Now, readily available digital media tools , open courseware, and other 2.0 technologies are changing how learners are interacting online, creating a participatory culture of knowledge sharing and content creation that is very different from early uses of the web for accessing content. (Carter & Nugent, 2011)
An online learning community is a public or private destination on the Internet that addresses the learning needs of its members by facilitating peer-to-peer learning. The availability of Web 2.0 capabilities has created a environment conducive to the emergence of various forms of online learning communities :
- Professional Learning Communities: individuals in a specific field that participate in collaborative learning
- Personal Learning Networks (PLN): informal learning networks created by the learner with the intent to learn through those connections.
- Online Communities of Practice (OCoP): communities of practitioners, oftern domain-specific corporate-internal communities, that connect in a effort to improve their practice.
These communities and connections play a key role in the self-guided learning processes of today’s learners. The collaboration in the digital world does not take away the benefits of self-direction; rather it heightens the need for individuals to succeed together. (Bryan, 2014)
The following 7 minute video presents the key items organizations should consider as they design and implement CoPs. Although not all online communities are created in such a formal way, this video presents key aspects and characteristics that are true of many online learning communities.
Cultivating Communities of Practice – Making them grow
Learning Activity:
- Once you’ve watched the video (above) – list some of the design characteristics/considerations for a successful online learning community
- Go online to find one or two Online Learning Communities for a topic/practice you are interested in (for any audience, professional, informal, for young learners, etc.).
- In the discussion forum, post the link to the Community you selected and tell us why (or why not) you believe that this community effectively supports self-directed learning.
- Here are a few examples to get you started: Mumsnet, Barrista Exchange, TES Connect
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