Community of learning

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## Contents

* 1 Definition
* 2 Types of learning communities
* 3 Online learning communities
* 3.1 Examples
* 4 References

## Definition[edit | edit source]

Closely related to Wenger's concept of a  social learning system which is made up of a network of  communities of practice.

A community can be described as a group of people whose identities within the group are defined by the form of their participation, interactions and relationships within the activities of the group. A community of learning is a community whose purpose is to engage and promote activities and interactions that allow for individual  socially-constructed learning.

* An attempt at a longer, more thorough definition

## Types of learning communities[edit | edit source]

A learning community may consist of any or all of the following types of communities. They differ in the level of collaboration, the way they are formed and their objectives.

* Community of practice: a group of people that take part in a common activity, talk and share information about this activity and define themselves in relation to it.
* Community of interest: a group of people that come together to address a problem of interest to all. They may or may not be from the same community of practice. The pedagogical equivalent are learning networks.
* Task-based community: a group of people that works together to accomplish a defined task. They may or may not be from the same CoP.
* Knowledge-building community: a group of people that works together to produce a body of knowledge.
* community of inquiry model (a pedagogical model)

## Online learning communities[edit | edit source]

An online learning community uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) to take part in the activities of the community. The computer-supported environment may be a support for the learning that takes place within a community or the community and the learning may exist entirely within the virtual environment.

### Examples[edit | edit source]

* The TECFA Community Portal (used to be that, not anymore)
* learning networks
* knowledge-building community model

## References[edit | edit source]

* Hole, Grete Oline and Anne Karin Larsen, VIRCLASS: the Virtual Classroom for Social Work in Europe - a toolkit for innovation? EuroDL, HTML

* Klamma, R; M Rohde & G Stahl (Eds.) (2005) Special Issue on: Community-Based Learning: Explorations into Theoretical Groundings, Empirical Findings and Computer Support. SigGroup Bulletin, 24 (4) 1-100 PDF \- HTML

* Marick, B. Boundary Objects, Visible Workings: Adequate Understanding of System Internals, pdf (accessed June 24, 2006)

* Martel, Véronique (2005). Émergence d'une communauté d'apprentissage en réseau à l'ordre primaire : l'activité de transformation d'un environnement d'apprentissage par la direction, les enseignants et les élèves (étude de cas), Master thesis, Université Laval, HTML

* Matschke, C., Moskaliuk, J., & Cress, U. (2012). Knowledge exchange using Web 2.0 technologies in NGOs. Journal of Knowledge Management, 16, 159-176.

* Riel and Polin in SA Barab, R Kling, JH Gray. (2004). 'Introduction', Designing for Virtual Communities in the Service of Learning, Cambridge University Press pdf

* Special Issue: Computer Support for Learning Communities. Guest Editors: Markus Rohde, Volker Wulf, Gerry Stahl in: Behaviour & Information Technology (BIT), Volume 26, Number 1, Jan-Feb 2007, 94 Pages. Taylor & Francis, ISSN 0144-929X. Summary (All articles except the intro are access restricted).

* Swan, K (2002). Building communities in online courses: The importance of interaction. Education, Communication and Information, 2(1), 23–49.