Regardless of whether the web based learning community is emergent or designed, there is general consensus among the readings that it is dynamic in nature and evolves through nurturing conditions, much the same as learning occurs most effectively in face to face settings once icebreakers and friendships are formed.
Pratt (1999) cited in Ke & Hoadley (2009) define four stages of virtual community development:
(1) the initial phase,
(2) the conflict phase,
(3) the intimacy and work phase, and
(4) the termination phase.
And they go on to suggest that a learning community emerges only in phase 3––when language, learning practices, collaboration customs, and resources in the setting develop into an ideal state (Haythornthwaite et al. 2000).
I am in agreeance with this concept and am looking further into which Web 2.0 tools are more often used by both designers and users to facilitate the sense of community in OLCs.
No comments:
Post a Comment