Fostering Interaction to Enhance Learning in Online Learning Environments

Abstract

Interaction is central to educational experiences in online learning environments. Interaction enhances learning by fostering three types of learning interaction: learner-instructor, learner-learner, and learner-content. Additionally, online students generally perceive interaction as an effective means of learning. Therefore, it is important for online instructors to create opportunities for interaction in online learning environments. This article stimulates reflections on the critical role of interaction in online learning. A primary implication based on the challenges reported in the study is that instructors need to reflect on effective ways to design and implement successful online learning environments. For instance, instructors could anticipate these challenges by focusing on the development of online tools such as wikis to enhance effective online interaction.