On the Misappropriation of Spatial Metaphors in Online Learning Article Swipe
In online educational systems, teachers often replicate pedagogical methods, and online institutions replicate systems and structures used by their in-person counterparts, the only purpose of which was to solve problems created by having to teach in a physical environment. Likewise, virtual learning environments often attempt to replicate features of their physical counterparts, thereby weakly replicating in software the problems that in-person teachers had to solve. This has contributed to a vicious circle of problem creation and problem solving that benefits no one. In this paper I argue that the term ‘environment’ is a dangerously misleading metaphor for the online systems we build to support learning, that leads to poor pedagogical choices and weak digital solutions. I propose an alternative metaphor of infrastructure and services that can enable more flexible, learner-driven, and digitally native ways of designing systems (including the tools, pedagogies, and structures) to support learning.
Related Topics
- Type
- article
- Language
- en
- Landing Page
- https://doi.org/10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32
- https://journal.otessa.org/index.php/oj/article/download/32/24
- OA Status
- hybrid
- References
- 39
- Related Works
- 10
- OpenAlex ID
- https://openalex.org/W4313543288
Raw OpenAlex JSON
- OpenAlex ID
-
https://openalex.org/W4313543288Canonical identifier for this work in OpenAlex
- DOI
-
https://doi.org/10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32Digital Object Identifier
- Title
-
On the Misappropriation of Spatial Metaphors in Online LearningWork title
- Type
-
articleOpenAlex work type
- Language
-
enPrimary language
- Publication year
-
2022Year of publication
- Publication date
-
2022-12-30Full publication date if available
- Authors
-
Jon DronList of authors in order
- Landing page
-
https://doi.org/10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32Publisher landing page
- PDF URL
-
https://journal.otessa.org/index.php/oj/article/download/32/24Direct link to full text PDF
- Open access
-
YesWhether a free full text is available
- OA status
-
hybridOpen access status per OpenAlex
- OA URL
-
https://journal.otessa.org/index.php/oj/article/download/32/24Direct OA link when available
- Concepts
-
Replicate, Metaphor, Misappropriation, Computer science, Online learning, Virtual learning environment, Software, Human–computer interaction, Data science, World Wide Web, Linguistics, Operating system, Programming language, Statistics, Philosophy, MathematicsTop concepts (fields/topics) attached by OpenAlex
- Cited by
-
0Total citation count in OpenAlex
- References (count)
-
39Number of works referenced by this work
- Related works (count)
-
10Other works algorithmically related by OpenAlex
Full payload
| id | https://openalex.org/W4313543288 |
|---|---|
| doi | https://doi.org/10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32 |
| ids.doi | https://doi.org/10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32 |
| ids.openalex | https://openalex.org/W4313543288 |
| fwci | 0.0 |
| type | article |
| title | On the Misappropriation of Spatial Metaphors in Online Learning |
| biblio.issue | 2 |
| biblio.volume | 2 |
| biblio.last_page | 16 |
| biblio.first_page | 1 |
| topics[0].id | https://openalex.org/T11122 |
| topics[0].field.id | https://openalex.org/fields/17 |
| topics[0].field.display_name | Computer Science |
| topics[0].score | 0.9948999881744385 |
| topics[0].domain.id | https://openalex.org/domains/3 |
| topics[0].domain.display_name | Physical Sciences |
| topics[0].subfield.id | https://openalex.org/subfields/1706 |
| topics[0].subfield.display_name | Computer Science Applications |
| topics[0].display_name | Online Learning and Analytics |
| topics[1].id | https://openalex.org/T10636 |
| topics[1].field.id | https://openalex.org/fields/32 |
| topics[1].field.display_name | Psychology |
| topics[1].score | 0.9886000156402588 |
| topics[1].domain.id | https://openalex.org/domains/2 |
| topics[1].domain.display_name | Social Sciences |
| topics[1].subfield.id | https://openalex.org/subfields/3204 |
| topics[1].subfield.display_name | Developmental and Educational Psychology |
| topics[1].display_name | Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods |
| topics[2].id | https://openalex.org/T10162 |
| topics[2].field.id | https://openalex.org/fields/33 |
| topics[2].field.display_name | Social Sciences |
| topics[2].score | 0.9740999937057495 |
| topics[2].domain.id | https://openalex.org/domains/2 |
