Virtual Classroom: Explanation, Benefits, Best Practices

A virtual classroom is a learning environment that uses technology to connect students and teachers in real-time. It allows students to learn from their peers worldwide. Here are some characteristics of virtual classrooms:

What is a virtual classroom?

A virtual classroom is a classroom that is not physically present. These include online and online classes. Where you are physically located somewhere else but taking part in the class through your computer or tablet.

We use virtual classrooms for synchronous and asynchronous communication. This means they can connect with students and interact with each other during class. Or they can allow teachers to share information and answer questions from students apart from them geographically. Virtual classrooms have been used for decades by universities as teaching methods. Because they do not require students to travel anywhere. Instead, they log into a website where all their materials can be accessed from any location at any time of day or night throughout their degree program (or even before starting one).

Characteristics of virtual classroom

The characteristics of virtual classrooms include:

Virtual Classroom's high Interactivity

Interactive learning is a key feature of virtual classrooms. Students can contribute to the learning process, ask questions, and share ideas with their fellow students. As a result, it's an engaging way for students to learn from each other in real-time.

Student-Centered Instruction

Student-centered instruction is a teaching method that focuses on each student's learning needs. We can apply it to both face-to-face and virtual classes. And it gives students opportunities to take control of their learning by doing exercises, reading texts, and completing projects.

Student-centered instruction is an effective approach for online classes. Because it enables students to learn at their own pace and level of understanding rather than being forced into a linear curriculum that may not fit their needs. This means you should ensure your course materials are clear, concise, and well-organized. So they're easy for students to understand independently.

Psychologically safe environment

A psychologically safe environment is where students feel comfortable expressing their ideas, thoughts, and feelings without fear of criticism or judgment. The teacher should provide a positive, nonjudgmental environment where students feel free to express themselves. Students should be able to take risks and make mistakes without feeling embarrassed or judged.

You can create a psychologically safe classroom by:

• Avoiding personal remarks about your students' appearance, character traits, social status, or other personal characteristics;
• Remaining neutral when discussing controversial issues that may cause stress for some students;
• It is aware of the dynamics of gender and ethnicity in your classroom.

Collaborative learning

Collaborative learning is powerful because students can work together to solve problems (which they often do in the real world), they can learn from each other, and they have the opportunity to help each other. The instructor also has an opportunity to guide students toward collaborative goals by suggesting specific tasks or activities that require collaboration.

This approach allows students to become more independent learners while using their strengths as a team. It also creates an environment where students can learn from those who are more advanced than themselves and experts who provide valuable knowledge or insight into a topic.

Variety of content presentations and learning activities

You will be able to engage in various content presentations and learning activities. These may include:

• Lectures
• Case studies
• Case discussions
• Group work
• Projects
• Quizzes and tests

Positive and constructive feedback

Feedback is an important part of any learning community because it helps students understand their performance, identifies areas for improvement, and motivates them to do more work on their own time. Unfortunately, the most common mistake instructors make with feedback is not giving enough or giving too much.

When you're pressed for time and don't want your students to think they're being tested constantly by quizzes or homework assignments, there are ways you can still provide constructive criticism without spending hours grading every assignment yourself every week!

Best practices for a Virtual Classroom setup

You will need a good internet connection, microphone, and webcam to have a successful virtual classroom. If you use a headset instead of speakers on your computer or laptop, ensure it's plugged in properly before starting class.

When it comes to the actual classroom setup, several things will help your students feel more comfortable and engaged:

Features for interactive teaching

The features of a virtual classroom are the same as those of an in-person classroom, with a few additions:

• Video Conferencing - Often used in conjunction with live chat or whiteboarding capabilities, primarily used to facilitate interaction between students and their teacher. Sometimes, we use video conferencing to host live lectures by remote experts or guest speakers.
• Live Chat - Allows for an ongoing conversation between participants that either party may initiate at any time during class. This feature can also be used to supplement group discussions and polling mechanisms.
• Whiteboarding - This feature allows teachers and students to collaborate on projects using tools like Google Draw (formerly Google Docs) or even PowerPoint slides! This tool is especially useful for creating mind maps and other visual representations of ideas as they come up in discussion. It also helps keep students focused on the discussion since it doesn't require them to take notes manually.

Easy sharing capabilities

• Share files.
• You can share content.
• Share screens.
• Also, share notes.
• Share audio. It's great for those who are deaf or hard of hearing or for anyone who wants to listen to their instructor and classmates even when they're not in the same room!
• Share video chat sessions that can include up to 10 people simultaneously (5 video participants + 5 text participants). This feature is helpful if you are teaching a group class remotely or conducting a meeting with multiple physical locations involved. It lets everyone see and speak with each other at once instead of having them all dial in separately into separate conference calls that only allow one person per location per call (which means there's no way for everyone else except that person on the call).

Simulate a physical learning environment

• Create a virtual classroom that looks and feels like a physical classroom.
• Use the same tools and technologies you would use in a physical classroom.
• Use a chat box for real-time discussions, whiteboards for brainstorming, polling tools to collect information from participants, video conferencing tools for presentations from experts or guest speakers, and online collaboration tools to share files with others (like Google Docs).

Breakout groups

Breakout groups are another great way to engage students in the classroom. This is where you would split your class into smaller groups and assign each group a specific task or activity. While this can be done at any time, it's usually done right after the lecture when students have had time to process what they've learned but are still engaged and excited about their new knowledge. The breakout group format allows students the opportunity to practice what they've learned with one another while getting feedback from classmates on how well they understood the material. It also provides teachers with insight into how each student is grasping the concepts presented in lectures without having all of their attention focused solely on them, which helps both parties better learn from each other's experiences.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many benefits to having a virtual classroom. In addition to providing students with the opportunity to learn from anywhere, virtual classes also allow teachers more flexibility in their teaching styles and content presentations.