Online group learning environment: Assisting or substituting traditional learning

Abstract: Digital learning environments have become powerful tools that assist both in learning and teaching. They are usually created by teachers and used in pedagogics as a mean of group work that facilitates collaboration. In this paper a learning environment, created and used in a group, is studied as an information system that facilitates exam preparation. The study aims to find out what requirements students have for group learning environments and how the functionality of these systems facilitate students’ learning techniques. Based on the data collected during interviews and analyzed with the help of thematic analysis it was concluded that students have requirements for short verbal communication, written communication, accessibility and availability of systems’ tools, the possibility to work synchronously and mutually, functionality that supports traditional learning techniques and some unique functions. It was found that group learning environments cannot substitute traditional learning. Students prefer to use real-life collaboration for exam preparation. However group learning environments can facilitate administering of meetings, make study material more accessible and collaborative work more efficient and convenient.