| topics[2].domain.display_name | Social Sciences |
| topics[2].subfield.id | https://openalex.org/subfields/3304 |
| topics[2].subfield.display_name | Education |
| topics[2].display_name | Online and Blended Learning |
| is_xpac | False |
| apc_list | |
| apc_paid | |
| concepts[0].id | https://openalex.org/C2781162219 |
| concepts[0].level | 2 |
| concepts[0].score | 0.7846188545227051 |
| concepts[0].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26250693 |
| concepts[0].display_name | Replicate |
| concepts[1].id | https://openalex.org/C2778311575 |
| concepts[1].level | 2 |
| concepts[1].score | 0.7608480453491211 |
| concepts[1].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18534 |
| concepts[1].display_name | Metaphor |
| concepts[2].id | https://openalex.org/C2780858551 |
| concepts[2].level | 2 |
| concepts[2].score | 0.6900100111961365 |
| concepts[2].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3824105 |
| concepts[2].display_name | Misappropriation |
| concepts[3].id | https://openalex.org/C41008148 |
| concepts[3].level | 0 |
| concepts[3].score | 0.6855460405349731 |
| concepts[3].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198 |
| concepts[3].display_name | Computer science |
| concepts[4].id | https://openalex.org/C2986087404 |
| concepts[4].level | 2 |
| concepts[4].score | 0.5300331711769104 |
| concepts[4].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15946010 |
| concepts[4].display_name | Online learning |
| concepts[5].id | https://openalex.org/C66699896 |
| concepts[5].level | 2 |
| concepts[5].score | 0.5083493590354919 |
| concepts[5].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2349394 |
| concepts[5].display_name | Virtual learning environment |
| concepts[6].id | https://openalex.org/C2777904410 |
| concepts[6].level | 2 |
| concepts[6].score | 0.4605947732925415 |
| concepts[6].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7397 |
| concepts[6].display_name | Software |
| concepts[7].id | https://openalex.org/C107457646 |
| concepts[7].level | 1 |
| concepts[7].score | 0.42877405881881714 |
| concepts[7].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207434 |
| concepts[7].display_name | Human–computer interaction |
| concepts[8].id | https://openalex.org/C2522767166 |
| concepts[8].level | 1 |
| concepts[8].score | 0.3779488801956177 |
| concepts[8].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2374463 |
| concepts[8].display_name | Data science |
| concepts[9].id | https://openalex.org/C136764020 |
| concepts[9].level | 1 |
| concepts[9].score | 0.28384166955947876 |
| concepts[9].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466 |
| concepts[9].display_name | World Wide Web |
| concepts[10].id | https://openalex.org/C41895202 |
| concepts[10].level | 1 |
| concepts[10].score | 0.0 |
| concepts[10].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8162 |
| concepts[10].display_name | Linguistics |
| concepts[11].id | https://openalex.org/C111919701 |
| concepts[11].level | 1 |
| concepts[11].score | 0.0 |
| concepts[11].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9135 |
| concepts[11].display_name | Operating system |
| concepts[12].id | https://openalex.org/C199360897 |
| concepts[12].level | 1 |
| concepts[12].score | 0.0 |
| concepts[12].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9143 |
| concepts[12].display_name | Programming language |
| concepts[13].id | https://openalex.org/C105795698 |
| concepts[13].level | 1 |
| concepts[13].score | 0.0 |
| concepts[13].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12483 |
| concepts[13].display_name | Statistics |
| concepts[14].id | https://openalex.org/C138885662 |
| concepts[14].level | 0 |
| concepts[14].score | 0.0 |
| concepts[14].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5891 |
| concepts[14].display_name | Philosophy |
| concepts[15].id | https://openalex.org/C33923547 |
| concepts[15].level | 0 |
| concepts[15].score | 0.0 |
| concepts[15].wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q395 |
| concepts[15].display_name | Mathematics |
| keywords[0].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/replicate |
| keywords[0].score | 0.7846188545227051 |
| keywords[0].display_name | Replicate |
| keywords[1].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/metaphor |
| keywords[1].score | 0.7608480453491211 |
| keywords[1].display_name | Metaphor |
| keywords[2].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/misappropriation |
| keywords[2].score | 0.6900100111961365 |
| keywords[2].display_name | Misappropriation |
