The effectiveness of virtual learning environment for higher education learners in ASEAN community

Abstract

The research objective was to create digital tools and activities within a virtual learning environment system to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills of higher education learners in the ASEAN community. First, a survey was conducted with 400 expert teachers on designing the VLE system. Second, the developed prototype system was tried out with 30 undergraduate students in ASEAN higher educational institutions. The data were analyzed using mean, S.D and t-test. The findings indicated that the VLE system for enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills of higher education learners in the ASEAN community was comprised of four digital tools, namely 1) learning resource tools, 2) 3D community tools, 3) cognitive tools, and 4) communication tools. The learners who used these four digital tools to complete four activities had higher posttest scores for critical thinking and problem-solving skills than the pretest scores at the.05 level of significance and their learning satisfaction in the VLE system was at the high level.