This article presents a model for conceptualising learner involvement in online environments. It takes as its starting point the emerging approach to service-user engagement in public-sector change in the United Kingdom. This is focused upon civic inclusion and empowered decision making. In turn this personalisation is related to issues surrounding information literacy and access to technology, in order to frame a structure for legitimate participation in e-environments. However, a key question is whether more controlled, academic environments can be activated for use by learners, and if so, what types of participative involvement are created and valued. Thus, a model for participation is developed, which captures how academic teams can move towards partnership and co-ownership with students. This focuses upon building an e-learning approach that is responsive and inclusive, and which has a "free-ranging" structure that demands the legitimate participation of learners as co-owners of its environmental definition. The evaluation uses an action research-based approach to assess how academic staff can work with students to activate meaningful online spaces. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)