bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn If you build it will they come? A model for sustainable online community networks for practitioners Helen Whitehead Liz Cable

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn Online community

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn Benefits… Exchange and interpretation of information Retain knowledge Steward competencies Creating artefacts Discovering commonalities Calling for advice Get feedback Document repository Problem solving

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn A model for a sustainable online community/network Expert Level Competition eCommerce Case-studies Learning Resources Expert Content Downloads Advertising Sponsorship Licensing Affiliation & Referrals PUBLIC content / EXPERT-authored MEMBER content / COMMUNITY-authoredPERSONAL content / SELF-authored Personal Level Control Customisation Creation Privacy Sub-Licensed Web Apps Widgets RSS feeds Records Blog File-store Community Level Collaboration Confidentiality Co-operation Contexts Discussion Events Participation Polls & Surveys Project Spaces Learning Spaces RESOURCES SELECTED FOR THE PERSONAL LEVEL PR EF ER EN CE S FIL TE R External Environment Internal EnvironmentPersonal Environment CONTENT RISES TO THE EXPERT LEVEL

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn Sustaining activities Expert Level Competition eCommerce Case-studies Learning Resources Expert Content Downloads Advertising Sponsorship Licensing Affiliation & Referrals PUBLIC content / EXPERT-authored MEMBER content / COMMUNITY-authoredPERSONAL content / SELF-authored Personal Level Control Customisation Creation Privacy Sub-Licensed Web Apps Widgets RSS feeds Records Blog File-store Community Level Collaboration Confidentiality Co-operation Contexts Discussion Events Participation Polls & Surveys Affiliation & Referrals Project Spaces Learning Spaces RESOURCES SELECTED FOR THE PERSONAL LEVEL PR EF ER EN CE S FIL TE R External Environment Internal EnvironmentPersonal Environment CONTENT RISES TO THE EXPERT LEVEL Editorial skills Facilitation skills Negotiation/tech

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn ELKS E-Learning and Knowledge-Sharing Community of expertise for learning technologies in HE

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn

Community – Forums Twitter information RSS – blogs wiki Co-creation of resources  Courses  Personal contacts  Self- promotion grants sponsorship Elluminate Reach Further Omnium Blog Twitter Plone Dissemination Good practice resources The model applied to ELKS

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn A community for The Unit small business incubator Park Lane College, Leeds

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn  Communication  Book conf. room  Cheap or free apps eg accounting  Training  Networking membership sponsorship practical in-context Social events Training Community – Drupal with forums Masterclasses User-generated content Shared business docs, photo gallery etc. Collaborative purchasing Marketing and promotion of the Unit Attracting new members and mentors Publicity for the businesses Enough free business start-up resources to attract members to join The model applied to business incubation community

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn About ELESIG ELESIG A Pathfinder Network Project funded by the Higher Education Academy elesig.ning.com Evaluation of Learners’ Experiences of E-Learning Special Interest Group

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn

The model applied to ELESIG Live chat/synchronous technology Ning community hub personal links blog feeds etc. case studies blog Facebook f2f events online events Pbwiki Twitter Oxford-Brookes wiki

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn 11 sec per visit

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn Discussions

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn Challenges Restrictions due to the choice of technologies to implement the model Defining the purpose and focus The importance of connecting the private and community levels to stimulate engagement Stakeholder involvement Different kinds of participants with different needs

bringing people together online – to share, to work, to learn Recommendations Appropriate choice of technology Active involvement by stakeholders esp. in early stages Employment of e-moderator(s) Good planning and project management Activities around each of the three areas Listen to the community! Build flexibility into both the model and the e-moderating processes that support it to adapt them for different purposes