"Beyond the screen"

Abstract

As an emergent form of internationalization that incorporates the use of digital technology, virtual exchange offers students the possibility to transcend national borders and connect with other students entirely within a virtual learning environment. Participants in virtual exchange mediate between the physical and virtual worlds, and a sense of place allows them to connect with peers, actively engage with their environment, and achieve learning outcomes. Despite a growing interest in virtual exchange in higher education, however, there is limited research on how students navigate their online learning environment and develop a sense of place. This thesis addresses this gap by exploring how students construct and experience a sense of place while participating in virtual exchange. Focus group interviews were conducted with 29 students participating in virtual exchange through the non-profit provider, Soliya. Using grounded theory, a number of emergent themes were explored, revealing how students understood and situated themselves within both their physical and virtual spaces before, during, and after their virtual exchange. The findings of this study suggest that sense of place is impacted by the environment as well as both individual and communal identity. The results of this study will provide higher education institutions and virtual exchange providers with a better understanding of the construct of sense of place within virtual learning environments and, consequently, how to foster a strong sense of place among virtual exchange participants.