
A virtual classroom is online learning, that allows for live interaction between the tutor and the students to participate in learning activities, where the learners and the tutor work together simultaneously.
These interactions take place through videoconferencing. The participants will present learning content in different formats, to implement collaborative and individual activities. The teacher has the important role of the moderator who guides the learning process and supports group activities and discussions.
Synchronous virtual classrooms will provide significant added value to online learning by developing the needs of the learners as they relate to social interaction and psychological safety. They can also create a new standard in the learning experience that goes above and beyond the physical space of the classroom and traditional teaching methods.
The virtual classroom provides you an abundance of opportunities
Unlike asynchronous learning environments, virtual classroom learning is a synchronous method that allows for instant feedback, in which teacher and students will have direct interaction, and engaging activities to increase motivation and active participation. Immediate communication builds relationships within the group, as well as a sense of community.
Virtual Classrooms have high Interaction
Virtual Classrooms can only be successful with the active participation and engagement of the learners. It helps the participants to achieve the expected outcomes and positive learning. In a virtual session, there will be an opportunity for frequent interaction between learner and tutor.
The tutor will encourage the students to participate every 3-5 minutes, this can be done by a variety of activities such as small group discussion, collaborative and individual tasks, Q&A sessions, hands-on experience, etc.
Learners will work together
Working together will achieve a common goal, exchange views, clarify the meaning of concepts, or solve problems together and it develops opportunities for cooperation in skills development. They are developed precisely through exploring the differences in the participant’s level of knowledge, skills, and positions.
This approach is an active process of the collective construction of knowledge using the group as a source of information, a motivational agent, and mutual support.
Varieties in Content Presentation and Learning Activities
This approach is related to the differences in instruction needs, levels, and learning styles of the learners, it favors the creation of a more personalized learning experience and individual success.
When a tutor uses various sources to present the content text, images, diagrams, audio, video, etc. there will be a great improvement in the learning process by providing a flexible learning experience, giving preferences of the students. This type of learning retains the attention and interest of the learners.
This also creates opportunities to meet a wide range of the needs of the students. A small group collaboration and class discussions address working alone, interacting with others, or expressing themselves in front of a larger group.
User-friendly Environment
As the learners usually participate from the comfort of their homes, the virtual classroom creates the sense of a more informal and safer emotional environment. There will be the absence of the usual physical distractions that are found in the conventional classroom hence it is focussed
It leads to better learning outcomes. It also creates confidence, and a willingness to experiment on the part of the learners. The virtual teacher also needs to encourage safe discussions, mutual respect, equal opportunities to participate, and the free sharing of different viewpoints. By adding self-directed learning, as well as by communicating more frequently with every student, the teacher can enhance the psychological safety of the learners and make things more personalized.
Virtual classrooms improve the learning progress of the students. Thus this method of learning is highly recommended.