The document discusses the creation of e-learning communities of practice (eLCoPs) through Web 2.0 technologies, emphasizing user engagement and collective intelligence. It defines communities of practice as informal, self-organizing groups that facilitate knowledge sharing and collective learning, while highlighting the shift towards learner agency and connectivism in education. The implications of eLCoPs extend to knowledge transfer and interdisciplinary connections within society.

1. If They Build It, They Will Come: Creating Opportunities for E-learning Communities of Practice Keith Kirkwood The University of Melbourne Australia Language and Learning Skills Unit http://slideshare.net/sitkasitchensis/if-they-build-it-they-will-come

2. Outline of Talk Web 2.0 Communities of Practice (CoPs) E-learning Communities of Practice (ElCoPs) Platforms for ElCoPs to emerge

3. Web 2.0 – creative control Blogs Technorati Wikis Wikipedia RSS feeds Feedster Tagging/bookmarking del.icio.us , Stumbleupon Social networking Facebook , Studentface Semantic Web Eurekster Swiki , Me. dium

4. “ Continual beta, engaging users as co-developers, and principles of harnessing collective intelligence.” -- Mazurek (in O'Reilly, 2006b, n.p.)

5. Communities of Practice - CoPs Informal, bottom-up, fluid groupings of people who share a common practice. Self-organizing and self-regulating Knowledge sharing Neither a team nor a network

6. “ A community of practice exists because it produces a shared practice as members engage in a collective process of learning”. --Etienne Wenger (1998, n.p.)

7. Supporting Pedagogies Constructivism and Constructionism : Learner agency Learners construct artefacts Learners construct knowledge Social interaction Connectivism (Siemens 2006): Knowledge rests in the network Learning fluid and multi-focused traditional lecture not current enough Changing nature of knowledge-making Recognize patterns, make connections, contextualization

8. Web 2.0 + CoPs + Connectivism Informal communities Network-generated information User-created content Knowledge-making and knowledge-sharing Openness: BlackBoard vs. Desire2Learn copyright control vs. Creative Commons journal database access fees vs. MIT OCW Project, MERLOT, PLoS

9. E-learning CoPs: Networked self-managing Learning Communities

10. Broader Implications Communities of enquiry Communities of research Interdisciplinary connections Knowledge transfer to society If they build it…reinvigorate a desire 2 learn

11. References Jafari, A., McGee, P., & Carmean, C. (2006). Managing Courses, Defining Learning: What Faculty, Students, and Administrators Want [Electronic Version]. Educause Review , 41, 50-71. Retrieved 4 November 2006 from http://www.educause.edu/apps/er/erm06/erm0643.asp . O'Reilly, T. (2006b). Web 2.0 Principles and Best Practices [Weblog Entry]. O'Reilly® Radar. 07 November 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2006 from http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2006/11/web_20_principl_1.html . Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age [Electronic Version]. elearnspace . Retrieved 2 November 2006 from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm . http://www. elearnspace . org/media/Connectivism_IOC/player .html Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of Practice: Learning as a Social System [Electronic Version], no pagination. Retrieved 5 November 2006 from http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/lss.shtml Wenger, E., White, N., Smith, J. D., & Rowe, K. (2005). Technology for communities [Electronic Version] from http: //technologyforcommunities .com/ .