The human side of e-learning: Real people subjective experiences in virtual classrooms

Silvina Crenzel (1) , Francisca Cruz (2) , Vera Nojima (1)

1 department of Arts and Design
2 FGV - Fundacao Getulio Vargas [Rio de Janeiro]

This paper is based on a study of the subjective aspects of the student/e-learning platform tutor relationship. To find out how people feel in the role of ‘e-students' or ‘e-tutors', we have analyzed a set of testimonies collected through fifty five interviews. The interviewees were invited to speak and write about what they feel as e-learning subjects. Through their discourse, we could identify what kind of virtual-human relationships they have developed in this kind of environment. As well, we could learn their fears, gratifications, insecurities, frustrations and wishes when involved in courses that, instead of chalk and a blackboard in classes with lots of other people, they use the mouse, keyboard and PC screens in the privacy of their homes, or after hours at work, to achieve a diploma or a certificate, or to teach.

Keywords: e-learning; e-learning environments; human relations; subjectivity

Domains: Technology for Human Learning

Silvina Crenzel, Francisca Cruz, Vera Nojima. The human side of e-learning: Real people subjective experiences in virtual classrooms. Conference ICL2007, September 26 -28, 2007, 2007, Villach, Austria. 6 p. ⟨hal-00197295⟩