ABSTRACT
Realizing the potential of e-learning does not imply that traditional educational values and practices will be declared obsolete. In fact, because of e-learning’s unique capabilities to support asynchronous, collaborative communication in a dynamic and adaptable educational context, we will see a resurgence of traditional educational ideals. Re-valuing the traditional ideal of a community of learners is at the heart of the e-learning transformation. The framework we describe here is based upon the premise (supported by research and experience) that a community of learners is an essential, core element of an educational experience when higher-order learning is the desired learning outcome. By higher-order learning, we mean higher-order thinking “that is conceptually rich, coherently organized, and persistently exploratory” (Lipman, 1991, p. 19). These descriptions are congruent with the ideals of a community of inquiry in higher education.
