BMSW4003: Digital Skills and Research Methods - DSR Assessment Report

This report, titled "DSR Assessment," investigates the multifaceted impact of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) on students, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report begins with an introduction outlining research aims and objectives, which include understanding the VLE concept, studying its positive impacts (such as increased student interest, digital skill development, and cost savings), and learning about its negative impacts (like potential health issues, lack of real-time interaction, and internet connectivity problems). A comprehensive literature review explores the concept of VLEs, their application during the pandemic, and their effects on students. The methodology section details the data collection methods, including questionnaires and sampling techniques. The report presents and analyzes survey data collected from 100 students, exploring their preferences for VLE platforms (Moodle, Microsoft Meet, Google Classroom), their preference for offline or online learning, and their experiences with health effects, concept clarity, and the benefits of VLEs. The analysis includes frequency interpretations of the survey responses, providing insights into student perspectives on VLE's effectiveness and implications. The report concludes with a discussion of the key findings and their implications for the future of online education.

DSR Assessment

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Literature review..............................................................................................................................1
Methodology....................................................................................................................................3
Data collection and analysis.............................................................................................................4
References:.....................................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Research Aims and objectives
 To understand the concept of virtual learning environment during Covid-19 situation
 To study the positive impact of virtual learning environment on students
 To learn the negative impact of virtual learning environment on students
Research Questions
 What is the concept of VLE at the time of Covid-19 pandemic situation either nationally
or internationally?
 What can be positive impact of VLE on the students who are studying online and
preparing for their career?
 What can be negative impact of VLE on the students who are studying online and
preparing for their career?
Literature review
Literature review is the investigation and assessment of a particular topic to discover the
broad image of a specific topic. It is an examination or study on specific subject and betters
cognition associated to the subject on which investigation is being performed. This is a
secondary source of data collection which is extremely relevant and can be utilized by seekers in
command to figure out an effectual and outstanding outcomes out of the planned investigation.
Secondary sources of data includes books, journals, articles and many more.
Concept of virtual learning environment during Covid-19 situation
Virtual learning environment is an advanced online tool utilized by educational
institution to render a program to the teachers and students. It assist in improvement of the
acquisition education by students and professors. VLE renders practical application to better the
cognitive content of class with more effectual interaction and communication. It is the scheme
via which different professional make over communication and interaction and make the
acquisition surroundings progressive via digitally. It assist in generating, preparation and
executing of teaching between students and professors. It is normally utilized by association of
high teaching (Chui, Fung, Lytras and Lam, 2020). For VLE, smartphones, computers and
laptops are utilized so it is also called as electronic learning or online learning administration
scheme. It assist in rendering real time connection via e-mails, video, audio and text association
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and also aids in following the student's assignment. Virtual learning environment is an electronic
program utilized to alleviate teaching to the students by their professional. It is the specific type
to render study electronically to the students without generating any disruptions in their
education (Bogusevschi, Muntean and Muntean, 2020).
Positive Impact of virtual learning environment on students
Students gains interest in studying
It is one of the positive impact of virtual learning environment on students that is the
students gains interest in studying which means that online learning attracts the students with
attentive study materials with good digital resources such as animation, audio, video and many
more so that students can gain proper interest and knowledge of the topics.
Students are able to gain the digital skills
It is an another positive impact of virtual learning environment on students that is the
students are able to gain the digital skills which means that the students who don't have any
knowledge of the technology and technical skills can be able to enhance them in an effective
manner, they can be more digitalised in their personal life as well and in professional life also
which enhances their career in real time organizations (Boulton, Kent and Williams, 2018).
Students can save their extra expenses of travelling
It is also the one of the positive impact of virtual learning environment on students that is
the students can save their extra expenses of travelling which means that this type of study is
highly cost effective in nature, no extra expenses and students can save a lot from studying at
home. Moreover, they feel comfortable while sitting at home and studying at their own place.
Students can be aware of advanced technology
It is also an another positive impact of virtual learning environment on students that is the
students can be aware of advanced technology which means that learning technology is
important now a days because the world is becoming digitalised day by day and having and
gaining the knowledge of advanced technology can help students to be aware about digitalisation
(Yang, Alsadoon, Prasad, Singh and Elchouemi, 2018).
Negative Impact of virtual learning environment on students
Students can suffer from health problems
It is one of the negative impact of virtual learning environment on students that is the
students can suffer from health problems which means that giving time on screen the whole day
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can affect the health of the students such as their eyesight can become weak, headache problem
and many more. Therefore, it can be said along with the positive impact, there are various
negative impact as well which can highly affect the student's health.
Students can lack real time interaction with other students
It is an another negative impact of virtual learning environment on students that is the
students can lack real time interaction with other students which means that interaction and
communication is necessary for the students to be a professional in life and for the career as well
and via virtual meeting, it cannot be possible to groom the students properly in such area
(Khlaisang and Songkram, 2019).
Students can face the low internet connectivity
It is also the one of the negative impact of virtual learning environment on students that is
the students can face the low internet connectivity which means that learning virtually has a
major demerit of network issues because anywhere and anytime, it can face a problem which
cause the disturbances in studies and therefore, low internet connectivity can hinders the students
learning on an online platform.
High internet expenses
It is also an another negative impact of virtual learning environment on students that is
the high internet expenses which means that students needs technical devices and good network
while studying at home, this makes expenses because internet charges are high these days and
therefore, over expenses can cause the difficulty in students to learn online or virtually in an
efficient manner.
Methodology
Methods are very essential in a investigation as it assist the researcher in the procedure of
assembling and analysing information in an accurate manner about the projected subject (Goeser,
Hamza-Lup, Johnson and Scharfer, 2018). There are some methods that are utilized is discussed
here:
Data collection: There are 2 methods which are primary & secondary which is utilized by
investigator for acquiring logical results (Carlotta Olivetti, Violante, Vezzetti, Marcolin and
Eynard, 2020). Questionnaires are utilized for assembling primary information such as books,
journals, articles and many more. Sources are utilized for assembling secondary data for the
literature review.
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Sampling: There are 2 types of sampling such as first is probability sampling and second is non
probability sampling (Chaim, Muschard, Cazarini and Rozenfeld, 2018). Probability sampling is
used by selecting 100 students for conducting survey.
Data collection and analysis
Questionnaire
1) Which is the most comfortable application for the virtual learning?
1. Moodle
2. Microsoft meet
3. Google classrooms
2) What do you most prefer: offline or online learning?
1. Offline
2. Online
3) Are you suffering from any side effects on health while learning virtually?
1. Yes
2. No
4) Are your study concepts clear while learning online?
1. Yes
2. No
5) Is it beneficial for you to learn virtually?
1. Yes
2. No
6) Are your parents satisfied with the virtual learning process?
1. Yes
2. No
7) Are you getting proficient in gaining digital skills?
1. Yes
2. No
8) Will you prefer future studies online?
1. Yes
2. No
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9) Are your expenses cutting off while sitting at home and studying?
1. Yes
2. No
10) How many hours do you give daily for the virtual studies?
1. 1-3 hours
2. 4-6 hours
Question 1: Most comfortable application for the virtual learning
1) Which is the most comfortable application for the virtual learning? Frequency
1. Moodle 50
2. Microsoft meet 25
3. Google classrooms 25
5
1. Moodle 2. Microsoft meet 3. Google classrooms
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
50
25 25 Frequency

