2.2.2 Your study community

There could be thousands of students who will be studying with you online and you are likely to be able to meet other students on your course through online tutorials or through forums on your university’s virtual learning environment (VLE). Some online courses at Universities also offer opportunities to meet your fellow students in person, often at day tutorials. Skype and email are also a good way of keeping in touch with other students.

Student unions are active in Myanmar ever than before. Apart from offering support on how to find opportunities to study abroad, they also offer peer support for social activities.

Finally, social networks are an ideal place for sharing your experience with other students, either socially or specifically related to your studies. An online university, such as The Open University, has groups on social networks of as many as 10,000 students through applications such as Facebook or YouTube.

What strategies would you use to connect with other learners? Thinking about each of the modes of communication mentioned below, which would be most appropriate for socialising, giving or getting support, or engaging in learning activities with other students?

• email/Skype with individual or groups of students
• meet local students personally
• social media sites, such as Facebook or Viber
• blogging (a blog is an online diary or journal located on a website).