"Virtual Learning Enviroments"

Design of Virtual Learning Environments for Deep Learning by Mark Mimirins and Madahumita Bhattacharya focuses on technology as a tool for "deep learning." They examine Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), and what effect these environments have on learning. The debate seems to stem from pedagogy; how is traditional classroom pedagogy impacted by the VLE? The VLE is a tool that can only be as useful as an individual makes it, thus the success of the VLE depends entirely on the student. What Mimirins and Bhattacharya argue is that flexibility is the key. Students tend to respond well to the VLE when there is "flexible and independent learning" (60). One thing that they caution against is "providing students with too many hyperlinks, resources, multimedia or other materials within the VLE" (61). It is easy for the students to become "bogged" down or intimidated by too many materials. The article stresses that the design of the VLE is very important; just as the dynamic of a classroom environment is crucial to learning so is the VLE design.