Virtual Learning Environment: Enriching 21st Century Academic Landscape

Abstract

Virtual learning environments (VLEs) play a crucial role in the academe. Put on spotlight during the Covid-19 Pandemic, VLEs enable educators to reach out to their learners as they can easily communicate and interact with their students to facilitate learning beyond their classrooms and typically limited class time. Moreover, VLEs empower learners as they can easily communicate, collaborate, access learning materials, upload assignments and requirements, answer online quizzes, and seek their teachers’ assistance in spite of the lack of personal interaction in online and blended learning modalities. Recent studies suggest that VLEs foster collaboration, communication, and interaction among the primary stakeholders – teachers and students – of the academe. This journal article aims to shed light on the nature and significance of virtual learning environments as it enriches the academic landscape of the 21st century. Delving into the significant findings of recent studies, this article will elucidate the numerous issues and challenges encountered by the primary stakeholders of the academe. Finally, it shall point out the gaps in the current research literature to underscore the fascinating and timely topics which may be considered by future researchers in their pursuit of knowledge creation.