Who Is The Virtual Student?

For many in the online education and distance learning world, the “virtual student” is simply someone who takes a degree program online.

This is far too simplistic.

For us, the definition is much broader. In our world, a virtual student is an intrepid character who takes responsibility for their own success and finds the best, most efficient way to complete their study program.

“Virtual student” describes a mindset, an attitude of independence and self-determination.

Success as a Virtual student depends upon matching the right personality traits with the right opportunity. Self-direction, flexibility, persistence and a good work ethic make up the formula for a great Virtual Student.

Virtual students are self-starters. They are internally motivated, whether by personal or professional circumstances.

They have a spirit of self-direction and self-reliance. They recognize that they alone are responsible for their success. They act accordingly.

Virtual students are a bit iconoclastic. To complete their programs in the minimum amount of time, and at the bare minimum cost, they have to be a bit nonconformist.

Virtual students are loyal to their own priorities. They have their own agendas. They work within systems to assure their own achievements.

Virtual students recognize schools, no matter how prestigious or venerable, as means to an end. Virtual students bend institutional policies and procedures to their own ends.

Virtual students are flexible. When necessary, they can easily adjust their approach in order to keep progressing toward their degrees.

Virtual students are persistent. In the face of obstinate bureaucrats or uncompromising procedures, they find a way.

Virtual students are determined. They recognize the importance of education and decide to achieve it, even if the “upfront” tuition cost seems prohibitive. They thrive on the challenge of finding the least expensive options for completing their degrees.

Virtual students thumb their noses at the obstacles to completing their programs. They find ways to amass credit, inexpensive options that do not require that they mortgage their entire futures through student loans.

Virtual students are technology pioneers. They were the first to discover pen and pencil correspondence study well over a century ago; the first to enroll in non-traditional weekend and night school programs in decades past. They were the first to make teaching via the Web a reality for pioneering schools. And today, they are leading the way into mobile, interactive and highly dynamic technology models that will change the world. Again.

Virtual students are communicators. Primarily in writing, but increasingly using video and podcasts, virtual students find ways to communicate in cyberspace. This is not to say that all virtual students are great writers; that is no more true than it is on physical campuses. But whether through Web interfaces or other digital means, they find ways to make their presence known.

Virtual students commit time and energy to their study pursuits, and make the sacrifices necessary to complete their programs. Virtual students often spend at least as much time on-task as their classroom-based colleagues. Plus, they spend creative energy seeking out ways to minimize their time and cost, while maximizing their chances of success. Virtual students are achievers. They are winners. We salute them, and applaud them, and hope that our work supports them.

taken from http://www.virtualstudent.com/?page_id=25

Virtual learning environment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A virtual learning environment (VLE) is a software system designed to support teaching and learning in an educational setting, as distinct from a Managed Learning Environment, (MLE) where the focus is on management. A VLE will normally work over the Internet and provide a collection of tools such as those for assessment (particularly of types that can be marked automatically, such as multiple choice), communication, uploading of content, return of students' work, peer assessment, administration of student groups, collecting and organizing student grades, questionnaires, tracking tools, etc. New features in these systems include wikis, blogs, RSS and 3D virtual learning spaces.

While originally created for distance education, VLEs are now most often used to supplement traditional face to face classroom activities, commonly known as Blended Learning. These systems usually run on servers, to serve the course to students Multimedia and/or web pages.

In 'Virtually There', a book and DVD pack distributed freely to schools by the Yorkshire and Humber Grid for Learning Foundation (YHGfL), Professor Stephen Heppell writes in the foreword: "Learning is breaking out of the narrow boxes that it was trapped in during the 20th century; teachers' professionalism, reflection and ingenuity are leading learning to places that genuinely excite this new generation of connected young school students - and their teachers too. VLEs are helping to make sure that their learning is not confined to a particular building, or restricted to any single location or moment."

List of some virtual learning environments

Learning management systems
Claroline
Desire2Learn
eFront - An Open-Source web-based Learning Management System
JoomlaLMS - a LMS based on Joomla platform
LAMS - the Learning Activity Management System
SharePointLMS - a LMS based on MS SharePoint
TotalLMS

Course management systems
CCNet
Coggno - e-learning software platform and courseware creation toolkit
Desire2Learn
Pegasus LMS Pearson Publications
Free software and open source
Dokeos
ILIAS
Moodle
Sakai

Virtual learning environment
Blackboard - A family of virtual learning software
CyberExtension - Virtual Managed Learning Environment
Desire2Learn - Desire2Learn eLearning solutions
FirstClass - Messaging and communications solution
Fronter - Norwegian Closed Source System (written in PHP)
Heritage Key – Virtual historical environments, such as Tutankhamun’s tomb.
It's Learning - Norwegian Closed Source System (written in ASP.NET)
WebCT - (Now a part of Blackboard) Software applications designed to enhance teaching and learning
WebTrain - Virtual live classes, enrollment, attendance, attention monitoring

Other descriptions
Apex Learning - K-12 online course service and AP test study
ATutor - LCMS
Dokeos - elearning and course management web application
eCollege - comprehensive eLearning solution
Pass-port - a commercial ePortfolio and assessment system that includes a course management component
Spiral Universe - student information system
Yacapaca - free assessment platform with large repository of User-generated content

Does and Don'ts in Virtual Classrooms

At the moment you start a virtual class, you need to take into account some Does and Don't s while your into the virtual classroom. In my personal experience they work and help me to focus in what I am doing in my computer.

Does

1. Make sure you have the proper softwares and hardwares in order you virtual classroom runs properly.

2. Have enough time for reading and doing task.

3. If there is not a virtual library, use pocket books, dictionaries or whatever text which help you to learn  more.

4. When your tutor post documents and if you have the possibilities, print them. It would help you even if you can't access directly to your virtual classroom and you need quick information.

Don't s 

1. Do not chat, or use another virtual spaces  such as: Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc., not because you can't focus on what are you doing, but those sites can make your equipment run slowly. Besides, you spend much less time just focusing in one task at time.

2. Do not enter to your virtual classroom while you are taking care of babies or little children. I say so because if your are too focused into the virtual class you lost of your sight babies and children and they would have an accident. I recommend to wait until they are sleep or if there is someone else to help you.  It shows how responsible are you in this situation.

NETIQUETTE

People may think that when using a blog is not important how we use language, but it is really important. Just think about the hundreds of times you show up rude or impolite to people when you are using, replying blogs or when you simply post in someone's space. The same happens in the moment you speak to someone, or you write a formal or informal letters, the way you use language is called etiquette; in  these virtual spaces you have to apply what is called Netiquette. 

Netiquette is the series of rules you apply when your writing online in order to show a polite and coherent use of language. It also is useful because you want to be understood properly.

The following are the rules of Netiquette:

Rule 1: Remember the human. Even this is a cyberspace, remember  there is another human being who is reading what you wrote.

Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior on-line that you follow in real life.

Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace.

Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth.

Rule 5: Make yourself look good on-line.

Rule 6: Share expert knowledge.

Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control.

Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy.

Rule 9: Don't abuse your power.

Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Welcome to my blog

Welcome everybody to my blog, this is based on my personal experiences of learning trough virtual spaces. I'm really glad to share information with you, and I hope you can exchange information with me. 

Pilar Núñez