Virtual Class Room

Abstract

This project is based on developing a virtual learning environment it enables students from remote locations to participate on line to lectures conducting at the centralized location. When consider the implementation of virtual classroom, we have to consider the adaptation of students to this virtual environment. The data transferring speed should be fast enough to transfer text and graphics without delay to either way. On the other hand the technical platform should be very user-friendly so that anyone can use it easily. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the flexible, dynamic communication methods, which can be used to motivate students to use virtual environment. The available computer based communication technologies such as video conferencing, audio broadcasting, e-mailing and text based chatting are added to the virtual classroom. Through those facilities students are able to see the lecturer through their interface while the lecture is progressing. They also have facilities to raise questions to the lecturer and receive feedback during the class session. Therefore, the virtual class room provides an interactive environment as the real classroom. Due to time and resource constrains the developments of this project is limited to the university local area network. This can be extended to cover up large geographical area using real IP address and deliver through the Internet. As further developments discussion board facilities and wireless technologies can be used to create very dynamic sophisticated virtual classroom. Through this type of project, both university and students benefits. University can save their cost and resources spending for traditional classrooms space, maintenance cost, teaching material-printing cost etc. They can tremendously increase their geographical coverage of students base. On the other hand, students do not want to travel daily to the university spending much traveling time and cost. Especially the traveling time saving would be the greatest advantage for students in remote locations. They can participate to educational programs in two or more universities in a day, which are far away of thousand of miles. On the other hand the time saving can be invested on many other activities, such as for learning, part time earning etc. This virtual classroom is designed using object-oriented methodologies. Visual Studio and .Net (Dot Net) are used as programming languages, due to their vast benefits over other languages and the compatibility with the windows operating system. Whole system is tested and evaluated by the end users. Evaluations forms are used receive the feedback from users. With increasing number of schools and universities operating online, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish and judge their academic value and the quality of delivery of education. Those may compromise to the commercial pressure. However, it is unlikely that the virtual classroom will replace the traditional classroom completely, as an education delivery medium. However, there is no doubt that interactive learning in virtual environments will become common method of delivering the educational programs in future.