| Distance learning and flexible learning are both popular | | | | professional or family commitments need more |
| and practical thanks to colleges and other learning | | | | flexibility when they choose to study, the VLE is an |
| providers using the Internet to deliver quality degree | | | | ideal Internet platform that can offer students |
| courses. Essentially, colleges have adapted to suit the | | | | learning resources and features at a time that suits |
| needs of students, who often find it preferable to | | | | them. |
| study online whilst continuing in their careers and | | | | Colleges that adopt a VLE for their distance learning |
| family responsibilities. The way in which education | | | | courses also appreciate the needs of students that |
| organisations have adapted to deliver degree | | | | choose flexible learning as their chosen academic |
| programmes online is based on technological | | | | route, and therefore will have adapted courses, and |
| developments and applying a range of philosophies | | | | the way in which courses are delivered, according to |
| and theories all geared to giving students the best | | | | those needs. |
| tuition and support around their work and family | | | | As well as the innovation of online degree |
| commitments. | | | | programmes, colleges as a whole have become more |
| What colleges and learning institutions have found is | | | | 'customer focused' and devote much time to finding |
| that although the Internet is an easy to use and very | | | | out how better to cater for students with a range |
| useful tool in distance learning and for online degrees, | | | | of specific needs. It is this philosophy that has seen |
| the way in which it used, and the presentation and | | | | colleges adapt to provide online courses and flexible |
| organisation of learning materials online is important | | | | learning in a seamless way. |
| for students to be able to get the information they | | | | Staff are especially trained to use the VLEs to |
| need in an accessible way. | | | | present course information and syllabuses, deliver |
| The various features and resources of online degree | | | | classes and provide learning resources in a clear and |
| programmes, such as online business degrees and | | | | accessible way. Importantly, the VLE enables clear |
| online management courses, can be collectively | | | | and easy communication amongst teacher and |
| defined as Virtual Learning Environments or VLEs. | | | | learner, and amongst learners, through Internet |
| Approaching delivering degree programmes online by | | | | classes in real time, forums and email. Many VLEs use |
| considering the VLE, colleges can build and develop | | | | mobile media such as mobile telephones to provide |
| learning resources based around the philosophy that | | | | information and communication for staff and |
| the student can access all the necessary course | | | | students. |
| information, classes, and teaching staff via such a | | | | Colleges have not only adapted their outlook to use |
| Virtual Learning Environment. | | | | the Internet in delivering online degrees, but |
| The specific aspects of each VLE depend on the | | | | pioneered the concept of distance and flexible |
| nature of the subject of study, whether it is an | | | | learning using the web and other types of e-learning |
| online degree in Internet marketing, or a distance | | | | in delivering quality online courses for students. |
| learning foundation degree. Because students with | | | | |