Utilising Digital Tools to Enhance Teamwork Among Adult Learners in a Postgraduate Course

Abstract

This chapter provides an in-depth examination of the role of digital tools in enhancing virtual teamwork among adult learners in higher education, focusing on the “Fundamentals of Educational Technology” course within the Master of Education in Innovative Learning Technologies (MEILT) Programme at the Advanced Learning Institute (ALI). Through a qualitative narrative inquiry, the chapter explores how digital platforms such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), video conferencing, and social media facilitate communication, collaboration, and learning outcomes among part-time students. The analysis highlights the benefits of these tools in promoting flexibility, real-time collaboration, and distributed cognition while addressing challenges such as digital etiquette and technological fluency. Additionally, the chapter offers practical recommendations for improving the use of digital tools to support teamwork in adult education within the context of Trinidad and Tobago.