7 Benefits of a Virtual Classroom
When Covid-19 hit the world with a loud bang, the education sector was among the sectors that took the hardest hit. Lockdowns and social distancing rules meant that students and teachers could not attend schools in the traditional sense, which led to the stoppage of classes. Learning, as we know it, came to a halt. But, humans are nothing if not innovative.
Many schools took advantage of the digital age and launched online classes to make up for the loss in time for students who were going through a crucial stage in their educational journeys. While many switched to recording lectures and giving assignments based on the lectures, some schools like GIIS, switched to the Virtual Classroom method of teaching, much to the relief of parents.
The experiment turned out to be a huge success as students as well as parents benefitted from this new method of teaching and learning, which provided for the children’s safety without compromising on their studies.
So what is Virtual Classroom. It is a modern classroom that connects students and teachers in the virtual space through the use of digital equipment. Using available technology, learners can connect with instructors around the globe, experience cultures about which they have only heard, and collaborate with peers on the other side of the world. They can attend lectures and classes from outside their physical classroom. This kind of learning has its own advantages.
Here are a list of 7 reasons why Virtual Classroom is beneficial to students:
Highly Interactive
Online classes that happen in real-time are highly interactive. Students have the ability to log in using safe links and passwords, share their work, project their assignments and interact in a question and answer session with peers and teachers just like they would in a traditional classroom. Students and teachers have the opportunity to talk to one another, brainstorm and troubleshoot solutions and ideals.
Technology Creates Opportunity
It's one thing to read about a groundbreaking new scientific discovery in the news or to watch a video about it; it's another entirely to talk with the actual scientist even though he or she lives continents away. The virtual classroom makes it happen. Using advanced technology, like that utilized by schools like GIIS SMART Campus in Singapore, students have the ability to widen their worlds, to push back the physical and economic walls that encompass them, and go further than they ever imagined they could go.
An Immersive Experience
Virtual connectivity creates an environment that's both safe and immersive, allowing students to travel to distant destinations without ever leaving the confines of the safe spaces. State-of-the-art technology and equipment make the journey possible and create a learning opportunity that's like no other.
Collaboration With International Peers
Another benefit of the virtual classroom experience is the ability and opportunity to collaborate with peers from around the globe. Students get different perspectives, learn about different cultures, and gain a glimpse into how fellow students live, how they think, and how they learn.
Advanced Understanding of Digital Technology
As they're learning about faraway places and peoples, students also gain the valuable computer and digital skills they need to compete in a twenty-first-century world. Practice with Interactive online tools such as google suite and shared classrooms sharpen digital skills and help students master ever-changing technology.
Ability to Record Classes
Virtual classes are recorded as they happen, allowing students to revisit them when it's time to brush up and review the material. This allows easy access to the material covered even when the student logs in from other locations such as home.
The virtual classroom is a classroom without limitations, and it's a formidable tool for today's students as they expand their minds and opportunities and open up doors that have traditionally been closed.