Abstract:

In this contribution, a pedagogical model based on sense of community, participation and openness will be discussed as highly significant in shaping a distance learning educational experience and the role of Microsoft Teams as hub for communication, collaboration, and increased productivity will be presented.

The model, named COMP-PLETE, took shape inside a professional development programme designed following the guidelines delineated by the cognitive and experiential approaches to course design (Toohey’s (1999) typology); it promotes a combination of constructivist and experiential learning to define the role of content knowledge, teachers, learners and their interactions.

The outcome of COMP-PLETE is a highly participatory model for online education which, based on the synergy between community, openness, multimodality, participation, personalization, learning, experience and technological-enhancement provides an academic experience that empowers the learners to act as agents in determining personal learning goals, in shaping the community of practice within and beyond the boundaries of the programme and in informing the content and structure of their studies.

In this scenario, the functionalities offered by Microsoft Teams play a key role in supporting COMP-PLETE’s pedagogical goals. Teams bridges the geographical gap between our distance learners and the institution by creating a dynamic learning environment which fosters connections, communication and participation, strengthening, as a result, the learners’ commitment to the programme.

The development of COMP-PLETE will be outlined and discussed and suggestions will be advanced for building technology-enhanced strategies to ensure the sustainability and transferability of the model. The role of Teams in achieving COMP-PLETE’s goals will be illustrated.

Keywords:

Distance learning, open learning, constructivism, connectivism, Microsoft Teams.