school community may make use of a virtual learning environment (VLE) to distribute
resources, support learning and assess progress online. A VLE is an education system based
on web facilities. The system is a virtual world which mirrors the real world of education – it
contains learning materials, tests, projects, lectures/lessons and allows interaction
between teachers and learners. The system also records and tracks learners’ progress and
performs other class management functions.
Sometimes the system can work in real time. Learners can communicate using microphones and
speakers, or by text exchanges. At other times learners can be left to work at their own pace to
meet specifi ed deadlines. Lectures and lesson notes, as well as exercises are all held on the
system and can be accessed by the learner.
Learners ’hand in’ their work to their teacher electronically using the VLE. Teachers assess the
work online and give feedback electronically via the VLE.
Social networking websites
Social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter™,
LinkedIn, Google+ and MySpace, allow members of the
online community to interact and communicate by setting
up a profi le . Users can then add links to friends’ profi les
and post personal information, including photographs,
videos, favourite music and blog entries.
Key terms
network of friends – A collection of people who jointly keep up-todate contact online. Sometimes
this may be a specifi c network, such as The National Youth Science Forum, or it may be more
general, like a group of friends keeping in touch through Facebook.
netiquette – Short for ‘internet etiquette’ or ‘network etiquette’. It is a set of conventions
covering the use of networks used to interact with other people. The conventions are designed to
prevent people causing annoyance or offence to others.
chat – In this context, refers to any kind
of online real-time communication over
the internet.
chatroom – Large-scale interactive conferencing with many people
involved in the same conversation at the same time.
Virtual world – An online community which meets in a computer-generated world; for example,
the large multi-player online games.
Profile – A user profile is a collection of personal data about a specific person. This may include
biographical information, lists of interests and photographs.
Implications of online communication
Social networking
Social networking websites have changed the way that we communicate. They allow people to
communicate interactively in real time anywhere in the world. Groups of likeminded people can share
information, opinions and interests cheaply, normally for the cost of a broadband connection. Social
networking provides a great way of staying in touch with friends and business contacts.
Instant messaging
Instant messaging provides a way to exchange textual messages as an alternative to the telephone
and at a fraction of the cost. As messages are sent in real time, responces can be recived instantialy.