A framework for a cyber classroom: towards a human-centric virtual classroom

Abstract

Many tradition teaching environments rely mainly on synchronously delivering, sharing, and interacting with learners. Learning is more asynchronous but is connected to teaching. The ‘holy grail’ of contemporary learning and teaching is to create that same traditional classroom feel within a virtual environment but use the power of e-communications and digital resources to enrich e-teaching and e-learning for solitary and collective learners. This paper describes an action learning approach to enhancing these environments to become more digital so that all students no matter where they are can avail themselves of the resources usually only available on-campus. The next step is a human-centric virtual classroom. The paper describes the possibilities and pitfalls of applying digital technologies to close the ‘soft’ information gap between on- and off-campus accounting students in a digital environment.