Research Report: Virtual Learning Environment Impact on Students

This report investigates the impact of virtual learning environments (VLEs) on students, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The introduction establishes the rationale, objectives, and research questions, focusing on the benefits and challenges of VLEs. A literature review explores the concept of VLEs, their advantages, and their role in education. The methodology section details the research philosophy, approach, instruments, and data collection methods, including a questionnaire-based survey. The primary data analysis presents findings from the survey, examining student awareness, advantages of VLEs, and alternative learning methods. Secondary data analysis is also included. The report concludes with a summary of the key findings and implications, emphasizing the importance of VLEs in modern education. The research utilizes both primary and secondary data sources to provide a comprehensive analysis of the subject.

Digital skills and research
methods

Table of Contents
Research Title..............................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
Rationale.....................................................................................................................................3
Research Objectives....................................................................................................................3
Research questions......................................................................................................................3
Literature review.........................................................................................................................3
Methodology...............................................................................................................................5
Primary Data Analysis................................................................................................................7
...................................................................................................................................................10
Secondary Data Analysis .........................................................................................................10
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11

Research Title
“Impact of Virtual Learning Environment on students during situation of COVID-19
pandemic”.
INTRODUCTION
Virtual learning is a new concept in which high empowerment is given to people in order to
understand and learn new concepts and enhance their learnings. Execution of this technology is
widely used in colleges and learning institution in so as to provide learning to their students in
continuous manner without facing any prominent barrier (Černochová and et.al., 2020). In the
aspect of technology virtual learning is considered as an emerging concept which is highly
recommended and acceptable by students and educational institutions. In this report an analysis
is enumerated regarding understanding of impact of virtual learning environment on students and
with this questionnaire and data analysis is also being associated with this research.
Rationale
The major purpose of this report is to analyse impact of virtual learning environment on
students. Similarly this research is majorly emphasised on understanding benefits of virtual
learning on students so as to inculcate the same in learning process in order to improvise learning
standards.
Research Objectives
 To understand concept of Virtual learning environment.
 To recognise purpose of Virtual learning environment in learning for students.
 To analyse impact of Virtual learning environment within pandemic situation on students.
Research questions
 What is the meaning of Virtual learning Environment.
 For students what is the major purpose of Virtual learning in their academics.
 In the situation of pandemic what are the major impacts of Virtual learning on learning
of students.
Literature review
According to Michael Van Beek, in current time in order to share ideas and thoughts
internet is known as the best method which can be used by every people as this is highly

accessible in nature. For educational program this aspect has emerged as immense manner so as
to provide barrier less education and learning facilities for students. Virtual learning
Environment is an approach through which learning abilities of students can be enhanced by
which cost effective benefits are rendered to them so as to boost students achievements (Eynon
and Geniets, 2016). Virtual learning Environment is a computer software based technology
which uses internet in order to deliver message and instructions to students. This is a platform
where digital solutions are provided to students and learning instructor so as to provide replica of
classroom learning program by which learning experience can be enhanced. This is a system
which offers digital solution to educators by which active and interactive learning can be
exhibited and this is highly impactful. This is a part of learning management system for students
in which communication is fostered and learning programs can be designed and executed in
wider manner. Virtual learning Environment is a method by which in real time, communication
between professor and student can be completed and this leads to achievement of individual aims
and objectives. This is the aspect by which problems of students can be sorted on real time basis
which minimises communication barrier and complexities as well.
According to Margaret Rouse Virtual learning Environment is a platform which is
designed for enhancing learning experience of students by including internet and computers in
learning process in order to make learning process easy and understandable. In the recent time
internet has emerged as an aspect which is providing high end opportunity and this is rendering
resources to students to enlighten their path of knowledge and to fragment the knowledge in their
career paths. The major purpose of Virtual learning Environment is to provide high academic
knowledge to students by which high yield results so that professional career can be enlightened.
This platform is designed to provide sophistication in learning by which process of learning can
become easier and provide space of understanding of during learning process. This is a platform
which is designed to enhance discussion on online platform so that to link students with their
teacher in prominent manner. On the other hand the major objective behind evolving Virtual
learning Environment is to provide high opportunities to students so that they do not lack behind
in any criteria so as to boost their career opportunities. For students Virtual learning
Environment is providing them high opportunities to understand their classroom lectures in the
manner they want to by which high learning possibilities are given to them. This is a platform by

