Collaborating in online teaching: inviting e-guests to facilitate learning in the digital environment

Abstract

Purpose Teaching and learning online during the Covid-19 pandemic has forced university instructors to consider online alternatives to the classroom. It is possible to facilitate students’ learning in the digital environment in similar ways to the traditional face-to-face classroom. The inclusion of e-guests in the digital learning space presents one such opportunity. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of e-guests in online learning. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a case study, following a postgraduate class and the role of the e-guest in students’ synchronous online learning. Findings E-guests facilitated student learning. Their approaches to learning ranged from slides to discussions. Students responded well to this method of learning. Practical implications There is potential for enhancing student learning through the inclusion of e-guests, who bring their expertise to the classroom. E-guests from different regions offer students an opportunity to learn from specialists they would not necessarily have access to in the traditional classroom. Originality/value E-guests offer one important potential means of enriching online teaching.