Teachers, Students & Alumni: Benefits & Challenges of Developing a Virtual Online Learning Community


Page 27 - Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, volume 42, 2015 

 

ABSTRACT 

 
This paper explores online learning communities as a 

basis for sustainable academic organizational culture 

wherein learning, multi-directional mentoring and ongo-

ing social network development are foundational for 

complex problem solving and enduring relationships 

among community members.  First, the challenges of cre-

ating a virtual and meaningful academic organizational 

culture are explored from faculty, student, and alumni 

perspectives.  Various aspects of learning, with emphasis 

on whole persons and community, deep smarts, grit, and 

knowledge sharing are delineated.  Multi -directional 

mentoring and social network development are consid-

ered as pertinent to complex problem solving.  Communi-

ty development is inspected as an end unto itself.  Peck’s 

community building model and Tuckman’s stages of 

group development are investigated for their relevance 

to the online learning environment.  Finally, future di-

rections for research are considered.  

TEACHERS, STUDENTS & ALUMNI:  

BENEFITS & CHALLENGES OF DEVELOPING  

A VIRTUAL ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITY 
 

Lora Reed 

Ashford University 

Lora.Reed@Ashford.edu