Share Paper: W1: The Virtual Village: Six Ways to Create a Supportive Learning Community Where Students Communicate, Collaborate, and Co-create

  1. Kellie Alston, North Carolina Central University Human Sciences Department Early Childhood Education, United States

Abstract: Virtual classrooms are places where thousands of students convene to complete coursework that enhances learning and develops their skill sets in preparation for careers in teaching. When the virtual environment feels more like an incubator where learning is isolated and text-driven, students may feel disconnected from their instructor and their peers. However, when the virtual environment projects an authentic atmosphere where learning is not just academic but social, students experience the satisfaction that comes from peer-to-peer support and a strong educator presence in a student-centered environment. Rather than a hindrance or mere convenience, technology becomes the conduit for the creation ...