TRI DUC ENGLISH ✦ ACADEMIC EDGE UNIT 22 EDITION Online learning Virtual environments · Online communication · Netiquette A. What is online learning? What makes studying online different from face-to-face study is that it uses the internet as the primary means of communication . Learning is often organised through a virtual learning environment (VLE) . This provides discussion areas and links to readings and other resources as well as letting students submit assignments electronically and take quizzes online . Online courses are often collaborative with students posting messages for each other to read and working together to construct knowledge . As a result, students in virtual classrooms develop a sense of being part of an online community and feel much less isolated than they might in traditional distance courses . The teacher's role is to set appropriate tasks, to moderate discussions and to provide feedback . Teachers may also conduct online tutorials . B. Key terms Term Meaning Word Combinations hybrid/blended course a course that combines both online and face-to-face (f2f) teaching and learning enrol on a hybrid/blended course take/do a hybrid/blended course a (mailing) list online discussion group managed through a software program — each message or contribution is sent to a common email, then forwarded to all members post a message to a list subscribe to a list unsubscribe from a list discussion forum area of website or VLE where you can post a message for other participants to read and reply to participate / take part in a discussion forum username form of your name the software recognises and so lets you go further — it can be case-sensitive enter your username a thread an ordered row of comments in a discussion forum on a specific topic start a new thread contribut...