Community of learning: Difference between revisions
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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 [[Socio-constructivism | socially-constructed]] learning. | 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 [[Socio-constructivism | socially-constructed]] learning. | ||
*[http://www.tact.fse.ulaval.ca/fr/html/prj-7.1/communy2.html An attempt at a longer, more thorough definition] | |||
==Types of learning communities== | ==Types of learning communities== | ||
Revision as of 10:26, 12 July 2006
Definition
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.
Types of learning communities
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.
- 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.
Online learning communities
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.