which real life classroom experience is replaced by internet owned world, this technology
requires very low resources but at the same time infinite knowledge is being given to the users.
According to Cathy Li, in current situation of pandemic schools and universities across
the globe are not able to work in proper manner and this change was very fast so students are
affected in negative manner. So with the help of Virtual learning Environment learning process
has improvised and this leads in improving teaching and learning standards of students by
universities and colleges (Hecker and Loprest, 2019). This method is capable of keeping
information for longer duration, in the current situation of pandemic Virtual learning
Environment is providing high opportunities for continuing learning and academic process.
Learning is the process which is continue in nature and needs high emphasis. So the Virtual
learning Environment is the aspect by which capabilities of students are enhanced in order to
meet their desired manner. Virtual learning Environment is working as catalyst for student
learning and this results in goal achievement of individual in prominent manner. With the help of
Virtual learning Environment closeness is enhanced by which new ways of providing education
is being given to students. In the situation of pandemic, learning is the major aspect which is
hindered and this is the reason that most of the universities has initiated to acknowledge Virtual
learning Environment in their learning process. With the help of Virtual learning Environment
during international crisis academic courses are running uninterruptedly which is leading to
accomplish students their career objectives.
Methodology
This is considered as the part in which research plans are prepared in order to navigate
research methods and their level of availability. This is the process in which information which is
associated with the research topic is enumerated in which consideration is taken.
Research Philosophy
This is an activity in which essential research aspects are carried out. This is associated
with two concepts which is interpretivism and positivism. Under interpretivism approach aims
are objected towards reality perception. Similarly under positivism study is executed on real
topic in which study is associated. In the current report researcher has opted for positivism as this
is a convenient approach to convert basic information into specific. The objective of using this
type of philosophy is to assist the researcher in collecting specific information.

Research Approach
This approach is associated with content of hypothesis and within comprehensive
methods evaluation and data collection is being performed. In order to deal with data various
methods are propounded such as qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative methodologies are
used in order to use associated information and to get impact of the same in performance of the
research (Pagani and et. al., 2016). This method is helpful in advancing data collection on timely
basis which provides accurate information regarding research. On the other hand qualitative data
collection methods are incorporated with numerically information which leads to inconsistency
in data collection.
In order to evaluate data in this research deductive research approach is being taken
which is emphasised on quantitative technology.
Research Instrument
Research instrument is defined as the viability by which researcher collects relevant data
in prominent and error free manner. There are various methods which are associated with
instruments such as interview, survey, questionnaire and many more. In the current research
report questionnaire tool is used in order to gather data so as to get response from respondents
and to take out optimum results. This is helpful for researcher so as to reach out to maximum
people in order to collect most effective data and results.
Sources of data collection
This aspect of research is used in order to collect significant and essential data form varied
sources. In order to gather data various sources are used by researcher such as interview,
observation, questionnaire and many more. These methods are commonly used by researcher in
order to draw results by inculcating positive and negative aspects of research execution. For
taking out impact of Virtual learning Environment on students questionnaire is the method which
is used in order to gather significant information so as to frame literature review. There are
various methods which are used by researcher so as to gather information such as articles, books,
magazines, publications. Within this research primary and secondary data sources are used in
order to bring high reliability and relevancy.
Research Design
This is associated with three aspects which are descriptive, experimental and exploratory.
These techniques are highly effective in nature but at the same time in order pursue research on

