Dynamic Conversations                                              Learning Communities.

Welcome to the first edition of ‘Perspectives On: Dynamic Conversations’. This interactive edition of the ‘Perspectives On’ series has been designed to provide a framework to support topical debate on current issues in the learning and teaching environment.

The first theme for Dynamic Conversations is Learning Communities; at a time of significant change, the submissions in this edition explore the topic of how we build and develop learning communities, particularly in the wake of Covid-19.

Topics covered in this edition of Dynamic Conversations include creating inclusive learning communities, the use of virtual reality in learning and teaching and the use of social media in learning and teaching.

Please click the links below to navigate through the submissions, and don't forget to join the conversation in the comments boxes at the bottom of each submission.

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Parasocial relationships in online learning

Neil Sutherland CMBE and Rachel Williams of Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, explore how parasocial relationships in online learning communities affect the power balance between staff and students.

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Virtual Reality in Management teaching

Dr Madeleine Stevens CMBE of Liverpool Business School explores how virtual reality can be used in Management teaching.

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Utilising social media to create a sense of community

A video from Neil Sutherland CMBE and Rachel Williams from Bristol Business School, exploring how social media can be used to create a sense of community in large university programmes.

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Inclusive Engaging Learning Communities

Professor Clive Holtham and Dr Martin Rich of Bayes Business School discuss how to build inclusive, engaging learning communities.

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Using social media in learning and teaching

Dr Mohamed Saeudy CMBE, University of Bedfordshire Business School, explores how social media can be used as an effective tool in learning and teaching.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first Dynamic Conversation on the topic of learning communities, and the extent to which technology supports or detracts from creating and sustaining strong learning communities. The panel event on 21 January concluded the formal aspect of this conversation.

Thank you to our panellists (Mohamed Saeudy CMBE, Rachel Williams, Madeleine Stevens CMBE, Martin Rich and Clive Holtham) for leading such a thought-provoking conversation. Some themes emerging from the conversation included

  • How can technology support a ‘small programme feel’ on large programmes and promote a sense of belonging.  Lots of good examples of this happening in practice.
  • Using Virtual Reality for challenging situations / context, such as managing conflict and sensitive management issue type scenarios;
  • How do we develop an understanding of the interactivity around social media (informal platforms) and more traditional learning platforms; within this, is there a role for social media within assessment?;
  • The opportunities to extend learning communities by incorporating visiting speakers and learning exchanges (including international) through online teaching sessions;
  • Lots of interest amongst the participants around the role of social media for Academics within HE.

We hope that the project ideas and the connections formed in the panel meeting will continue to develop and produce some interesting collaborative developments to share at future learning teaching and student experience conferences or CMBE workshops.

Please join us at the next Dynamic Conversation.  Details coming soon.

Interested in taking part in future?

Further themes for Dynamic Conversations will be released in forthcoming Chartered ABS newsletters. If you have a suggestion for a future theme, please contact the Chair of the Editorial Board at Cathy.Minett-Smith@uwe.ac.uk.

The ‘Perspectives On’ Editorial Board is comprised of:

  • Chair: Dr Cathy Minett-Smith, CMBE, PhD, PFHEA, Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and the Student Experience, Faculty of Business and Law, University of the West of England (UWE).
  • Professor Gillian Armstrong, CMBE, PhD, FHEA, Director of Business Engagement, Ulster University Business School.
  • Professor Monika Foster, CMBE,PhD, PFHEA, Head of Sunderland Business School, University of Sunderland.
  • Professor Helen Williams, PhD, CPsychol, FHEA,Professor in Organisational Psychology, Cardiff Business School.

The Editorial Board would like to thank all authors for their submissions to this edition of ‘Perspectives On: Dynamic Conversations’.