:
Do you recommend moodle to others students? Respondents
Yes 10
No 0
Total 10
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Interpretation: 10 students said that they will definitely recommend other for this effective
platform moodle that can increase their experience.
Theme 7:
How important is moodle for you? Respondents
Very important 2
Important 8
Not very important 0
Total 10
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Interpretation: In regard to importance, 2 students stated that moodle is very important for them
and 8 interpreted that moodle is important for them. No one was there who said that it is not very
important for them.
Theme 8:
Do you find moodle easy to work with? Respondents
Easy 7
Not too bad 3
Quite hard 0
Total 10
Interpretation: 7 students interpreted that they find easier to work with moodle and 3 said that it
is not too bad to work with.
DISCUSSION
On the basis of above results and findings, it can clearly be said that students have great
experience with moodle. Moodle is one of the best platforms that can help students in increasing
their virtual learning experience as they can have any information related to their modules
anytime. In addition, it is also found that most of the students spend at least 2-4 hours every day
on moodle in order to increase their learning experience. Most of the students have good
experience with moodle and they also said that they find easier in accomplishing their academic
goals and completing projects, given to them. There are only 1-2 students out of 10 who do not
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have much knowledge about accessing and using moodle. So, in this context, it can be suggested
to tutors that they should develop a program in which they should teach and make students
understand about moodle. Overall, it can be said that moodle had positive impacts on learning
experience of students within virtual learning environment. Students also stated that they will
suggest this moodle to others in order to help them out in improving their academic performance.
RECOMMENDATION
On the basis of above discussion, it can be suggested to tutors and students that they both
should co-operate each others in order to increase virtual learning experience. Students need to
stop disturbing others and they need to understand importance of this learning. Along with this, it
can also be suggested that tutors should make use of projector while teaching online as by
writing down important information and by highlighting them, they can increase students’
knowledge. It can be suggested to researcher that he should have selected more than 10 samples
in order to gather accurate and reliable information or known real life experience of virtual
learning.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarised from the above study that virtual learning can have both positive and
negative impact on academic experience of students. It has discussed ways in which students can
improve their virtual learning experience and can accomplish their academic goals. It has shown
positive impacts on their performance as students can listen recorded online classes. Research
methodology also plays a vital role in research study as by making use of effective data
collection sources, researcher can accomplish the main aim of conducting research study. It has
discussed both primary and secondary data collection sources and their reasons of selecting in
research study.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Allcoat, D. and von Mühlenen, A., 2018. Learning in virtual reality: Effects on performance,
emotion and engagement. Research in Learning Technology. 26.
Almarzooq, Z.I., Lopes, M. and Kochar, A., 2020. Virtual learning during the COVID-19
pandemic: a disruptive technology in graduate medical education. Journal of the
American College of Cardiology. 75(20). pp.2635-2638.
Bogusevschi, D., Muntean, C. and Muntean, G.M., 2020. Teaching and learning physics using
3D virtual learning environment: A case study of combined virtual reality and virtual
laboratory in secondary school. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science
Teaching. 39(1). pp.5-18.
Dźwigoł, H., 2019. Research methods and techniques in new management trends: research
results. Virtual Economics, 2(1), pp.31-48.
Glasius, M. and et.al., 2018. Research, ethics and risk in the authoritarian field. Springer Nature.
Govindarajan, V. and Srivastava, A., 2020. What the shift to virtual learning could mean for the
future of higher ed. Harvard Business Review. 31.
Huang, Y.C. and et.al., 2019. An investigation of motivation and experience in virtual learning
environments: a self-determination theory. Education and Information
Technologies. 24(1). pp.591-611.
Land Dr, T. and Vander Linden, M., 2019. Assessing the public health impact of problem
gambling through linkage of primary and secondary data sources.
APPENDIX
Questionnaire
1. Do you have any issues using moodle?
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 Yes
 No
2. Did you get familiar very easy using moodle?
 Yes
 No
3. Did you get familiar very easy using moodle?
 1-2h
 2-4h
 4-6h
 6-8h
4. How moodle impact the learning of students?
 Good
 Very good
 Bad
 Very bad
5. Rate your experience about using moodle, on a scale from A - G?
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
6. Do you recommend moodle to others students?
 Yes
 No
7. How important is moodle for you?
 Very important
 Important
 Not very important
8. Do you find moodle easy to work with?
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 Easy
 Nit to bad
 Quite hard
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