Digital Skills 1: Examining VLE in UK Universities (Report)

This report investigates the significance of Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) in UK higher education, focusing on the digital skills required for students and the impact of VLEs on teaching and learning. The study explores the background of VLEs, their implementation in UK universities, and the advantages they offer, such as flexibility and access to learning materials. It outlines the aims and objectives of the research, including determining the types of technologies used, examining the impact on higher education, and comparing VLEs with traditional classroom settings. The methodology involves qualitative research using primary and secondary data, including interviews with students from UK universities. The results highlight the frequency of VLE use, the preferred learning environments, and the technologies employed by educators, such as assistive techniques and one-on-one support. The discussion section analyzes the positive and negative impacts of VLEs, considering factors like technical issues and the importance of self-discipline. The report concludes that VLEs support the education sector by offering flexibility and improved learning opportunities, emphasizing the interactive nature of online activities and the role of technology in enhancing student engagement and performance.

Digital Skills
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
Background............................................................................................................................3
Aims and Objectives..............................................................................................................4
Methods..................................................................................................................................5
Results....................................................................................................................................5
Discussion............................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................13
Appendix..................................................................................................................................14
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INTRODUCTION
The present study is based upon the digital skills which is required in the research
because the entire study helps to shed a light upon the digital skills and importance of virtual
learning environment (VLE) in the education which in turn provide a new opportunities to the
students in their learning profession. Also, by study on this particular topic, scholar provide
an opportunity to other viewers to focus upon VLE and also enhance the knowledge with
regards to the same.
Another reason for conducting the research is such that scholar have their own interest
to study on this topic because in this modern era, each and every person uses advance
techniques because it saves time and cost effective methods. In the same way, with the help
of primary and secondary research, scholar presented the importance of using VLE into
education sector.
Background
As per the view of Phungsuk, Viriyavejakul and Ratanaolarn (2017) Virtual learning
environment (VLE) is an educational technology that is a web based platform that provide
new opportunities in education sector. Thus, it is design space for teacher but it do not replace
classroom or existing educational practices. But VLE enhance or add value as they extend the
space of a physical learning environment. In education sector, most of the universities and
schools has already implemented the system in order to let students understand the
importance of Internet. As there are positive impact of using VLE in education sector such
that Makransky and et.al., (2016) present their views and stated that by implementing VLE,
the education process becomes more flexible especially in the terms of Time. It is so because
it provide free access to all the learning material and even students may align their studies
and learn new things by their own.
Bogusevschi, Muntean and Muntean, (2020) argued that as the entire environment is
based upon the technology and it helps to keep engage all the teacher ad students with each
other in order to generate the best outcomes. Such that it empower educational roadmap with
online test and quiz, videos and podcast which help to provide different environment and
encourage them to indulge within this. Thus, it shows that there is a positive impact of using
VLE within an education sector. Rienties and et.al., (2016) explain their views that there are
different types of VLE technologies used in education sector such that presentation and
multimedia technologies which help to present the content in such an attractive manner that
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assist to meet the define aim. Also, most of them staff uses Xerte Toolkits that allow non-
specialist staff to present the data in better manner.
Avelino and et.al., (2017) also supported by stating that assistive technology is
another tool which help to provide VLE to students. Under this, electronic worksheets are
presented which is specially designed for disable person so that they may use this in order to
complete the assignments. Along with this, Phonetic spelling software is included in assistive
technology which help to improve the writing abilities among the students which in turn help
them in their future career. Overall it can be stated that Virtual learning environment helps
the teacher to plan lesson and also manage he administrative work which in turn help to track
the performance of students and also engage them within studies. According to Ouherrou and
et.al., (2019) this reduce cost of a degree and also allow the student to develop the career
alongside education which is beneficial for the students.
Boulton, Kent and Williams (2018) reflected that there is no comparison of VE with
classroom learning environment because it is analyzed that school climate is necessary for the
students and that is why, it leads them towards a positive climate and provide intellectual and
emotionally safe which is not possible in VLE. On the other side, Virtual learning
environment provide flexibility to the students and they study when they are comfortable but
it may affect their entire routine as well. Though the management is simple and affordable
and also help student to learn new things and use of advance technologies in their routine life
as well. Ahmad and et.al., (2020) supported that it provide a free environment to students but
all the activities are done which teacher perform within classrooms. Such that students have
to submit their homework but they provide access of digital learning material such that texts,
videos and images, even teacher perform group discussion and one to one chat in order to
track the performance of each student. Through live session, student may record the lesson
and may also use them later whenever they required. This clearly reflected that with the help
of VLE, student get proper learning environment and schools and universities do not require
additional cost to implement such. Hence, it creates positive impact upon education sector
and also make students able to learn new things except education.
Aims and Objectives
Aim: “To investigate the importance of using Virtual Learning Environment in education
sector: A study on UK universities”
Objectives:
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 To determine different types of technologies required in VLE
 To examine the impact of using VLE towards a higher education sector.
 To compare the use of VLE with classroom teaching environment in education sector.
Research questions
 How the lecturers could deliver lectures, provide one-to-one support, provide other
learning resources with the help of VLE compared to classroom teaching
environment?
 What type of technologies required and used in a VLE?
 How productive and efficient the VLE towards the higher education sector?
Methods
Qualitative research methods has been used by the scholar in order to meet the define
aim because it provide depth detail as compared to quantitative study and also scholar uses
both primary and secondary data collection methods which in turn leads to generate the best
outcomes. Further, there are about 11 students are selected from top Universities of UK in
order to collect the best results. These people has selected with the random sampling method
in which some are selected out of a large population that helps to determine the results. Also,
interpretivism research philosophy has been selected by the scholar because it will help to
integrates the interest of human within a study and also conduct in depth research which in
turn leads a research towards positive direction.
Moreover, inductive research approach has been used by the scholar in order to
collect the best results. Through this, scholar is able to meet the define aim and also, specific
questionnaire is designed under survey method in which different questions are asked related
to the title and this in turn helps to meet the define aim and answer the research questions as
well. Also, with the help of relevant methods and complying the ethical issue, scholar is able
to meet the target. The questions asked within a study are related to VLE and determine
whether the universities provide virtual leaning environment to their students or not.
Results
Theme 1:
Respondents
Very frequently 3
Frequently 7
5

