Virtual Learning Environment

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS’ BACKGROUND Introduction In recent studies, it has been acknowledged that the Internet has changed the direction, time, and location of learning (Moore, 1993; Nachmias et al., 1999).The growth of various technologies had rapidly increased and many changes/ phenomena occur in the development of new tools and materials in the virtual world. In the late 1990’s educational associations had witnessed the emergence of the software products labeled Virtual Learning Environment which aims to provide support for teaching and learning activity. Technology integration has long been a key area of concern in education, the intersection of technology with our rapidly transforming educational

They said in their studies that there may be major challenges for implementing an e-learning material, including the accessibility of virtual learning environment it needs to be computer and internet based and is influenced by the speed and location of the user’s internet connection, the lack of advanced computer skills among the academic staff, little awareness on instructional design techniques, time constraints and security concerns as well. Other disadvantages they had included are students’ necessarily needs access to computers, smart phones, tablets and computer network to make it possible to work. In addition, Virtual Learning Environment can become a ‘dumping ground’ for materials not designed to be delivered online. In their studies, they also said that such independent learning still needs guidelines on using the system and that virtual learning environment might be triggered by socio-economic factors and may create systems of low social, pedagogical and economic

Descriptive research describes a certain present phenomenon. Relatively, the method is appropriate for this study since it aims to describe the present phenomenon of technical analysis as it is used in a Virtual Learning Environment & Innovative tool for Learning. The technique that was used under descriptive method is the normative survey approach and evaluation, which is commonly used to explore opinions according to respondents that can represent a whole population. The survey is appropriate in this study because it enables the proponents in the formulation of generalizations. The direct-data type of survey is a reliable source of first-hand information because the proponents directly interact with the participants. The questionnaire survey respondents were given ample time to perceive virtual learning environment as an innovative tool for learning that is necessary in identifying its strengths and