Virtual Classroom: A Meaningful Learner-Instructor Relationship

Abstract

Virtual classroom is becoming the new normal of tertiary education. The traditional teaching and learning in physical classroom have moved to online learning in virtual classroom where the instructors are struggling to engage with the learners. Personal interaction between learners and instructors in virtual classroom has been under threat as they fail to connect and interact effectively. Learners are better engaged in virtual classroom when the learnerinstructor relationship are strong. The present study examined the approaches conducted by the instructors to build meaningful learner-instructor relationship. This study further investigate d the challenges in building a meaningful learner-instructor relationship. Qualitative method which is semi-structured interview was employed in the study as five instructors had been interviewed to obtain the desired data. Based on the findings, planning the video content, video biography and video feedback were the approaches that can be used in fostering meaningful interaction between learners and instructors. Nonetheless, the instructors faced difficulty in deciding the ideal platform to encourage learners’ participation in virtual classroom. Therefore, it is crucial for the instructors to conduct virtual classroom using the platform that can ease the relationship building between learners and instructors. The instructors also informed that diversity of learners has become one of the challenges to enhance their relationship. A meaningful learner-instructor relationship can be impactful for the learners to experience effective online learning in virtual classroom.