Cybercells and the Integration of Actual and Virtual Groups

A cyber cell describes the integration of actual and virtual groups in which face to face members extend their discussions to collaborate with virtual visitors (Stevens & Stewart, 2005). Cybercells enable groups of people meeting in physical spaces to engage with virtual visitors using a range of contemporary and emerging technologies. Teachers, for example, are provided with opportunities to discuss their work with other teachers on-site and on-line simultaneously. Students can also discuss their work in classrooms and collaborate with their peers located in other schools who are able to participate in their learning space virtually. By extending one’s learning from actual (face to face) spaces to include virtual visitors, learning environments can be extended.