Evaluating an innovative approach to supporting teamwork online – co-created spaces in the metaverse

Chenyang Li portrait ^{Chenyang Li}

Guodong Qi portrait ^{Guodong Qi}

Klea Vani portrait ^{Klea Vani}

What is it like to study, collaborate, and build community in a virtual world? Chenyang Li and Guodong Qi from the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, and Klea Vani from the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences – Chemistry, took part in a Teaching and Research Award project funded by the Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE), led by Dr Marie-Luce Bourguet and Elise Gasser. The project explored how co-created spaces in the metaverse can enhance teamwork, belonging, and student skill development. This article is one of two in the series, and you can learn more about the project in a conversation with Dr Marie-Luce Bourguet and Elise Gasser.

Working in Frame VR, student co-creators helped design and customise shared environments that encouraged collaboration and creativity across time zones. Along the way, they discovered how immersive spaces can transform online teamwork, build confidence, and foster a stronger sense of connection among peers.