I think this conversation has ignored the fact that the word has
completely changed in context since the days of "Virtuality".  Anyone
searching for a dictionary definition is going to get wildly different
answers, but the simplest one I found a few minutes ago was this :

"virtual 

adjective 

2 describes something that can be done or seen using a computer and
therefore without going anywhere or talking to anyone:
- virtual shopping/banking"

Or 

Adjective: virtual  'vurchooul'

Being actually such in almost every respect
"the once elegant temple lay in virtual ruin"
- practical
 
Existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact
"a virtual dependence on charity"; "a virtual revolution"; "virtual
reality"

In which case the context of "Virtual Learning Environment" is perfectly
valid as a place which does not physically exist, but in which
"Learning" can occur.

Sorry to get pedantic...

Ben

Benedict Daniels
MIS Database Manager, Longley Park 6th form College, Sheffield
(01142) 625738



-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jon Maber
Sent: 02 November 2005 09:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VLES] Conceptual inquiry on VLE's


My first encounter with the word virtual was at school in physics 
lessons - in optics a virtual image is created by lenses or mirrors and 
is an image of an object that appears to be in a location where the 
physical object itself isn't present.  Virtual Reality presents images, 
sounds and tactile feedback that simulates the presence of an entire 
world of objects that lack physicality.  If your learning environment 
were to consist of campus, buildings, tables, chairs, whiteboards etc. 
simulated in 3D then the word virtual would be totally appropriate.  
(Such VLEs do exist and are particularly applicable to very young 
children and to children that otherwise don't physically meet.)  
However, for products such as blackboard etc. the word environment is 
used metaphorically to describe a set of web pages and so strictly 
speaking the word virtual isn't really appropriate.

In the UK VLEs were developed during the time when virtual reality was 
talked about in the media as the next big thing in IT and I don't think 
the 'v' word would have been used if it wasn't for that timing. I don't 
think the v word is as widely used in other countries and is unknown 
among most US teachers.

Personally I would prefer to call these things On-Line Learning 
Environments or better still On-Line Collaborative Working Environments.

Jon

P.S. I think that there is some value in using metaphors of place within

VLEs so long as users are not given overly high expectations of the 
level of functionality that is provided.  For example a 'study room' 
that contains documents is OK but a 'laboratory' that also contains 
nothing more than multimedia would be a disappointment.

Firstname Lastname wrote:

>Dear friends,
>
>i am beginning to learn about VLE's and I got stuck on a conceptual 
>confusion. I thought some of you might give me some advice on where to 
>find reading materials to clarify my ideas. I still can't quite 
>understand the name given to these technology supported learning 
>environments. Why are they called "virtual" learning environments? With

>my notion of virtual as opposed to real it sounds like these spaces 
>were only imaginary. The learning process carried out within these 
>sites seem to me though as real as any other and the facilitating 
>software doesn't seem "virtual" at all. What is the real sense of 
>"virtuality" in this context? Shouldn't there be a more appropriate 
>name for these tools?
>
>Thanks for your help!
>
>Ramon A. Iriarte
>Dpt. of Technology Education
>Aichi University of Education
>JAPAN
>
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>
>  
>

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