Abstract:
Now that the educational significance of learning
communities is increasingly well recognised and means
are available to make interactions possible electronically,
on large scales, there are growing opportunities to
research, understand and enhance the functioning of such
communities. However, whilst incorporation of
communities is often theoretically justified, learning
outcomes are seldom examined to see if such principles
are actually borne out. Here, I report briefly on a special
case of the use of communities within an e-learning
environment, considering their worth not only as a matter
of academic interest but also for student participants
themselves in their distinctive circumstances. I conclude
by discussing briefly some strategic and conceptual
implications of this work for e -learning communities.
