Abstract:
Web 2.0 technologies have been instrumental in the development of a new collaborative learning space called Virtual Learning Environments. There are a variety of challenges in virtual learning environments, including team issues, technological problems and pedagogical practices. However these challenges can be broadly grouped into student challenges and lecturer challenges. Virtual Worlds such as Second Life (SL) and Social Learning Networks have provided many opportunities for lecturers to explore these challenges and ways of overcoming them. This study focuses on student challenges in these environments.
In terms of the findings of this study, student responses were generally positive, with 77% of students finding international collaboration on their project beneficial. In addition, they report spending more time on the course and exerting more mental effort. They are satisfied with the organization and scaffolding of their learning but are still overwhelmingly dependent on campus computing resources, which is a limitation. The limitation points to the potential value of a beta-mindset approach supported by scaffolded learning. This research reports on the experiences and lessons learned during a virtual collaborative learning experience in an Honours module involving fourth year Information Systems and Technology students at both the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and Applied Computer Science fourth year students from Daystar University in Kenya. The research was conducted in March and April 2010. This paper explores the academic, operational and technological challenges, from a student perspective.
