Online Learning Education, Virtual Classrooms, Virtual Education, Virtual Learning

Online Education means (online research, virtual training) those in which scholars, teachers and students participate remotely via computer networks, making intensive use of facilities that provide Internet and information technologies and communication, thereby achieving highly interactive educational environment, anytime and anywhere.

Interactive distance education is based on the concept of tele-training, which is defined as: "a delivery system for distance learning, supported by the Information and Communication Technologies (technologies, telecommunications networks, videoconferencing, digital TV, materials multimedia), which combines various elements of teaching, classical education (classroom or self study), practices, contacts (real-time, videoconferencing or chat) and delayed contacts (guardians, discussion forums, email)

What is meant by educational virtual space?

Educational Virtual Space is an environment that does not physically exist, it is a heritage site in addition to facilitating the sharing of information related to a particular area of knowledge, allows remote interaction between users interconnected via a computer network.

It is a meeting place that allows students (trainees) and teachers (facilitators) to interact with the aim of achieving a common instructional goal, without the limitations of space or time.

It is a system where you perform the activities involved in the teaching-learning process.

An educational virtual space can be used as Information Distribution System, in this case the virtual space is used to supplement on-campus classes to enrich them with different information materials (notes, slides, articles, papers), which can be accessed by students from anywhere, allowing you to have updating them.

As a training system, in this case the medium or virtual environment takes the central role of teaching-learning process as it is in itself where it concentrates and develops the whole process.

This model envisages that any training course based on virtual spaces should consider the following:

a. - Appearance Teaching:

Space is seen as an instructional medium, which allows to be given the teaching-learning process. You must define the patterns to follow to determine teaching strategies and activities to be implemented through instructional Web site.

The space also must be understood as a means of communication to support different types and modes of interaction.

b. - Technological Aspect:

From this aspect, space is understood as a collection of interconnected Web pages stored on a server, which are accessed from any computer connected to the Internet.

c. - Functional aspects:

This issue focuses on the operability and functionality of virtual education. The site must allow a range of tasks of course developers, facilitators, and students.

d. - Structural Appearance:

This issue focuses on key components of virtual space educational, instructional Web site. 

It consists of:

1 .- The platform or operating tools of the course.

2 .- The plan of the course (study guide) by which the student is guided along the field and get detailed instructions to study the contents, activities undertaken, with their respective resources, and self-evaluations need to do to accomplish its initial goal of learning.

3 .- A series of interaction tools.

Characteristics of online learning

Interactive, the student takes an active role in relation to the pace and level of work. Interact with content, the facilitator, and other users.

Multimedia, incorporating text, still images, animations, videos, sound.

Open allows updating of content and activities permanently.

Accessible, there are no geographical limitations. Use the potential of the Internet.

Synchronous and asynchronous, allowing students to participate in tasks or activities at the same time wherever they are, real time (synchronous) or at the particular time each (asynchronous).

Online Resources (on-line) allows access to any number and variety of resources and teaching materials on the network.

Distributed, lets you use resources scattered in different web servers, have instructors, tutors located in another geographic region.

Collaborative, collaboration and teamwork is part of the training techniques. Horizontal communication among students.

Monitoring of students, training plans based on tasks that students must make and forward in time and manner prescribed.

Characteristics of online students

 

1 .- Highly motivated

2 .- With great organizational skills and time management

3 .- Willing to work and independent study

4 .- With the possibility of dedication to the study than in a traditional course attendance

5 .- basic domain tools using information and communication technologies (email, forums, chat, web browsing and search, etc.)