| keywords[3].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-science |
| keywords[3].score | 0.6855460405349731 |
| keywords[3].display_name | Computer science |
| keywords[4].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/online-learning |
| keywords[4].score | 0.5300331711769104 |
| keywords[4].display_name | Online learning |
| keywords[5].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/virtual-learning-environment |
| keywords[5].score | 0.5083493590354919 |
| keywords[5].display_name | Virtual learning environment |
| keywords[6].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/software |
| keywords[6].score | 0.4605947732925415 |
| keywords[6].display_name | Software |
| keywords[7].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/human–computer-interaction |
| keywords[7].score | 0.42877405881881714 |
| keywords[7].display_name | Human–computer interaction |
| keywords[8].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/data-science |
| keywords[8].score | 0.3779488801956177 |
| keywords[8].display_name | Data science |
| keywords[9].id | https://openalex.org/keywords/world-wide-web |
| keywords[9].score | 0.28384166955947876 |
| keywords[9].display_name | World Wide Web |
| language | en |
| locations[0].id | doi:10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32 |
| locations[0].is_oa | True |
| locations[0].source.id | https://openalex.org/S4210234965 |
| locations[0].source.issn | 2564-4726 |
| locations[0].source.type | journal |
| locations[0].source.is_oa | False |
| locations[0].source.issn_l | 2564-4726 |
| locations[0].source.is_core | False |
| locations[0].source.is_in_doaj | False |
| locations[0].source.display_name | The Open/Technology in Education Society and Scholarship Association Journal |
| locations[0].source.host_organization | |
| locations[0].source.host_organization_name | |
| locations[0].license | cc-by |
| locations[0].pdf_url | https://journal.otessa.org/index.php/oj/article/download/32/24 |
| locations[0].version | publishedVersion |
| locations[0].raw_type | journal-article |
| locations[0].license_id | https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by |
| locations[0].is_accepted | True |
| locations[0].is_published | True |
| locations[0].raw_source_name | The Open/Technology in Education, Society, and Scholarship Association Journal |
| locations[0].landing_page_url | https://doi.org/10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32 |
| indexed_in | crossref |
| authorships[0].author.id | https://openalex.org/A5063158409 |
| authorships[0].author.orcid | https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6521-7302 |
| authorships[0].author.display_name | Jon Dron |
| authorships[0].countries | CA |
| authorships[0].affiliations[0].institution_ids | https://openalex.org/I86897205 |
| authorships[0].affiliations[0].raw_affiliation_string | Athabasca University |
| authorships[0].institutions[0].id | https://openalex.org/I86897205 |
| authorships[0].institutions[0].ror | https://ror.org/01y3xgc52 |
| authorships[0].institutions[0].type | education |
| authorships[0].institutions[0].lineage | https://openalex.org/I86897205 |
| authorships[0].institutions[0].country_code | CA |
| authorships[0].institutions[0].display_name | Athabasca University |
| authorships[0].author_position | first |
| authorships[0].raw_author_name | Jon Dron |
| authorships[0].is_corresponding | True |
| authorships[0].raw_affiliation_strings | Athabasca University |
| has_content.pdf | True |
| has_content.grobid_xml | True |
| is_paratext | False |
| open_access.is_oa | True |
| open_access.oa_url | https://journal.otessa.org/index.php/oj/article/download/32/24 |
| open_access.oa_status | hybrid |
| open_access.any_repository_has_fulltext | False |
| created_date | 2025-10-10T00:00:00 |
| display_name | On the Misappropriation of Spatial Metaphors in Online Learning |
| has_fulltext | True |
| is_retracted | False |
| updated_date | 2025-11-06T03:46:38.306776 |
| primary_topic.id | https://openalex.org/T11122 |
| primary_topic.field.id | https://openalex.org/fields/17 |
| primary_topic.field.display_name | Computer Science |
| primary_topic.score | 0.9948999881744385 |
| primary_topic.domain.id | https://openalex.org/domains/3 |
| primary_topic.domain.display_name | Physical Sciences |
| primary_topic.subfield.id | https://openalex.org/subfields/1706 |
| primary_topic.subfield.display_name | Computer Science Applications |
| primary_topic.display_name | Online Learning and Analytics |
