Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom was the name of software developed at New Jersey Institute of Technology in the 1980s: a computer-mediated communication system enhanced to create an asynchronous teaching and learning environment on computer networks. It was designed to enhance and support collaborative learning activities among the members of a distributed class. Studies of this original system, as well as of many subsequent implementations of asynchronous learning networks on many campuses, indicate that if a learning community is built that supports student–student communication and collaboration, as well as frequent and extensive interaction between students and the instructor, then the virtual classroom type of learning environment not only increases access to learning opportunities, but also is as effective as or more effective than traditional classrooms.