WHAT ARE VIRTUAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES? - ECONOMÍA - 2025

The virtual learning communities are communities of people who share common values and interests, and communicating through various communication tools that we provide telematic networks are synchronous or asynchronous.

Due to the society in which we live, which is characterized by its speed, innovation and uncertainty, education must be of quality. It is true that the educational context has changed, but it has not done so in terms of its function, since it has to enable the student to learn throughout life.

The traditional vision of training has completely changed, opening doors to learning in formal, non-formal and informal settings. A person today can be formed from their experiences and interactions, in regulated training institutions, or in interactions with family or friends.

Therefore, we can not only acquire knowledge through traditional ways, but also through virtual learning communities, which will complete education as we know it.

Characteristics of virtual learning communities

The main characteristics that distinguish a physical community from a virtual community are:

-The participants who participate in virtual communities communicate through new technologies such as smartphones and computers.

-Since this class of devices are used, it provides them with more flexibility over time.

-New knowledge is usually generated and built, as well as exchanging information among community participants.

-They do not have to share values ​​or beliefs, although if they do, the virtual community will be healthier.

-Through different types of communication tools, both asynchronous and synchronous, as well as text and audiovisual, interaction occurs in these types of communities.

-Finally, multidirectional communication is carried out.

All types of virtual communities will have in common the characteristics mentioned above, what will differentiate them will be their objectives or the purpose or goal they want to achieve.

In addition, the people who participate in each of them are of great importance because they must be united by some interest they have in common and actively participate in it.

Types of virtual communities

We can find four different types of virtual communities:

-Virtual speech community

Currently we can talk to people who are far from us through the Internet and electronic devices, thus sharing our interests or any type of information with them.

- Virtual community of practice

Creating groups with other people in which each one performs a certain function. As its name suggests, the objective of the communities of practice is to professionally train and give knowledge to students in order for them to find work.

- Knowledge building virtual community

When the objective is to support students to pursue a strategy and learning is a goal. Technology can play an important role in these types of communities, since it allows ideas to be stored, organized and reformulated.

- Virtual learning community

A virtual community will be understood as learning when its main objective is that the people who participate in it acquire knowledge, learning, skills and competencies.

Depending on the topic that is going to be worked on, as well as the motives and interests of the people who participate in it, there may be different types of virtual learning communities. Some examples are:

• All kinds of both initial and permanent training carried out in educational institutions. Also training for students as well as occupational and professional training.
• Also collaborative work activities between professionals or students of educational levels, communities of users of certain services, etc.

What problems can arise in virtual learning communities?

Despite having multiple advantages, problems can arise in virtual learning communities that hinder their development or even hinder their success. These are summarized below:

-Although virtual learning communities are or are not moderated by a teacher on some occasions, accessibility for all the members that compose it as well as that they participate at all levels is complicated.

-On some occasions, it is often difficult for the people who form it to have a feeling of community, collaboration and participation.

-To be able to participate in this type of virtual learning communities, it is necessary for people to have a minimum training in new technologies and this in older people is usually a problem.

-Given the large volume of information that exists thanks to the Internet, it is possible that sometimes both the content and the information that is exposed in the community is not of quality. All this will depend on the role of the teacher as well as the participants.

-For the community to function, it is necessary for the participants to be committed and motivated. It is also convenient that they know the rules and regulations that exist within it.

-The teacher should try to create an atmosphere of trust so that students can express their doubts and even if necessary, start a dialogue with the teacher.

-The community must be planned with a clear working method.

-Finally, there must be a climate that encourages, among other things, creativity and motivation to learn, as well as innovation.

Advantages of virtual learning communities

-It will enable us to have different resources and documents, both visual and audiovisual, thus unleashing a richer and more varied environment of information.

-We can open different spaces to discuss a topic, which in turn will facilitate that professionals can adapt to the learning styles and multiple intelligences of the students.

-The way of conceiving the protagonists of the teaching-learning process has changed, which has helped to rethink how knowledge is built.

-It is a completely interactive environment in which people interact and share information.

-They open the doors to flexibility, thus allowing each person to participate in the schedule that is most comfortable for them and from the place they want.

-Derived from the previous one, in these environments it is easier for people from all over the world to participate, thus expanding multiculturalism.

-Since the student controls their own learning pace, they become more involved in the process, so they are more motivated.

What is the role of teachers?

Teachers, thanks to the incorporation of new technologies in teaching, have changed their traditional role of speaker and mere transmitter of information. He currently conceives himself as a designer and learning facilitator, as well as an adviser and moderator of the group and evaluator of the experience.

The functions that teachers have to perform in virtual learning spaces can be listed in:

• Amplify the information. In other words, it is in charge of distributing the content to the different tools that are being used in order to reach the whole world.
• Through tools such as forums, the teacher has to mediate to highlight the issues that are important in the subjects they are working on.
• Signposting and creating meaning socially. Given the large amount of information available, the teacher has to make sense of what is being seen.
• It also has to be recycled and know about new technologies in order to efficiently handle the different tools.
• The teachers have to guide the student during the units to enrich and facilitate their learning.
• Moderate and have a continuous presence. A good teacher of the 21st century has to know how to act in virtual learning environments, as well as be present in them.

What is the role of the students?

The role of the student in teaching has changed significantly, since they no longer have to accumulate knowledge as they did until relatively recently.

Now you need to have competencies that will help you navigate the information society. Therefore, it will require training related to the use, use, selection and organization of information. This will help you to manage ICT and to participate adequately in virtual learning communities.

conclusion

The incorporation of new technologies into the teaching-learning process has opened a new world of possibilities in the educational field, which is enriched by the multiple benefits they provide.

The virtual learning communities as a result of the union with this incorporation have allowed other teaching models through virtual environments, bringing the possibility of training to all people who want to learn about a certain topic, without limit of times and places.

These communities are made up of the set of relationships that occur between the participants and are developed in different spaces of relationship. This intercom keeps the community alive, and without it it would not be successful.

For this reason, the teacher acquires a totally new role, being therefore a tutor who manages the process, creates spaces for communication and interrelation, as well as facilitating student learning. Therefore, you will assume the role of guide during the teaching process.

The role of the student body has also evolved. Now you have to have the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to participate in these virtual environments and thus enrich yourself with their multiple benefits.

Finally, we cannot forget to mention that, as exists in face-to-face learning, problems can also arise in blended or distance training. That is why as education professionals, we have to be aware of these problems in order to solve them in order to provide quality training.

References

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