Impact of VLE on Student Learning Experience: UWTSD London Campus

This report investigates the impact of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) on student learning experiences at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David London Campus, focusing on the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research aims to determine the importance of VLEs and identify tools that enhance student learning. The report includes a literature review on the benefits of VLEs, such as accessibility and flexibility, as well as tools like lecture capture, webinars, and interactive web conferencing. The methodology section outlines the use of primary data through an online survey and secondary data from various sources. The data collection section presents the questionnaire used and the data analysis, including frequency distributions and interpretations of the findings. The results indicate that the majority of students are aware of VLEs and believe they are effective, especially during the pandemic. The analysis highlights the importance of VLEs for students' learning, the tools used, and the issues students face, such as internet connectivity and concentration. The conclusion emphasizes the crucial role of VLEs in providing uninterrupted education during challenging times.

DIGITAL SKILLS AND RESEARCH
METHODS

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION 200........................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW...................................................................................................................3
METHODOLOGY..............................................................................................................................4
DATA COLLECTION........................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES..................................................................................................................................13

Title: Impact of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) on students learning experience.
A study on University of Wales Trinity Saint David London Campus.
Rationale
During the situation of Covid-19 where health is a big concern of every body and
thus, educational institutions has move towards virtual learning experience. Thus, this is the
reason of choosing this topic for conducting the research (Alotebi, Alharbi and Masmali,
2018). Moreover, this will improve the knowledge of the researcher and will understand more
about the effectiveness of VLE in student’s life and issues they can face while opting its
various sources and different platforms.
Research aim:
“To investigate the impact of Virtual learning environment (VLE) on students
learning experience.” A study on University of Wales Trinity Saint David London
Campus.
Research objectives:
 To determine the importance of virtual learning environment for students.
 To identify the tools of Virtual learning environment that improve students learning.
Research questions:
 What is the importance of virtual learning environment for students?
 What the different tools of Virtual learning environment that improve students
learning?
LITERATURE REVIEW
Importance of virtual learning environment for students
According to Holmes, (2018), Virtual Learning Environment, is considered to be the
future of the classroom and the education provided in them. With the help of VLE, one can
learn their academic learnings using a mini computer, smartphones anytime and anywhere.
Therefore, virtual learning, is said to be an online classroom where by using a digital space
the host tries to provide knowledge and information to students. During the situation of this
pandemic where spread of Covid-19 has raise the risk of life and people are advised to stay at
home. Virtual Learning Environment has come up as a boon because institutions can conduct

their classes and manage their academic sessions or schedules without any problem. The
importance of virtual learning is that it is expanded worldwide which means students can
access to knowledge from wherever they want without wasting much of the time. Moreover,
if any tests are conducted than students can get immediate feedbacks and they can ask for the
appropriate solutions.
Therefore, while talking more about Virtual Learning Environment it comes with
flexibility and accessibility which means students of the university can watch the lectures,
read texts as many times as they can. As a result, students can attain proper knowledge by
watching the videos on a repeat mode unless it is understood properly according to the self-
paced learning. Moreover, it can be said that Virtual Learning Environment, with the help of
easy learning approach can keep the students engage with the work both practical and theory
tasks. Henceforth, if implemented properly than Virtual Learning Environment is the
effective way for providing educational services and for embracing positive learning.
Different tools of Virtual learning environment that improve students learning
According to Ryan and Poole, (2019), In order to have a proper conduction of virtual
learning environment it is crucial that institutions make proper use of these tools. Thus, for
some of the tools that institutions can use are given below for better understanding:
Lecture Capture: From its old roots of rough audio and video tapes the technology
of lecture capture has come a long way and now lecture capture system has made integrated
presentation possible at universities and colleges. Moreover, if wanted than speaker can add
additional features in the presentation which was not added earlier thus, reuse of digital
resources is possible. Therefore, use of this tool can be every effective for the institutions and
students as well.
Webinars: This is the platform where the presentation is usually delivered under real
time and furthermore provided to audience in quick time. Both audio and video PowerPoint
slides are delivered using a standard phone line and other than this, Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) is being used. Even after the benefits it has some challenges such as this
process can better be used when the internet connection is at its high-speed.
Interactive Web Conferencing: According to the current global situations,
technology has changed the entire process of communication system. Distance is hardly a
matter of concern because one can easily connect with one another. Conferencing, provides