| related_works | https://openalex.org/W2050147738, https://openalex.org/W2370085695, https://openalex.org/W1508931685, https://openalex.org/W2130670327, https://openalex.org/W1473591197, https://openalex.org/W1841966068, https://openalex.org/W2002769313, https://openalex.org/W2189564095, https://openalex.org/W1801480599, https://openalex.org/W4313543288 |
| cited_by_count | 0 |
| locations_count | 1 |
| best_oa_location.id | doi:10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32 |
| best_oa_location.is_oa | True |
| best_oa_location.source.id | https://openalex.org/S4210234965 |
| best_oa_location.source.issn | 2564-4726 |
| best_oa_location.source.type | journal |
| best_oa_location.source.is_oa | False |
| best_oa_location.source.issn_l | 2564-4726 |
| best_oa_location.source.is_core | False |
| best_oa_location.source.is_in_doaj | False |
| best_oa_location.source.display_name | The Open/Technology in Education Society and Scholarship Association Journal |
| best_oa_location.source.host_organization | |
| best_oa_location.source.host_organization_name | |
| best_oa_location.license | cc-by |
| best_oa_location.pdf_url | https://journal.otessa.org/index.php/oj/article/download/32/24 |
| best_oa_location.version | publishedVersion |
| best_oa_location.raw_type | journal-article |
| best_oa_location.license_id | https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by |
| best_oa_location.is_accepted | True |
| best_oa_location.is_published | True |
| best_oa_location.raw_source_name | The Open/Technology in Education, Society, and Scholarship Association Journal |
| best_oa_location.landing_page_url | https://doi.org/10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32 |
| primary_location.id | doi:10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32 |
| primary_location.is_oa | True |
| primary_location.source.id | https://openalex.org/S4210234965 |
| primary_location.source.issn | 2564-4726 |
| primary_location.source.type | journal |
| primary_location.source.is_oa | False |
| primary_location.source.issn_l | 2564-4726 |
| primary_location.source.is_core | False |
| primary_location.source.is_in_doaj | False |
| primary_location.source.display_name | The Open/Technology in Education Society and Scholarship Association Journal |
| primary_location.source.host_organization | |
| primary_location.source.host_organization_name | |
| primary_location.license | cc-by |
| primary_location.pdf_url | https://journal.otessa.org/index.php/oj/article/download/32/24 |
| primary_location.version | publishedVersion |
| primary_location.raw_type | journal-article |
| primary_location.license_id | https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by |
| primary_location.is_accepted | True |
| primary_location.is_published | True |
| primary_location.raw_source_name | The Open/Technology in Education, Society, and Scholarship Association Journal |
| primary_location.landing_page_url | https://doi.org/10.18357/otessaj.2022.2.2.32 |
| publication_date | 2022-12-30 |
| publication_year | 2022 |
| referenced_works | https://openalex.org/W2116730430, https://openalex.org/W2790966084, https://openalex.org/W7043844503, https://openalex.org/W6751073333, https://openalex.org/W2157342167, https://openalex.org/W6622354419, https://openalex.org/W6634639699, https://openalex.org/W4240649001, https://openalex.org/W2506350108, https://openalex.org/W6725822200, https://openalex.org/W3148278082, https://openalex.org/W2019138328, https://openalex.org/W2286539585, https://openalex.org/W3087339279, https://openalex.org/W1972992620, https://openalex.org/W2784193494, https://openalex.org/W2017561954, https://openalex.org/W2289574185, https://openalex.org/W1549788644, https://openalex.org/W6996907057, https://openalex.org/W3042179784, https://openalex.org/W3132556529, https://openalex.org/W2894540915, https://openalex.org/W1965658570, https://openalex.org/W6638170151, https://openalex.org/W2141373885, https://openalex.org/W3036177938, https://openalex.org/W4394900531, https://openalex.org/W7037891115, https://openalex.org/W2902999784, https://openalex.org/W2077291283, https://openalex.org/W2598921271, https://openalex.org/W965719569, https://openalex.org/W2102243141, https://openalex.org/W2026012137, https://openalex.org/W2046492761, https://openalex.org/W2186085502, https://openalex.org/W2945013423, https://openalex.org/W4211112912 |
| referenced_works_count | 39 |
| abstract_inverted_index.I | 85, 115 |
| abstract_inverted_index.a | 36, 69, 92 |
| abstract_inverted_index.In | 0, 82 |
| abstract_inverted_index.an | 117 |
| abstract_inverted_index.by | 17, 31 |
| abstract_inverted_index.in | 35, 55 |
