Students as active co-designers in an online learning environment

This paper is based on an online seminar on ICT and Learning in Organizations where the traditional practice of using online discussions was challenged by expecting the students not only individually to take part in online discussions but also on a group basis to discuss what kind of opening question they would pose in order to invite co-students to take part in the online dialogue. Thus in contrast to the traditional understanding of the teacher as sole designer of the learning environment, the students were involved as active co-designers. They constantly engaged in dialogue both with fellow group members and other participating students. Drawing on theories of dialogic digital communication and collaborative learning, the paper will analyze students´ participation in dialogically organized online seminars and reflect on the challenges for students as independent and interconnected learners and the many varied dimensions of the teacher role.