University of Wales: Digital Skills and VLE Research Report

This report investigates the impact of virtual learning environments (VLEs) on students, focusing on the importance of digital skills in education and the workplace. The introduction highlights the increasing significance of VLEs, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and sets the aims and objectives, including understanding the concept, determining the need, and investigating the positive and negative impacts of VLEs. The literature review explores the concept of VLEs, the need for them, and their positive and negative effects. The research methodology outlines the use of both primary and secondary data collection methods, including questionnaires distributed to students and employees. The data analysis section presents findings from the questionnaire, revealing the widespread adoption and perceived benefits of VLEs, such as time and cost savings. The report concludes that VLEs are effective tools for enhancing digital skills and providing accessible learning opportunities for both students and employees, while also acknowledging the need for careful consideration of potential drawbacks, such as reduced engagement.

Digital Skills and
Research Methods

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
Background of the topic with aims and objectives................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................................................4
Theme 1-To understand the concept of virtual learning environment...................................4
Theme 2-To determine the need or importance of virtual learning environment..................4
Theme 3-To investigate the positive and negative impact of virtual learning environment..5
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...............................................................................................5
Data collection and analysis...................................................................................................6
DATA ANALYSIS....................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................10
Books and Journals:.............................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Virtual learning environment is the online or digital learning method that focuses on
providing learning through internet. It becomes very important for or learning institutions as
well as for workplaces. Virtual learning environment is become very popular in nowadays
due to the current situation in countries. One of the biggest reasons for their popularity is
current pandemic situation (Van Laar and et. al., 2017). After COVID-19 it is identified that
almost every country is now focuses on enhancing the importance of virtual learning
environment. It is helpful for students and employees. This report is based on importance of
digital skills in students. It shows that if students have digital skills then they can fight with
the current situation of COVID-19.
Background of the topic with aims and objectives
Learning environment is the environment where students and employees are getting
knowledge with the help of online classes. One of the most common platforms which used at
everywhere that is virtual learning environment that enable teacher to provide learning i.e.
Moddle. It is one of the best platforms which gives opportunities to teachers that day can
effectively convey the learning course to their students and employees. It is only enabling
with the help of digital skills in students (Gekara and et. al., 2020). So that's why this report is
focuses on the impact of virtual learning environment in the present scenario on students.
Online learning environment is not only a way of learning course but also it becomes in need
of our society because it gives many benefits to the teacher as well as to students. The aims
and objectives of this report are mentioned below.
Research Title: “To develop importance of digital skills in students that uses in
workplace.”– Moodle on students’ learning experience at the University of Wales Trinity
Saint David London Campus.
Aim of research: “To identify the impact of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) on
students.”
Objectives of research:
 To understand the concept of virtual learning environment.

 To determine the need or importance of virtual learning environment.
 To investigate the positive and negative impact of virtual learning environment.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is written on the basis of already published books and journals
which give some useful information to the researcher (Johnson and Bergson-Shilcock, 2020).
This literature reviews is on the basis of virtual learning environment.
Theme 1-To understand the concept of virtual learning environment
According to, day to day it is identified that the student’s life becomes busy. They
have not time for even taking classes because the competition gets very high. Due to this,
every student is now focusing on improving skills and knowledge so that they become a part
of competitive world. It is found that digital skill is one of the most popular and important
skill that every students should develop (Murawski and Bick, 2017). Due to technological
development, it becomes necessity of every person that they should have knowledge of
digitalization. This can be start with learning of digital skills in student life. So that's why
now every institution is focusing on providing virtual learning environment. In the case of
virtual learning environment, not only institutions providing this facility but also workplace
give training program to their employees through internet. In the present scenario, it is found
that there is a great fluctuation in online learning environment. Due to COVID-19, it becomes
one of the major reasons that every student is learning through digital platform.
Theme 2-To determine the need or importance of virtual learning environment
According to Makhzoum, Berri and Ajami, 2021, Virtual learning environment
becomes the necessity of daily lifestyle because it gives many benefits to students as well as
employees. It also gives benefits to organisation and institution which provide learning
courses. Students and employees can easily take learning courses from anywhere in the
world. They have opportunities to increase their digital skills with the help of virtual learning
environment. It requires less time and money which becomes helpful for employees and
students. Institutions and organisation which provide learning and training programs through
internet get benefit of cost. It is identified that with the use of offline classes, institutions and
organisation faces high expenditure. It rises with the use of electricity, extra resources,