with an online chatting platforms and institutions can use the same for delivering lectures
through telepresence. Moreover, with the help of web conferencing institutions can provide
lectures of experts to students and furthermore, students can ask doubts for the same.
METHODOLOGY
In order to do a research in an effective manner, research methodology plays a very
important role because it is said that, a research methodology provides with a guideline to the
researcher for doing the research in an effective manner. Therefore, due to the Covid -19,
face-to-face interactions is not possible. Thus, the following method which was being used is
mentioned below:
Primary data analysis: Whenever, the researcher wants to get authentic information which
is not being used earlier then he/she opt for primary data analysis. However, with respect to
this research, researcher has used online survey so that less contacts can be established. In
order to do this, digital platforms were taken into consideration and a set of 6 questions were
developed with suitable options (Hayashi and et. Al., 2020). Therefore, respondents can
provide with the answers according to their understandings and perceptions. Moreover,
researcher can rely on the data and information gathered from the sources as it will be
authentic and without any similarity.
Secondary data analysis: This is the method in which the information is collected
through secondary sources such as books, journals, magazines, articles etc., Majorly, this is
being used to make the part of literature review more appropriate because the information
that are provided are by the scholars. Moreover, secondary data analysis helps in improving
the knowledge regarding a specific topic of the research.
DATA COLLECTION
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you aware about virtual learning environment?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Does virtual learning environment is effective for students in current pandemic
situations?
a) Yes
b) No

Q3) What is the importance of virtual learning environment for students learning
experience?
a) Opportunity to learn new skills
b) Provide convenient to students
c) Cost advantage
Q4) What kind of issues students can face during the period of virtual learning
environment?
a) Internet connection
b) Lack of concentration and understanding
c) Lack of available resources
Q5) What kind of tools institute can use for establishing a proper virtual learning
environment for students?
a) Lecture capture
b) Webinars
c) Interactive web conferencing
Q6) Any recommendation for improving the experience of virtual learning
environment.
Data sheet
Q1) Are you aware about virtual learning environment? Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Q2) Does virtual learning environment is effective for students
in current pandemic situations?
Frequency
a) Yes 35
b) No 5
Q3) What is the importance of virtual learning environment for
students learning experience?
Frequency
a) Opportunity to learn new skills 20
b) Provide convenient to students 10
c) Cost advantage 10
Q4) What kind of issues students can face during the period of
virtual learning environment?
Frequency

a) Internet connection 15
b) Lack of concentration and understanding 15
c) Lack of available resources 10
Q5) What kind of tools institute can use for establishing a
proper virtual learning environment for students?
Frequency
a) Lecture capture 20
b) Webinars 10
c) Interactive web conferencing 10
Theme 1: Awareness about virtual learning environment.
Q1) Are you aware about virtual learning environment? Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
20
10
Aware about Virtual Learning Environment
a) Yes b) No
Interpretation: With the help of the above-mentioned pie chart, it is analysed that 20 of
respondents out of 30 are aware about virtual learning environment and its importance in the
field of education. On the other hand, 10 of the participants doesn’t have proper knowledge
about virtual learning environment as they don’t use this platform for learning new things.

Theme 2: Virtual learning environment is effective for students in current pandemic
situations.
Q2) Does virtual learning environment is effective for students
in current pandemic situations?
Frequency
a) Yes 35
b) No 5
35
5
VLE is effective for students
a) Yes b) No
Interpretation: According to the pandemic situation where to minimise the effect of
coronavirus everybody is advised to stay at home virtual learning environment is providing
an effective solution. As per the pie chart represented above, it can be analysed that 35 of the
participants has chosen the option “Yes”, because they believe that VLE is defective in this
pandemic situation. Whereas, 5 of them has gone with the option “No”, because they don’t
agree with the same.

Theme 3: Importance of virtual learning environment for students learning experience.
Q3) What is the importance of virtual learning environment for
students learning experience?
Frequency
a) Opportunity to learn new skills 20
b) Provide convenient to students 10
c) Cost advantage 10
20
10
10
Importance of VLE
a) Opportunity to learn new skills b) Provide convenient to students
c) Cost advantage
Interpretation: With the help of the above-mentioned pie chart it is understood that, as per
the viewpoint of 20 respondents, they are agreeing with the fact that virtual learning has
provided with the opportunity of learning new things. On the other hand, 10 of the
participants think that VLE has improved the learning experience as it is convenient in nature
and can be accessed from where they want to. However, other 10 respondents believe that
virtual learning environment provides with cost advantage.

