Quentin Jones (1997) Virtual communities, virtual settlements and cyber-archaeology: a theoretical outline JCMC 3(3) Defining a cyber-settlement and a virtual community Cyber settlement is a cyber-place that is symbolically delineated by a topic of interest and within which a significant proportion of interrelated group-CMC occurs. A virtual community is a set of social relationships forged […]
Haythornthwaite, C., Kazmer, M. M., Robins, J. and Shoemaker, S. (2000) Community development among distance learners: temporal and technological dimensions JCMC, 6 (1) Student quotes include this: “I’ll have to tell you that it has been one of the most stressful times in my whole life… I started to have a lot of anxiety…. Just […]
Haythornthwaite, C. (1998) A social network study of the growth of community among distance learners Information Research, 4, 1 * Communication frequency is associated with the maintenance of more relations and the use of more media. * Patterns of media use are highly influenced by the media established by the instructor for class interaction * […]
This is an analytical approach I could consider using. It might be useful for Gill as well? Social network theory holds that behaviour is affected more by the kinds of ties and networks in which people are involved than by the norms and attributes that individuals possess. It examines patterns of ties to see what […]
I had this under another entry, but it became a major issue, so I’ve moved it to its own posting. Interesting about Ostrom is that she is looking at successful communities. What makes a learning community successful? Its learners are inspired? All learners construct some knowledge? Knowledge is constructed? All students pass the course? All […]
Back in 1994, Mike Godwin drew up these principles for making virtual communities work: * use software that promotes good discussion * Don’t impose a length limitation on postings * Front-load your system with talkative, diverse people * Let the users resolve their own disputes * Provide institutional memory * Promote continuity * Be host […]
Now I’m reading a piece by Peter Kollock. I think it was a conference paper, as it’s quite short. He looks at theories of community which could be applied to internet communities. Looking at them, I think i shows that the theory was generally wrong – these aren’t guidelines for all types of community as […]
Ruth got back to me fairly quickly and now I have a useful reference to follow up. Hello Rebecca — I’m glad that you found my research interesting. Yes, it was based on my Ph.D. dissertation which is in the University of Nebraska at Lincoln library. It is also available through ProQuest which can be […]
Why did I find it necessary to say I was a first year? Dear Dr Brown, I am a first-year PhD student in the UK, researching social presence and the development of online learning communities. I have just finished reading your JALN article ‘The process of community-building in distance learning classes’, which I found very […]
I’ve decided to make a point of emailing researchers when I have read their article and found it useful. This was recommended in U500 last year, and seems like a good idea. Apart from the fact that they might get back to me with some useful ideas or references, it also helps me to fix […]