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


Page 213 - 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 ongoing social network devel-

opment are foundational for complex problem solving and en-

during relationships among community members.  First, the 

challenges of creating a virtual and meaningful academic or-

ganizational culture are explored from faculty, student, and 

alumni perspectives.  Various aspects of learning, with empha-

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

knowledge sharing are delineated.  Multi-directional mentoring 

and social network development are considered as pertinent to 

complex problem solving.  Community 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 directions for research are considered. 

TEACHERS, STUDENTS & ALUMNI: 

BENEFITS & CHALLENGES OF DEVELOPING  

A VIRTUAL ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITY 
 

Lora Reed 

Ashford University 

Lora.Reed@Ashford.edu