Online learning environments are facilitated, or moderated, not taught. They are learner-centered and offer situated learning experiences.

Communication and interaction are crucial to the online learning experience.
Learners should be provided with multiple ways of connecting and developing knowledge. This implies access to different communication channels which enable them to interact with their peers, moderators and other experts (connection to other communities/groups of interest), internal and external resources (web resources), etc.

There are different tools and strategies which can help learners develop their spheres of influence, and simultaneously share them with others.

21st Century teachers should act as guides and lead learners in the exploration of their learning journey.

There are several key-points to consider when developing our digital classroom environment:

The learning activity evolves around the the learners. Learning activities should be developed for the learners and accomplished by them. Problem-based learning, group work and access to different resources are important to activate the learning process.

The learning strategy should enable personalization. It should focus on the needs and strengths of learners, and offer guidance on the development of the necessary skills, and option on the tools used in order for learners to actively engage in this new kind of learning.

The learning environments should promote collaboration and a culture of sharing, in other words, a sense of “community”, which develops overtime. The moderator has a crucial role in the maintenance of the community. Inspiring learners to adopt a team spirit and develop community cohesion might be the biggest challenge of the moderator.Promoting social activities and modeling learners to adopt a more informal, conversation-like tone might help in the development of a sound learning relationship.

Learning environments should also be structured around authentic learning activities. The web is a great (re)source which enables learners to experience real and contextualized learning situations. Furthermore, situated contexts help develop active, meaningful, creative and fun experiences. It is a more efficient and effective way to stimulate the learning process. It helps increase learners’ motivation too.