Interpretation: From the above mentioned data it is identified that 50 people out of 100 preferred
Moodle. 25 people preferred Microsoft meet and 25 people preferred Google classrooms. Which
50% people uses Moodle, 25% people uses Microsoft meet and 25% people uses Google
classrooms.
Question 2: Most preferred application
2) What do you most prefer: offline or online learning? Frequency
1. Offline 50
2. Online 50
Interpretation: From the above mentioned data it is identified that 50 people out of 100 preferred
offline and 50 people preferred online. Which means 50% people chose offline studies and 50%
people chose online studies.
6
1. Offline 2. Online
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
50 50
Frequency

Question 3: Any side effects
3) Are you suffering from any side effects on health while learning
virtually?
Frequency
1. Yes 30
2. No 70
Interpretation: From the above mentioned data it is identified that 30 people out of 100 said yes
and 70 people said no. Which means 30% people are suffering from health problems and 70%
people are not suffering from health problems.
Question 4: Clarification in study concepts
4) Are your study concepts clear while learning online? Frequency
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1. Yes 2. No
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
30
70
Frequency

1. Yes 70
2. No 30
Interpretation: From the above mentioned data it is identified that 70 people out of 100 said yes
and 30 people said no. Which means 70% people has cleared their concepts while learning
virtually and 30% people have not cleared their concepts while learning virtually.
Question 5: Beneficial
5) Is it beneficial for you to learn virtually? Frequency
1. Yes 80
2. No 20
8
1. Yes 2. No
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
70
30
Frequency

Interpretation: From the above mentioned data it is identified that 80 people out of 100 said yes
and 20 people said no. Which means 80% people find beneficial studying online and 20% are not
satisfied with the online studies.
Question 6: Parents satisfaction
6) Are your parents satisfied with the virtual learning process? Frequency
1. Yes 60
2. No 40
9
1. Yes 2. No
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
80
20
Frequency

Interpretation: From the above mentioned data it is identified that 60 people out of 100 said yes
and 40 people said no. Which means 60% people's parents are satisfied with the virtual learning
process and 40% people's parents are not satisfied with the learning process.
Question 7: Proficiency in digital skills
7) Are you getting proficient in gaining digital skills? Frequency
1. Yes 50
2. No 50
10
1. Yes 2. No
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
60
40
Frequency