VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN THE BLENDED LEARNING: FEATURES OF WORKING WITH THE VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT MOODLE IN THE STUDENT-ORIENTED LEARNING

In this article the benefits and drawbacks of e-learning and blended (or mixed, hybrid) learning are discussed according to the student-oriented educological paradigm. These benefits and drawbacks are determined by the flexibility, which is guaranteed by the usage of the information and communication technologies, and by the fulfillment of student expectations. The blended learning system is considered to be convenient for the purpose of establishing student-orientated learning principles due to the fact that the flaws of e-learning that are indicated by professors, lecturers and students, are eliminated by adjusting the traditional and e-learning. After analyzing the virtual learning environment Moodle, which is common in the Lithuanian higher education institutions, it is clear that this particular virtual learning environment is supporting the student-oriented learning paradigm. After the observational study it was concluded that the tools that were mostly used in virtual learning environment Moodle in the blended learning system were the ones that provided students with flexibility and convenience. The least popular tools in virtual learning environment Moodle were the ones that could have been interchanged by the usual traditional and more appropriate learning facilities, for example the student-lecturer communication or contacts between students themselves were mostly carried out in the traditional way, which meant the lack of popularity for such functions in virtual learning environment Moodle. During the investigation it was proved that it takes 1 hour for postgraduate students to familiarize themselves with this virtual learning environment. However, the duration students need to familiarize themselves with virtual learning environment Moodle could potentially be altered according to the variety and frequency of use of e-learning resources in mixed learning as well as the study model that is carried out in the learning process.