Learning Core Competencies in a Virtual World

We frame these questions by considering the presence or absence of physical co-presence in learning environments. We find that there are advantages and limitations to each when it comes to promoting cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal competencies, which are each needed for deep learning. With physical co-presence, the promotion of these competencies depends on the teacher, curriculum design, and the social setting. In digital environments, there can be more control over the setting and the types of activities, so competencies may be easier to design for. In both cases, explicitly acknowledging the competencies as a desired outcome of the learning environment is a key step towards seeing them realized.