Holly McCracken
Furthering Connected Teaching and Learning Through the Use of Virtual Learning Communities

On-line learning is a dynamic process, the strength of which is realized through collaboration with peers, teachers and colleagues, and other subject experts or resources. On-line students are most successfully engaged through involvement in goal-directed opportunities promoting discovery, collaboration, reflective analysis, relationship building, and a personal relationship to learning. The use of interactive discussion as an instructional method ensures that such opportunities are accessible to students, enabling the achievement of both individual and collective learning goals. A cooperative and collaborative process that allows inquiry and critical analysis, encourages negotiation, and promotes consensus building extends learning beyond the intellectual domain to include cognitive and affective development.

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Online version of the article on the Polish website