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How to Create Active and Effective
Virtual Learning Communities
Virtual learning communities (VLCs) are emerging as alternatives to classroom-based, face-to-face, instructor-led training. They are similar to “communities of practice” but are not based around a particular profession or set of practices. Rather, they are based on the desire of participants in the community to learn from each other.
While it is relatively easy to set up the software for initiating and maintaining an online community, the hard work is sustaining it for the long-term. Community organizers need to be aware of the stages of developing the community, the various types of participants who join a community, and the kinds of activities that will engage members and keep them active within the community.
Written by Gary Woodill, Ed.D., Director of Research and Analysis at Brandon Hall Research, "Building and Fostering Virtual Learning Communities" provides the key information you need to understand and foster virtual learning communities within your organization.
This report is divided into four parts:
Part One establishes the background context and significance of virtual learning communities, with working definitions of important concepts you need to know to begin building and fostering virtual learning communities in your organization.
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Part Two considers some of the most important findings of recent research on virtual learning communities and examines both the business drivers for VLCs and the effectiveness/benefits/impact of VLCs.
Part Three reviews the literature on the effectiveness of virtual learning communities and discusses issues that can arise.
Part Four discusses the
resources needed to begin developing and sustaining your own
VLC. Resources include Tools and Technologies, Web Sites,
Blogs, and Conferences.
Extensive evidence suggests that effective learning communities provide important benefits for learners and their organizations. Apart from significant gains in learning, benefits include reducing isolation, enhancing collegiality, increasing job satisfaction, and instituting new approaches to solving problems.
This report is also available through
a membership to the Brandon
Hall Research Library. |
