virtual classroom

[keannu]

1. Does this "virtual classroom" mean a mock-up classroom, not a regular one, just for testing? What do you think is the meaning of "virtual" here?
2. Does this "would" mean a past habit?

pr48
ex)Some learning designers said that a solo tutor would encourage students to pay more attention and learn more....When you feel confident, having other people present improves how well you learn and perform. However, when you feel insecure, having other people around makes you nervous and pressured so you don't learn as well. As a result, I decided to have the teaching environment be a virtual classroom but with a variable number of students. When their practice test scores were low, there would be fewer students and more empty desks.

 

[keannu]

But the writer is saying your performance can be affected by others surrounding you. In a virtual classroom on the computer, there is no one watching you. Maybe I understand it wrong.
And as for "would", it may not be a habit, but a repetitive(habitual) event that happened as you said the situation varied depending on times.

 

[Tdol]

In a virtual classroom, it is possible be in contact with the other learners, and see what others are doing.

 

[keannu]

So does "would" here mean "past will" of the writer?