Rarely 1
Never 0
Theme 2:
Respondents
VLE 5
Classroom learning environment 6
Theme 3:
Respondents
Yes 8
6

No 2
Don’t know 1
Theme 4:
Respondents
Assistive technique 1
One to one support 1
Record the voice and provide 0
All of these 9
Theme 5:
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Respondents
Yes 9
No 0
Don’t know 1
Sometimes 1
Theme 6:
Respondents
Yes 3
No 5
Sometimes 3
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Theme 7
Respondents
Help teacher to plan Lesson 2
Manage Administrative 0
Track Performance 0
All of these 9
Theme 8
Respondents
Yes 8
No 3
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Theme 9
Respondents
Online Platform 5
Learning Opportunities 4
Others 1
Discussion
In accordance with the above primary research it is analyzed that there most of the top
universities students are uses VLE rather than classroom learning environment because it is
more flexible method and do not require high cost. Further, 50% of the selected respondents
are highly agree that they frequently uses virtual learning platform in order to learn new
things and edit in their existing classes. This provide a best learning option to their students
because they are agree that it clear positive impact upon the career and universities as well.
This is further supported by Vasileiadis and et.al., (2020) that it provide technical support to
the university and they have to recruit highly skilled staff members so that they may deliver
the courses to large number of students in a single platform which is more beneficial. Thus, it
is analyzed that the method is more flexible but it somehow turn out to be a problem for the
students with lack of self- discipline as they do not care for a deadlines, so it have both
positive and negative impact.
Moreover, with the help of primary data collection methods, majority of the
respondents are stated that there are different methods which are used by the teachers such
that assistive techniques, one to one support and also students record the lectures and use later
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on. These all methods of lecture delivery are used by the teacher in order to make sure that
students do not face any problem because it may leads to affect their learning. Also,
university added their best effort to deliver the best learning to all students. Also, out of 11
more than half of the students are agree that VLE actually support the education system in
positive manner because it assist to break curriculum into section which is assigned and keep
track the performance of student in order to determine whether there is a need to put extra
effort on specific child so that they may improve their learning. This is possible in Virtual
Learning Environment and also universities uses for creating software packages which help
to meet the define aim.
In addition to this, students also stated that they face many technical error while using
online classes through VLE and this might affect the results in opposite manner. Clabburn,
Groves and Jack (2020) supported by saying that due to network error, it might create
negative impact upon students and leads to miscommunication and also discourage the warm
relations and mutual assistance that might be lead to creates conflict between each other.
Thus, it is analyzed that there are both positive as well as negative outcome that may affect
the results. So, it is depend upon the universities who uses this system in order to provide real
learning environment to their students.
Also, more than half of the respondents are completed agree that VLE provide a
working environment which also assist them to improve their personal and professional life.
Such that teacher support students and provide ways through which their weakness may
easily improve.
Overall, it can be stated that with the help of VLE, universities provide an interactive
learning opportunities to their students in which teacher get computer aided assistance in
planning the lesson and managing all related activities, which is proved through a primary
study. Not only this, it will help to provide an interactive online activities and additional
material in order to deepen the knowledge and students are involving to share their views and
even ask the questions in the live session as well. This, is consider one of the best
opportunities for the students where it provides lots of opportunities to the people in which
they analyze their own performance and make extra efforts in order to improve the
development for the same.
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CONCLUSION
By summing up above report it has been concluded that VLE support the education
sector in positive manner such that it provide a better opportunities to the students through its
flexibility and also meet the define aim. Through the primary research it has been concluded
that that most of the students are highly agree that they enjoy Virtual Learning Environment
and that is why, they prefer to use during whole time. Also, there are some technical issue
which they face during a class and that is why, there is a need to solve those problems
because it may leads to miscommunicate the results which affect their learning. Overall, it is
concluded that VLE provide its best effort in order to keep engage students towards leaning
and though it is helps to reduce the cost and that is why, it can be implemented in different
universities and schools.
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