Who Are the Architects of the Virtual University?

Abstract Book of the 9th World Conference on Research in Teaching and Education

Year: 2025

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Who Are the Architects of the Virtual University?

Veronika Müllerová, Renáta Sedláková

ABSTRACT:

The rapidly developing field of distance learning is accompanied by unprecedented growth in educational technologies and learning management systems (LMS). Evidence suggests that the primary focus should continue to be on students—their perspectives, experiences, and engagement in the online learning process. Students’ competencies, motivation, and capacity for deep learning are closely related to their perception of the university as an ecosystem that supports complex community ties and interpersonal relationships that influence their overall learning experience.
We refer to the different online university environment as a “spatial environment” and are looking for ways to support its development. Our ongoing research explores how students and teachers move, communicate, meet, learn, and create various opportunities for interaction in this environment, including informal and leisure activities. We use the ZMET method, which employs metaphorical representations of emotions expressed through photographs and images to reveal and interpret a previously unnamed new virtual university space.
Preliminary results suggest that students often feel disoriented in the online environment, despite their desire to connect with classmates and actively contribute to building new forms of virtual spaces. A key question arises: to what extent can modern virtual architecture support students’ efforts and foster meaningful connections in digital learning ecosystems?

Keywords: Digital Learning Ecosystems; Online University; Online Learning Process; Sustainable University