The Role of Virtual Learning In Universities Around The World By @jueco

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Hello campus friends,
With joy of heart I humbly and happily participate in this very interesting and educative contest.

I believe we are all doing well and are actively engaging in the posts of one another, which is one of the sole aim of steemit - being a social media platform.

This week we shall be engaging on this contest that helps us to see the role of virtual learning on campuses around the world, please follow along as we proceed.

WILL VIRTUAL LEARNING SHAPE EDUCATION AND LEARNING THE WAY WE KNOW IT?

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The answer to this question is not farfetched but before I dive into it, I'll love to shed a little light on what virtual learning is.

Virtual learning can be explained to be an educational experience/exercise that is usually done through an online platform that can be easily accesed outside the classroom/ immediate environment.

To be more specific, virtual learning is usually done with the use of computer software, the internet and most times the both of them, thus helping to eliminate the need for teacher and student to share a class room

Virtual learning usually takes different forms and some of them are:

• Blended learning
• Computer based
• Internet based
• Remote teacher online e.t.c

It is also good to note that the term "virtual learning" is different from the term "e-learning".
While virtual learning means learning from a tutor with the aid of computer network, E-learning can be explained to be a self-study with the use of the internet.

E-learning is explained to be a modern educational based method of communication which involves the use of search engines, audio-visual materials, electronic library etc.
With e-learning, a student has no tutor.

Of course, virtual learning, if implemented will have a very huge effect on learning and education in general.

When comparing the learning activities of developed countries to that of under developed countries, then everyone will plainly see the effect of virtual learning to education system, let's still analyse a little.

• WILLINGNESS TO LEARN:

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Speaking from personal experience, there is always more willingness and eagerness to learn virtually.

While I was still on campus before the strike, many students had apathy to learn, they weren't interested in attending classes and all of these was due to the stress encountered in class.

With the implementation of virtual learning, I am sure that more individuals will dive into educational system and those that dropped out because of one issue or the other will reconsider becoming a student again.

• STRESS-FREE LEARNING:

The implementation of virtual learning will so much ease the stress of learning on both the tutor and student.

Tutors don't always have to stand throughout the teaching period as is mandatory for some teachers in Nigeria's educational system.

With the aid of virtual learning, tutors can sit and teach, they will feel very comfortable while teaching and at such help student understand better what is being

• CONDUCIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT:

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Another advantage of virtual learning to the educational system is that it support learning in a conducive environment.

Student and teacher can learn and teach from their homes or anywhere they find conducive, not necessarily in a classroom.

One barrier facing educational system is conducive environment, it is usually very difficult for students to learn in an inconvenient environment, more especially when it is noisy.

Most students get easily distracted, they are distracted at any slight form of distraction that comes with an inconducive environment.

In a sense the virtual learning is a win-win case for both tutors, students and educational system in general.

DO YOU THINK YOUR UNIVERSITY WILL INCORPORATE VIRTUAL LEARNING INTO ITS CURRICULUM?/ STATE THE REASON FOR THE ANSWER

I know many Nigerian student will not agree with my response to this question, but I believe my university will incorporate virtual learning into it's curriculum, the only challenge is I don't know how soon.

Agreed the Nigeria educational system is facing quite some challenges today of which I believe will be sorted out in due time.

No developed country can say that at one point in time their educational system didn't pass through some challenges.
Even the United States of America at one point in time while developing had some educational challenges.

Nigeria as a developing country is currently having some challenges with it's educational system, and I believe that this challenge is aimed at making our educational system more conducive.

Sadly many Nigerian students might be quick to condemn the Nigeria educational system due to some of the challenges it's facing but I want to also use this medium to tell Nigerian student that the challenge is just for a little while and there's always a light at the end of the tunnel.

My reasons for believing that my university will incorporate virtual learning are as follows:

• POSSESSION OF A WELL STRUCTURED ICT CENTER:

My school ICT building

I so much believe that my university will incorporate virtual learning soon enough because my school has a well structured and facilitated ICT building.

The network this building emits is more than enough to cover the whole school and anyone student/teacher can tap into it.

The creation of an ict center is a sign that my university is actually going to engage in virtual learning soon.

• HOTSPOT INSTALLED IN EVERY CLASS ROOM:

This is another technological advancement implemented by my school of which I am sure that most students don't know of.

In every functional class room in my school, every student can have access to a free internet connection, that most times when student don't have money to buy data, they simply visit a nearby class room and tap from it's hotspot, provided you know it's password.

This is another technological advancement showing that my university will soon incorporate virtual learning.

• ENTITLEMENT OF STUDENT:

Another little secret of my school that some students don't know of is that every student is entitled to 100GB per semester, provided your school fees has been paid.

Now, what is the usefulness of 100GB per student if not to support e-learning and other online studies.

• Another reason I believe that my school will incorporate virtual learning soon is because our senior colleagues in school have all engaged in virtual learning initiated by the lecturer.

Just before the warning strike of the academy staff union of universities, my colleague ( same faculty and level) have engaged in virtual learning.

When it was the turn of my department, then the warning strike was initiated.
Student of Michael okpara University of agriculture umudike, in Abia state can attest to this.

I so much believe that very soon after the challenge of Asuu strike, virtual learning will be incorporated in my school.

DO YOU THINK SUCH A MOVE WILL BE PLAUSIBLE

Definitely, I believe such a move will be plausible, as it will help in the following ways:

• ADVANCEMENT OF THE COUNTRY:

Such a move will play a very huge role in the advancement of the country. As the country will be counted as one of the most educationally advanced country.

Just imagine the daughter of the president of the United States of America traveling down to Nigeria just to advance her education.

Definitely it will bring many other benefit to Nigeria as a country and will also help to boost our economy beyond imagination.

Also imagine if other world prominent men like Elon musk sponsoring his family to come study in Nigeria, there will be so many technological advancement and as such making Nigeria a comfortable home for all.

• CREATION OF JOB OPPORTUNITY:

Of course this virtual learning will need someone to be in charge of it, it will need developers and such eliminating the high rate of unemployment in the country.

• PRODUCTION OF FULLY COMPETENT GRADUATES:

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Sadly, some of the graduate produced by Nigeria educational system are not competent enough to be a graduate.

Many of them graduated only because they were able to engage in examination mal practice and this is because they don't understand what is being taught in class.

With the implementation of virtual learning, student will understand fully what is been taught in class and as such there will be no need of examination mal practice.

There are lots of benefit such move of implementing a virtual learning will bring.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING, IF YES KINDLY INDICATE WHEN AND HOW

Sadly, I haven't had the chance to engage in virtual learning, the only chance I almost had was taken away because of the warning strike of Asuu and i solely believe that when this strike is over, I'll have the opportunity to participate in virtual learning.

From the experience my colleague had, I heard it was fun, lively, and very educative.
Every student had the chance to ask any question of their choice.

They also related that the microphone of every student was on mute and as such there was no noise from other students.

They also related that all student were given the opportunity to interact with the class, "if you have any questions, kindly unmute"- was the slang used by the lecturer.

I wish I had joined them for the virtual learning on stat224.
I believe that I'll also have my virtual class soon enough.

CONCLUSION

The Importance of virtual learning cannot be overemphasized as it provides benefit to both students, lecturers and the country.

I believe that students should also be encouraged to engage in e-learning as it is very important too.