Theme 4: Issues students can face during the period of virtual learning environment.
Q4) What kind of issues students can face during the period of
virtual learning environment?
Frequency
a) Internet connection 15
b) Lack of concentration and understanding 15
c) Lack of available resources 10
15
15
10
Issues
a) Internet connection
b) Lack of concentration and understanding
c) Lack of available resources
Interpretation: Although, technologies provides with benefits but we cannot deny the fact
that it has some issues as well. Therefore, from the above pie chart it is understood that 15 of
the respondents think that the most common issue which can be faced by the students is
internet connection and this can furthermore, create disturbance. On the other hand, 15
participants believe that due to inactive participation of the students there can be lack of
concentration and understanding. However, in some cases, 10 of the respondents thinks that
sue to the lack of available resources students cannot have the benefits of virtual learning
environment.

Theme 5: Kind of tools institute can use for establishing a proper virtual learning
environment for students.
Q5) What kind of tools institute can use for establishing a
proper virtual learning environment for students?
Frequency
a) Lecture capture 20
b) Webinars 10
c) Interactive web conferencing 10
20
10
10
Tools Institution can use
a) Lecture capture b) Webinars
c) Interactive web conferencing
Interpretation: According to the pie chart, it has been evaluated that, 20 of the participants
out of 30 thinks that lecture capture is the best tool which institutions can use for providing a
better virtual learning environment. On the other hand, 10 believed that Webinars is the
platform from where students can easily get access to the lecture notes as well as videos.
Whereas, remaining 10 agrees with the fact that interactive web conferences is the best
process because students can ask their doubts in real time.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that, virtual learning is playing a crucial
role in this difficult time of pandemic. It has evolved as a boon for the students who are
enrolled in academic sessions as without having any gap in their studies, they can learn
things. They can now simply by sitting at home can have access to their academic sessions
and enhance their knowledge as well. Therefore, virtual learning is turning out to be the best

source of providing knowledge by the institution to its students. But there are some
consequences which students are going through like interrupted internet connection, lack of
resources and minimal level of concentration by students. Moreover, institutions in order to
cope up with the situation can provide a web link which can even work in slow connectivity.
However, institutions are using alternative tools for connecting with their students such as
webinars, lecture capture and different methods of web conferencing.
RECOMMENDATIONS
A sudden shift in the learning process has gave rise to virtual learning and all the
activities are being performed in digital platforms. Moreover, studies have shown that online
learning is the best source for retaining information in quick time. After analysing the report,
it is recommended that, during the period of COVID-19 i.e. pandemic situations: institutions
should have their own local educational broadcasts and separate channels for educating their
children. Besides this, institutions can make proper use of various “Clouds”, websites, digital
platforms. Along with the institutions, regulatory bodies of the nation can provide easy access
to technologies because there can be a possibility that some of them have limited resources
and cannot access the benefits. However, institutions can have a change in their curriculum
and teaching strategies like use of “PBS Learning Media” used by “The Los Angeles Unified
School Districts”, under which institutions can provide free documentaries to students.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Ryan, E. and Poole, C., 2019. Impact of Virtual Learning Environment on Students’
Satisfaction, Engagement, Recall, and Retention. Journal of medical imaging and radiation
sciences, 50(3), pp.408-415.
Holmes, N., 2018. Engaging with assessment: Increasing student engagement through
continuous assessment. Active Learning in Higher Education, 19(1), pp.23-34.
Alotebi, H., Alharbi, O. and Masmali, A., 2018. Effective Leadership in Virtual Learning
Environments. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 8(2), pp.156-
160.
Hayashi, A. and et. Al., 2020. The role of social presence and moderating role of computer
self efficacy in predicting the continuance usage of e-learning systems. Journal of
Information Systems Education, 15(2), p.5.
Mai, M.Y. and Muruges, G.R., 2018. Primary school science teachers’ attitude towards using
virtual learning environment (VLE) in teaching science. European Journal of Education, 1(3),
pp.155-162.
Xiaoyun, P. and Siqi, M., 2018. The number of virtual learning environment and their
effective using impact on students’ information literacy. Journal of Advances in Humanities
and Social Sciences, 4(2), pp.93-103.
Cimermanová, I., 2018. The Effect of Learning Styles on Academic Achievement in
Different Forms of Teaching. International Journal of Instruction, 11(3), pp.219-232.