Designing a Collaborative Learning Model in the Virtual Environment of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Province

The present study aimed to design a collaborative learning model in the virtual environment of Islamic Azad University in Tehran Province. This research employed a mixed exploratory (qualitative–quantitative) approach. The qualitative phase used self-emergent grounded theory based on semi-structured interviews with 15 educational management experts. In the quantitative phase, 148 doctoral students in educational management were randomly selected using the Morgan table. A researcher-made questionnaire was developed and data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis via LISREL. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed a model composed of three main dimensions: Technology (hardware, software, brainware), Management (instructional method, curriculum, evaluation), and Human (teacher, student, support), totaling 9 components and 62 indicators. All path coefficients were statistically significant, and the goodness-of-fit indices confirmed the model’s validity. The results demonstrate that the proposed model—with its defined dimensions and components—effectively explains collaborative learning in virtual settings and can serve as an operational framework for virtual education planning in Islamic Azad Universities.