Virtual Learning and Instruction Reflection - Spring 2020, FGCU

This assignment is a student's reflection on a virtual learning course, exploring key concepts, the application of emerging technologies, and the design of virtual learning experiences. The student discusses important terms like communication and evaluation, and how they incorporated technologies such as WhatsApp for communication and instructional materials including videos and PowerPoint presentations. The assignment also covers the use of a learning management system (LMS) like Moodle, the evaluation of virtual learning, and the importance of collaboration with peers. The student concludes with insights gained from the course and the impact of virtual learning on education, emphasizing the flexibility and global reach of online instruction. The reflection is structured around specific questions from the course syllabus, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of virtual learning principles and practices.

Running head: VIRTUAL LEARNING
Virtual Learning
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Notes:

1VIRTUAL LEARNING
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Important terms and concepts in virtual learning...................................................................2
Application of emerging technologies into Virtual Learning................................................3
Virtual Learning System........................................................................................................3
Instructional material.............................................................................................................4
Evaluation of Virtual learning................................................................................................4
Collaboration with online Peers.............................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................6

2VIRTUAL LEARNING
Introduction
The capability of teacher is determined not by how much knowledge they possess, but it is
not determined by how effectively they are able to transfer the knowledge that they possess to
the pupil that they are teaching. Thus, it can be said that the effectiveness of a teacher is
determined by their ability to help their students gain knowledge. Depending on the age or
degree of education, the teacher determines methodologies with the help of which he or she
carries on or proceeds with the process of teaching. Not from recent years, but for several
years now, high amount of interest and affiliation and interest has grown in the from of a
teaching known as Virtual learning (Miller, 2014). I have myself complied incorporated the
same into my teaching as this form of teaching is the way it is likely to be carried out in the
future. Even though this form of teaching can be deemed to be challenging, there are various
advantages that are associated to virtual learning. The following parts will reflect how I
incorporated virtual learning into practice.
Important terms and concepts in virtual learning
On being exposed to the diverse concepts of virtual learning, I have been able to
realize that there are some common factors that always has to be considered regardless of the
degree of education that is being provided or the standard of education that is being practiced.
Thus, I have interpreted that some factors must be present in an educational setting regardless
of the fact that the education is being carried out in virtual learning setting or a face to face
academic setting. Communication is a factor that must be present in a scenario that is
characterized by learning (Geber, Baumann & Klimmt, 2019). Communication allows flow
of information from one party to the other. In this case I am talking about the flow of
information to-and-fro between the teacher and the student. Provision of materials to the
students to make them understand the topic that are being taught to the students. Regardless

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of the fact whether, the education is being carried out in virtual or face to face scenarios,
learning materials help the students to satiate the learning needs of the students. Evaluation
can also be termed as a key activity that must be incorporated into the teaching regime of
education providers. This, is necessary to evaluate the degree of understanding or the
alignment that a student has to a particular course. Hence, the latter are the factors that must
be complied with effectively in order to effectively develop an effective learning regime.
Application of emerging technologies into Virtual Learning
Innovation refers to reinvention of the factors that assimilate to form a product or a
service (Nambisan et al. 2017). I am personally grateful to my teachers as it is with the help
of their efforts that I have been able to develop knowledge and understanding about the issues
that I am knowledgeable about. Thus, it is with inspiration from them, that I have been able to
set personal objectives with the help of which I will be able to effectively educate the
students. I have been able to incorporate a considerable amount of technology into the
operations with the help of which I believe that I have been able to provide effective training.
I have been able to use smartphone messaging application such as WhatsApp to stay
connected with the student. I have been able to use the same to stay connected with the
student on group levels and individual levels. Furthermore, the latter medium and other
similar mediums can be used to effectively provide materials and make announcements that
could help inform every student at the same time.
Virtual Learning System
There are various factors that determines the success of an individual in terms of
effectiveness of teaching through a virtual setting. There are issues that must be complied
with in order to effectively develop a virtual learning program. There must be a medium with
the help of which one can communicate with the students. I have realized the importance of
the same and have capitalized on the same. The medium is known as a learning management

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system and it is with the help of the same that I have been able to develop competencies that
have helped me in designing courses and learning programs for the students. Thus, it can be
said that it is with the help of a learning management system in the form of Moodle which
has assisted me in terms of operation of the learning programs that I have organized and the
virtual learning experiences that I aim to provide to the students.
Instructional material
As mentioned before, instructional or learning material is an important aspect of any
learning experience. Thus, I paid heed to the same and ensured that I am able to incorporate
learning material with the virtual learning experience that I have designed. I used the three
components of multimedia and it helped me in designing the materials with the help of which
the virtual learning experience as a whole was developed. I developed videos to connect with
the students. It is with the help of videos that I carried out some of the lectures. Furthermore,
it I developed presentations on Power Point and sent it to students. This ensured that the aim
of the students would have materials to refer to and not boring textbook materials, but
interesting slides that contained information snippets, images, figures and links to further
studies that could be used by the student for further studies. I tried by best to develop learning
materials that would help me in transferring knowledge to the students.
Evaluation of Virtual learning
According to Tyagi & Chawla (2017), the success of virtual learning as a medium of
learning is inevitable. I believe that the success lies in the transfer of education at rapid rates
to parts of the world that it was not possible before at the quality that it is being expected.
Furthermore, the fact that it allows students flexibility while gaining education is the likely
success factor or Virtual learning. Feedback from the students and favorable grades are likely
to make virtual learning an experience that one could state to be favorable.

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Collaboration with online Peers
The importance of team work and collaboration can never be undermined according
to my opinion. Thus, it is a factor that has influenced my operations in accordance with the
issues that I have carried out while planning in development of virtual course for the students.
I have been fortunate to receive help from my colleagues working online alongside me. I
have been exposed to many features of virtual learning that I had no idea about in the past.
Thus, their collaboration has not only taught me about various aspect of this type of learning
but has also helped me develop a personal competency with the help of which I have been
able to realize and capitalize on the importance of the virtual learning. Hence, collaboration
and interaction with fellow virtual education providers has provided me an ample scope to
comply with the requirements of virtual learning develop better programs as a whole.
Conclusion
On a concluding note, I can state that I have been able to learn a great deal about
virtual learning with the help of the institute, my peers and my instructors on the course. I
have been able to effectively comply with the requirement of this type of education service
and thus, feel that I will succeed in the same.

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REFERENCES
Geber, S., Baumann, E., & Klimmt, C. (2019). Where do norms come from? Peer
communication as a factor in normative social influences on risk
behavior. Communication research, 46(5), 708-730.
Miller, M. D. (2014). Minds online. Harvard University Press.
Nambisan, S., Lyytinen, K., Majchrzak, A., & Song, M. (2017). Digital Innovation
Management: Reinventing innovation management research in a digital world. Mis
Quarterly, 41(1).
Tyagi, R., & Chawla, G. (2017). Education through information and communication
technology: Student perspective on the blended learning. International Journal of
Social Science and Humanity, 7(4), 212.