Online Learning Community
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How do online learning communities significantly impact both student learning and satisfaction within online courses?
As distance learning becomes more popular and more cost efficient for schools we will continue to see the number of students enrolled in such courses increase. In a online learning experience students and instructors must work together to investigate and make sense of the content (Laureate Education, n.d.). In an online education setting students are not face to face with the instructor and other students to take notes and interact. This interaction has been replaced by the online learning community. In an online course students must do more reading, writing, thinking, reflecting and sharing learners (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010, p.7).
Hill and Raven (2000) found high dropout rates and dissatification was directly linked to the lack of an educational community in the online course. It is clear that a solid learning community is essential to keeping students enrolled. The sense of community keeps students engaged and working in the course. The degree that students are satisfied with the learning community has a direct relationship to their learning. If students feel that they are left out and not part of a community will lead to students dissatisifaction with the course and possibly online learning in general.
What are the essential elements of online community building?
/>The power of learning in the online community is the student to student learning. In order for this to occurr students need to interact with each other and not just the instructor (Laureate Education, n.d.). The instructor is no longer the giver of information but takes on a role of facilitator and monitor of learning and community interaction. Vesley, Bloom and Sherlock came up with five essential elements for an online community
1) A sense of shared purpose
2) Establishment of boundaries defining who is a member and who is not
3) Establishment and enforcement of rules/policies regarding community behavior
4) Interaction among members, and
5) A level of trust, respect and support among community members
It is important that members of an online community share a common purpose and understand the objectives of the course. There needs to be clear expectation for students on the way to interact and what is expected in their interactions. Students also need a chance to collaborate and work with other students online. Community building needs to start from day one in order for students to become aquainted, feel like a member of the community and work together to learn the content expected.
How can online learning communities be sustained?
/>An online community is a fluid situation. Sustaining a learning community requires effective and continuous interaction among the group members. The instructors needs to take on a role of facilitator and observer to make sure that everyone is participating and that the interactions are appropriate and move the learning forward. It is also important that the instructor takes time to learn who there students are. Learning styles and experiences lead to the types of work and interaction that will be most effective as a learning tool for each student.
What is the relationship between community building and effective online instruction?
The interactions in the learning community need to be effective learning tools. It is important that the course designs activities and assignments that will require and promote effective interactions and collaborations between the students. Instructors need to plan activities in such a way that a indepth team project is not thrown out to students before they have the time to create that sense of community. It is also impostant to not design a course where there is little interaction at all.
References
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. M. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Hill, J and Raven, A. (2000).Online learning communities, if you build them they will stay. retrieved fromhttp://itforum.coe.uga.edu/paper46/paper46.htm
Laureate Education. (n.d.). Online Learning Communities [Video podcast]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1971765_1%26url%3D
Vesley, P., Bloom, L., and Sherlock, J (2007) Key elements of building online community: comparing faculty
and student perceptions retrieved from http://jolt.merlot.org/vol3no3/vesely.htm
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