ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a means of understanding online learning, some of its different forms and how differing approaches and processes can be used to support effective learning and educational change. The use of scenarios allows to visualize what happens in "virtual classrooms" and online learning contexts. These scenarios offer snapshots of how an online course activity may be designed by an instructor and experienced by learner in terms of social and intellectual interaction online. The use of online case studies is an innovative collaborativist pedagogy that promotes interaction and use of real problem-solving tools and processes. Online case studies offer important new features and learning opportunities beyond traditional textbook approaches, such as expanded opportunities for interactivity, variety and hence increased realism. Virtual video games are immensely popular among youths and adults. Estimated numbers of players are in the hundreds of millions. Online games are typically multiplayer in design, meaning that problems are set up to be solved collaboratively by teams.
