Towards a framework for interdisciplinary collaborative online learning spaces

Abstract

This paper presents the findings from a longitudinal, inter-institutional Design-Based Research (DBR) study that commenced in 2020 with a focus on developing design principles for interdisciplinary collaborative online learning. The draft design principles as presented at HEAd’21 were further refined during the first iteration of the project and an updated framework is presented in this paper. The conceptual framework draws on elements of Future Learning Spaces (FLS) and sociomateriality to better understand and contextualise the design principles as it applies to pedagogy, space-time activities and technology. The Interdisciplinary Collaborative online Learning (ICoL) framework focuses attention not only on the practical decisions made by academics in the learning space but also maps the underlying theoretical decisions that influence and shape the learning experience.