| abstract_inverted_index.is | 91 |
| abstract_inverted_index.no | 80 |
| abstract_inverted_index.of | 24, 48, 72, 120, 134 |
| abstract_inverted_index.to | 27, 33, 45, 63, 68, 102, 107, 143 |
| abstract_inverted_index.we | 100 |
| abstract_inverted_index.and | 9, 14, 75, 111, 122, 130, 141 |
| abstract_inverted_index.can | 125 |
| abstract_inverted_index.for | 96 |
| abstract_inverted_index.had | 62 |
| abstract_inverted_index.has | 66 |
| abstract_inverted_index.the | 21, 57, 88, 97, 138 |
| abstract_inverted_index.was | 26 |
| abstract_inverted_index.This | 65 |
| abstract_inverted_index.more | 127 |
| abstract_inverted_index.one. | 81 |
| abstract_inverted_index.only | 22 |
| abstract_inverted_index.poor | 108 |
| abstract_inverted_index.term | 89 |
| abstract_inverted_index.that | 59, 78, 87, 105, 124 |
| abstract_inverted_index.this | 83 |
| abstract_inverted_index.used | 16 |
| abstract_inverted_index.ways | 133 |
| abstract_inverted_index.weak | 112 |
| abstract_inverted_index.argue | 86 |
| abstract_inverted_index.build | 101 |
| abstract_inverted_index.leads | 106 |
| abstract_inverted_index.often | 5, 43 |
| abstract_inverted_index.paper | 84 |
| abstract_inverted_index.solve | 28 |
| abstract_inverted_index.teach | 34 |
| abstract_inverted_index.their | 18, 49 |
| abstract_inverted_index.which | 25 |
| abstract_inverted_index.circle | 71 |
| abstract_inverted_index.enable | 126 |
| abstract_inverted_index.having | 32 |
| abstract_inverted_index.native | 132 |
| abstract_inverted_index.online | 1, 10, 98 |
| abstract_inverted_index.solve. | 64 |
| abstract_inverted_index.tools, | 139 |
| abstract_inverted_index.weakly | 53 |
| abstract_inverted_index.attempt | 44 |
| abstract_inverted_index.choices | 110 |
| abstract_inverted_index.created | 30 |
| abstract_inverted_index.digital | 113 |
| abstract_inverted_index.problem | 73, 76 |
| abstract_inverted_index.propose | 116 |
| abstract_inverted_index.purpose | 23 |
| abstract_inverted_index.solving | 77 |
| abstract_inverted_index.support | 103, 144 |
| abstract_inverted_index.systems | 13, 99, 136 |
| abstract_inverted_index.thereby | 52 |
| abstract_inverted_index.vicious | 70 |
| abstract_inverted_index.virtual | 40 |
| abstract_inverted_index.benefits | 79 |
| abstract_inverted_index.creation | 74 |
| abstract_inverted_index.features | 47 |
| abstract_inverted_index.learning | 41 |
| abstract_inverted_index.metaphor | 95, 119 |
| abstract_inverted_index.methods, | 8 |
| abstract_inverted_index.physical | 37, 50 |
| abstract_inverted_index.problems | 29, 58 |
| abstract_inverted_index.services | 123 |
| abstract_inverted_index.software | 56 |
| abstract_inverted_index.systems, | 3 |
| abstract_inverted_index.teachers | 4, 61 |
| abstract_inverted_index.Likewise, | 39 |
| abstract_inverted_index.designing | 135 |
| abstract_inverted_index.digitally | 131 |
| abstract_inverted_index.flexible, | 128 |
| abstract_inverted_index.in-person | 19, 60 |
| abstract_inverted_index.learning, | 104 |
| abstract_inverted_index.learning. | 145 |
| abstract_inverted_index.replicate | 6, 12, 46 |
| abstract_inverted_index.(including | 137 |
| abstract_inverted_index.misleading | 94 |
| abstract_inverted_index.solutions. | 114 |
| abstract_inverted_index.structures | 15 |
| abstract_inverted_index.alternative | 118 |
| abstract_inverted_index.contributed | 67 |
| abstract_inverted_index.dangerously | 93 |
| abstract_inverted_index.educational | 2 |
| abstract_inverted_index.pedagogical | 7, 109 |
| abstract_inverted_index.pedagogies, | 140 |
| abstract_inverted_index.replicating | 54 |
| abstract_inverted_index.structures) | 142 |
| abstract_inverted_index.environment. | 38 |
| abstract_inverted_index.environments | 42 |
| abstract_inverted_index.institutions | 11 |
| abstract_inverted_index.counterparts, | 20, 51 |
| abstract_inverted_index.infrastructure | 121 |
| abstract_inverted_index.learner-driven, | 129 |
| abstract_inverted_index.‘environment’ | 90 |
| cited_by_percentile_year | |
| corresponding_author_ids | https://openalex.org/A5063158409 |
| countries_distinct_count | 1 |
| institutions_distinct_count | 1 |
| corresponding_institution_ids | https://openalex.org/I86897205 |
| sustainable_development_goals[0].id | https://metadata.un.org/sdg/9 |
| sustainable_development_goals[0].score | 0.47999998927116394 |
| sustainable_development_goals[0].display_name | Industry, innovation and infrastructure |
| citation_normalized_percentile.value | 0.16667642 |
| citation_normalized_percentile.is_in_top_1_percent | False |
| citation_normalized_percentile.is_in_top_10_percent | False |