The term virtual education means an instruction in a
learning environment in which teacher and students are separated by time or
space or both. In this education, a teacher provides to his students course
content through course management, multimedia resources, applications,
videoconferencing, Internet and much more. On the other hand, a student
receives the content and communicates with the faculty by using same hi-tech
technologies. We are meant by virtual is to teach online courses through some
substitute instead of face to face teaching. Online courses comprise of mainly
text based, using HTML, PowerPoint or PDF documents. In this education, there
are a lot of instruction modes.
Virtual Classroom
We mean by Virtual Classroom a learning environment that is
created in the virtual space. The main objective of this classroom is to
improve access to advanced educational experiences by allowing its students as
well as instructors for participating in remote learning communities by using
personal computers. It also improves the quality and effectiveness of education
with the computer for supporting a collaborative learning process.
Hypertext Courses
We can use structural course material as in a conventional
distance education program. However, all the course material is provided
electronically and we can view it with a browser. Hypertext courses include
hypertext connect text, multimedia parts and exercises in a meaningful way.
Video-based Courses
Video-based courses are as similar as classroom courses with
a lecturer speaking and PowerPoint slides or online examples that are used for
illustration. In these courses, there is a usage of video-streaming
technologies where students watch the video with the help of freeware or
plug-ins such as Windows Media Player, Real Player etc.
Animated Courses
The best way of making content and its appearance more
interesting is enriching text-oriented or audio-based course material by
animations. We can create animations by using Macromedia Flash or other similar
technologies. By using these animations, we can understand key concepts and
they also allow us for better retention of learning.
Web-supported Textbook Courses
Web-supported textbook courses are specific textbooks
in which students read and reflect the chapters by themselves. On a website,
there is chapter wise topics such as review questions, topics for discussion,
exercises, case studies and much more. In these courses, class meetings are
held for discussing matters in a chat room.