How to Design & Build Virtual Classrooms

While it should be more in the e-learning as simply upload of a PowerPoint presentation on YouTube, with the technologies available online today, design and create a virtual classroom itself is probably easier than you may have thought. The two most important considerations are always price information to your students and students the opportunity to interact. Packed learning management systems can help, but are not necessarily required, create a virtual classroom. But will certainly help with your own website as a central go-to point for students.

Instructions

1. Content and Schedules

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     Decide how you want to provide information to your students. For best results, a combination of text- and video-based learning will appeal to the widest range of learners as some students prefer to read text while others prefer to listen and watch video.
     
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     Determine how you want to present video instruction to the class. Recorded video offers students flexibility in when they access the video, while offering you the ability to polish the video before releasing it to the class. Live streaming video offers the students the ability to interact with you during the presentation, giving you the ability to ensure your information is being understood. To distribute recorded videos, upload it directly to your own website or use a service like YouTube. For live video webinars, services like GoToMeeting.com and InstantPresenter.com offer free trials.
     
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     Use a calendar program on your computer like Outlook or an online calendar like Google Calendar to determine when class events will be held. Events include when course materials should be released, when webinars or chat sessions will occur and when student activities such as tests should be due. Draft a schedule in a Word or PDF document, or post it on your website. Release the schedule to students before the course begins; then send reminders for important events 24 hours beforehand.
     
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     Limit your classroom size to no more than 30 people -- the size of a regular class. Class size limits can be indicated on all marketing material and registration pages. A guarantee of a small class is more attractive to students because of the personal attention they will receive, compared to a class with unlimited registration. If you have more people who want to enroll, you can create a follow-up class when the first class is finished, or recruit a second instructor.
     
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     Select a payment method if you intend to charge tuition using a service like PayPal.com or MerchantInc.com. Both services allow students to pay for your class via credit card.
     

   Venues for Interaction

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     Investigate available course and learning management systems that can help you integrate courses, activities, resources, and questions. For example, Moodle.org offers a free open-source software package you can install on your own website. JoomlaLMS.com offers a free trial of their learning management system.
     
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     Determine how you want students to interact with you and each other if you are not using a learning management system that provides this opportunity. Email correspondence is easy to manage for small classes but does not provide a classroom atmosphere as it is usually one-on-one. Group forums and chat software, like those available on Google's Gmail or Skype can provide group interaction. A Facebook page or a Google+ circle can also serve as a venue for group interactions.
     
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     Break up your class into groups frequently to work on assignments. Pairing students together in groups of two will encourage them to communicate one-on-one, either over the phone or through an instant message program. Not only does this help them get more out of the class, it reduces the time you need as an instructor to answer questions they are able to answer themselves.