Title: Learning spaces, context and auto/biography in online learning communities

Authors: Vivien E. Hodgson

Addresses: Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster, LA1 4YX, UK

Abstract: The paper suggests that Online Learning Communities (OLC) can be considered as learning spaces which participants occupy and at the same time by which individual and collective identities are constructed. Some of the processes that contribute to an OLC learning space becoming experienced as a curriculum and pedagogical learning space of open and participative dialogue are described in the paper. The importance in these processes of participants| establishing an identity and finding a voice within the process of constructing and defining the learning space of an online learning community is identified as a key factor.

Keywords: learning communities; learning context; learning spaces; online learning; autobiography; biography; web based communities; virtual communities; open dialogue; participative dialogue; e-learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2008.017670

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2008 Vol.4 No.2, pp.159 - 172

Published online: 26 Mar 2008 *

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