WEEK #1: EIDT 6510

How do online learning communities significantly impact both student learning and satisfaction within online courses?

In online communities, students are able to share knowledge and experiences with one another as well as the instructor, who facilitates and is an active participant in the community.  Additionally, members of the community can foster the creation of new knowledge through questioning, challenging, and refining.  The community helps to engage the learner rather than isolate them.

What are the essential elements of online community building?

Drs. Pratt and Palloff (Laureate Education, 2010), list people, purpose, process, method, and social presence as the essential elements of online community building 

How can online learning communities be sustained?

One of the ways that online communities can be sustained is through active participation of both learners and the instructors.  Instructors should educate learners on what role they will play in the community and what the community rules will be.  It should be stressed that the community and resulting learning will only be as good as the contributions that are made by all members

What is the relationship between community building and effective online instruction?

Community building results in more effective online instruction because there is learner-to-learner engagement.

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2010). Online learning communities [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.walden.edu