infrastructure, etc. So for that purpose, now organisations and institutions provide virtual
learning environment to the students and employees.
Theme 3-To investigate the positive and negative impact of virtual learning environment
According to Chowdhury, Azhar and Tarannum, 2017, Virtual learning environment
provides positive as well as negative impact on students and institutions. It gives positive
impact on students that they get classes with low price and time. Whereas it becomes easy for
organisation institutions that they can easily provide virtual learning courses to the students
and employees with the use of internet. But it is identified that students and employees taking
a very disadvantage of online courses. They are not taking online classes seriously which
reduces their efficiency and productivity. In the workplace, where organisation wants that
they increase employees performance and productivity through online learning classes but it
is identify that it in actual their employees are reducing their performance because they do
not taking classes seriously. Students are not taking course classes as they just take a class for
attendance purpose and on other hand they playing online games.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is a method that helps to accomplish objectives of research
(Holotiuk and Beimborn, 2017). It is necessary for a researcher that they have to identify and
evaluate the topic of their research. After that they decide the method which is using for the
purpose of doing a research.
Research choice or choices of method
For this research a researcher uses both types of research method that are primary and
secondary. That means a researcher focuses on qualitative as well as quantitative research
method. Qualitative and quantitative research method is very helpful if a researcher wants to
critically analyse of subject matter (Klus and MÃller, 2020). Quantitative research method
uses statistical data and mathematical tools and techniques. Where qualitative research
method is is effective for using models and theories related to the topic. It gives a detail
analysis of subject matter. Qualitative method is allowing people to explore their ideas and
quantitative method allowing hypothesis test with the help of collection and analysis of data.

With the use of both research methods a researcher comes at accurate and right decision. This
is the reason that researcher uses both method in this report.
Data collection and analysis
Data collection is the gathering or collection of data in the respect of some particular
purpose. For the purpose of research, it is identified that researcher use data collection
methods for gathering some important information to complete their research report. It found
by researcher that they have to choose an appropriate data collection method which suit their
subject matter or title for the research (Jamalai and Krish, 2021). In this respect, researcher
uses two types of data collection method that are primary data collection and secondary data
collection. Both data collection method plays a significant role in their position. It can be
better understand with the help of below explanation. For gathering data it is necessary for a
researcher that they have to choose a number of population from which they can ask
questions and gather or collect data.
Sampling: It is the process for selecting population size and method for chosen their
people. There are two types of sampling methods that a probability and non probability.
Probability is one of the methods which have a number of ways without fixing that means a
researcher used to select the sample by randomly. Whereas non-probability method is the
method in which a researcher can select their population without random sample method.
This research report uses probability method in order to select their population. For that
purpose their sample size is 100 in which it includes students, employees, etc.
Primary data collection: Primary data collection method is one of the most
appropriate methods in order to find best information. In this method a researcher collects
data directly through their population (Khan and Bhatti, 2017). For the purpose of collecting
data, they have to ask questions from their population. It uses questionnaire for gathering
information through their clients.
Questionnaire
Q1. In which class are you read in? Frequency
a. School 20

b. Undergraduate 22
c. Post graduate 30
d. Other 28
Q2. Can you please state your current mode of study? Frequency
a. Online 88
b. Offline 12
Q3. According to you, Is virtual learning is effective or not? Frequency
a. Yes 75
b. No 25
Q4. What are the benefits of virtual learning environment do
you feel?
Frequency
a. Time saving 25
b. Cost effective 25
c. Less crowd 20
d. Take class at anytime 30
Q5. Is virtual learning environment is useful for workplace? Frequency

