Virtual Teaching in Postgraduate Programmes: The Importance of Social Collaboration in Virtual Communities

Abstract

Abstract Based on the experience of teaching online to masters and PhD groups in social economy and non-governmental organizations for collectives in different parts of the world, the need arose to create communication spaces to prevent the isolation that course participants experienced. This system of work facilitates the learning of the course contents and also enables the various participants to contact each other and exchange ideas and experiences. This study provides a general perspective of the new practical approaches in e-learning, focusing on the social components of learning that enable communication similar to that achieved in traditional classrooms. The creation of a virtual community or either the use of the social networks, were the tools used to motivate a communal living of a group of young students from three different countries who have created personal and professional links.