impact of Virtual learning environment on students descriptive research is designed by
researcher which provide high end opportunities to the researcher to analyse actual problem of
research (Sousa and Rocha, 2019). The another reason for opting this method is to make research
process easier so that to execute research in prominent manner.
Sampling
Sampling is define as the system of research by which population is being chosen by
researcher in order to execute their research. This is the method by which significant process of
gathering data is being decided and this helps in collecting data in prominent manner. There are
some aspects which are demonstrated as under:
Population profile
Profile population is reliant within this topic as in order to take out effect of investigation
performance of the research is required to be improvised. For this aspect the research is carried
out on the topic of impact of Virtual Learning Environment which is associated with
technological aspect.
Sampling Theories
There are two major concepts which are used during sampling which is probability
sampling and non probability sampling. These both techniques are focused on sampling in such
as way that no area remain untouched. Within this research 21 respondents are taken and these
are teachers and students of universities. The major reason is to select simple random sampling is
to get help over time and cost saving by researcher. For existing research non-probability
sampling is not significant as this is not able to draw legitimate results.
Sampling Size
This is know as the most effective part of sampling in which researcher is assisted with
sample size. In the current research sample size is taken as 21 in order to draw appropriate results
(Wollscheid, Sjaastad and Tømte, 2016).
Primary Data Analysis
This is known as the method by which data is collected through original sources for the
research. During the research for primary data collection method questionnaire method is being
used by researcher.
1. Do you know about the concept of Virtual Learning Environment? Frequency

 Yes 15
 No 6
From 21 respondents, 16 respondents are known about the concept of virtual learning and rest 6
are not aware about the same.
2. What are the advantages of Virtual Learning Environment? Frequency
 Access to coursework at anytime 10
 Time management 7
 immediate feedbacks 4

from the above graph it is interpreted that out of 21 respondents, 10 respondents are in favour of
virtual learning environment as this is providing access to coursework at any point of time. On
the other hand 7 thinks that this is helpful in managing time and 4 thinks that with the help of this
immediate feedbacks are collected.
3. What are the alternative methods which can be used for student
learning development?
Frequency
 Open learning 8
 Part time study 5
 Flexible learning 8

out of 21 respondents, 8 gave an alternative method as open learning, 5 has given part time study
and rest 8 thinks that flexible learning is the alternative method of learning.
4. Is it beneficial for universities? Frequency
 Yes 15
 No 6
From the above graph this can be concluded that out of 21 respondents 15 finds virtual learning
as a beneficial approach and rest 6 finds that this is not beneficial for universities.

Secondary Data Analysis
This is the method by which data is gathered from some indirect sources such as
magazines publications and many more. For this research within secondary sources of data
collection literature review is being used by researcher.
Conclusion
From the above research this is concluded that virtual learning environment is the
merging concept which is being used by universities in order to enhance learning cycle of their
students and to boost their career. With the the help of Virtual Learning Environment access to
classroom activities can be rendered to student at any point of time which leads to high
flexibilities and development on personal level.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Černochová and et.al., 2020. How do learners perceive and evaluate their digital skills?. In
Learning and Performance Assessment: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and
Applications (pp. 1453-1464). IGI Global.
Eynon, R. and Geniets, A., 2016. The digital skills paradox: how do digitally excluded youth
develop skills to use the internet?. Learning, Media and Technology. 41(3). pp.463-479.
Hecker, I. and Loprest, P., 2019. Foundational Digital Skills for Career Progress. Urban Institute.
Pagani and et. al., 2016. The impact of digital skills on educational outcomes: evidence from
performance tests. Educational studies. 42(2). pp.137-162.
Sousa, M.J. and Rocha, Á., 2019. Digital learning: Developing skills for digital transformation of
organizations. Future Generation Computer Systems, 91, pp.327-334.
Wollscheid, S., Sjaastad, J. and Tømte, C., 2016. The impact of digital devices vs. Pen (cil) and
paper on primary school students' writing skills–A research review. Computers &
Education, 95, pp.19-35.