a. Yes 56
b. No 44
Q6. What are the benefits of e-learning in workplace? Frequency
a. Convenient and flexible access 25
b. Serving different learning styles 20
c. Easy on the budget 25
d. Accessible support from experts 30
Secondary data collection: This method is also very useful for a researcher report.
For the purpose of secondary data collection, the researcher use literature review in order to
show the use of publishes books and journals. Some important common sources of secondary
data collection method are published journals, newspapers, magazines, government
publications, etc. Expert has adequately identified the data and analyse them according to the
research report.
DATA ANALYSIS
As per the primary data collection method, questionnaire is prepared to gather
information from their respondents. It is identified that people takes a great participation in
the process of primary research. With the help of questionnaire, It is found at virtual learning
environment is increasing day by day. Every student and employees take virtual learning
classes so that they can complete their studies. Employees take virtual training and
development programs in order to enhance more skills and knowledge which ultimately

increase the productivity and efficiency. Due to present conditions of world, it is analysed
that would learning environment get more support from each and every member. The main
reason behind this situation is pandemic situation of COVID-19. For the purpose of stop
propagating of this virus every person is taking a corrective action which increase work from
home and online studies.
All over the world organisations and institutions taking an effective action in order to
reduce the propagation of virus. They decide that students and employees get learning and
coaching from online courses. This is not only the reason of virtual learning environment
because daily technological development gives opportunity to organisation and institutions
that they can reduce their extra expenditure which helps them to invest in more learning
programs. It is identified and analysed from the questionnaire that respondents are agreeing
with the use of virtual learning environment. They found that virtual learning environment is
an effective method in order to save their money and time. Due to the increase in competition
every student and employees want to increase their knowledge and skills. But lack of time do
not allowed them to increase their skills. One method that is virtual learning environment
gives an opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills with minimum time and cost. It is
analysed that it is not only beneficial for students but also so it is helpful for institution as
well. So with the help of using virtual learning environment both parties enjoy benefits and
easily accomplish their goals and objectives.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above discussion that virtual environment becomes a
very effective method in order to provide learning courses. Every student and employee are
able to take classes through internet from anywhere at the world. One important benefit that
they get is they can take classes at any time and if they are not able to understand then they
can take again class with no extra fee. It will become one of the most important factors that
influence online classes or virtual learning environment.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Chowdhury, S. M. R., Azhar, A. and Tarannum, T., 2017, September. Factors Measuring
Digital Skills of Business Students: Empirical Evidence from Private Universities of
Dhaka, Bangladesh. In Welcome Message from Conference Chairs (Vol. 12, No. 6.9,
p. 42).
Gekara, V., and et. al., 2020. International scan of approaches taken by select economies to
build the digital skills of the existing workforce in response to the digital
transformation of industry.
Holotiuk, F. and Beimborn, D., 2017. Critical success factors of digital business strategy.
Jamalai, M. and Krish, P., 2021. Fostering 21st century skills using an online discussion
forum in an English for specific purpose course. Malaysian Journal of Learning and
Instruction, 18(1), pp.219-240.
Johnson, M. and Bergson-Shilcock, A., 2020. Digital Skills in Pandemic Times: How State
Policymakers Can Help Workers and Businesses Adapt in a Changing
Economy. National Skills Coalition.
Khan, S. A. and Bhatti, R., 2017. Digital competencies for developing and managing digital
libraries: An investigation from university librarians in Pakistan. The Electronic
Library.
Klus, M. and MÃller, J., 2020. Identifying leadership skills required in the digital age.
Makhzoum, V., Berri, A. and Ajami, Z., 2021. The Role of Teachers’ Digital Communication
Skills in the Success of the Distance Learning Process in Private Universities in
Lebanon. Middle Eastern Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, 2(1),
pp.16-30.
Murawski, M. and Bick, M., 2017. Digital competences of the workforce–a research
topic?. Business Process Management Journal.
Van Laar, E., and et. al., 2017. The relation between 21st-century skills and digital skills: A
systematic literature review. Computers in human behavior, 72, pp.577-588.