Most VLEs provide a set of tools that allow the import and export of course materials. These course materials might have already been created by using other standardized e-learning packages or software and therefore can be imported and exported in specific formats. This is very useful for educators, as it allows for the creation of a standardized package that course materials can reside in. So, whether the educational institution uses Moodle, WebCT, Blackboard, or any other VLE, course material can usually be migrated between these platforms.

The creation of course materials enables the educator to design their courses to fit an online environment. Course materials can either be created through the use of online forms or can be uploaded in a variety of formats such as Word or PDF. Courses can also be structured in a variety of ways, such as weekly or by topics, so that educators are not bound by normal academic terms.

One of the beneficial features of a VLE is that VLEs are available over the Internet or the institution's intranet. So users of these systems can access their learner materials anywhere there is an active Internet or intranet connection. This is hugely beneficial, as learners can use the VLE when and where they want. This functionality has particular relevance to distance learners who traditionally only received an education pack to supplement their studies.

VLEs are normally protected through a login system that doesn't allow the general public access to the learner materials and therefore can help to protect the intellectual property rights of the learner materials. VLEs also provide access for the educators to add or create these materials from any active Internet connection, which can reduce the need for educators to be present all of the time at their workplace.

Communication and collaboration are the latest terms that people use when referring to VLEs and the benefits of using them. One of the key principles behind most VLEs is that they allow communication channels between students, and between students and teachers, to open up. Student communication—especially with distance learners—can provide additional learner resources and can help the students to construct knowledge to an extent that they might not have been able to without these new technologies. Distance learners, for instance, can often feel very isolated and sometimes struggle to understand concepts because they haven't had the opportunity to discuss these with other students.

VLEs use a variety of features that take advantage of the communication aspects of education, from online forums and chats, to blogs and even wikis.

This type of communication and collaboration is often referred to as Web 2.0, and is based on information-sharing applications and concepts such as social networking. VLEs are now moving towards this end insofar as they are starting to embrace the concept of communication in these ways.

Most VLEs have the ability to allow educators to track the progress of students and grade their work as they study. There are a variety of ways in which this can be done, from the grading of assessed work that is submitted to the VLE to simple quizzes and questionnaires that allow the educators to gauge students' comprehension of the materials and to check the students' progress through the course by less formal methods.

Many VLEs provide modularized activities and resources so that the educator can create course materials the way they would like to, and also pick what functionality best suits their educational environment.

VLEs normally provide the ability to customize their interface so that institutions can develop the look and feel that they require, or create a site that matches their institution's branding. Customization is a very important element of the functionality of a VLE, otherwise all VLE sites would look the same. This has particular relevance to this book, as you will later be learning how to customize Moodle in terms of its look and feel.