Virtual Learning Environments

1. a mechanism to deliver learning material
2. access to learning resources
3. tools to enable communication, discussion and collaboration amongst learners and with the instructor
4. assessment tools
5. a student tracking system

These could either be individual tools that are programmed to function in an integrated manner or they can be facilities provided by a single product. Users in a VLE are assigned roles of a student, a teacher and an administrator. Each role comes with rights, which follow a hierarchy.

Two other popular terms that are used to refer to these environments are: Content Management System (CMS) and Learning Management System (LMS). The difference between these terms is often debated and there does not seem to be much of a consensus amongst learning professionals on the exact distinction between them.