Theories of participation in online learning communities: an intersectional understanding. (1st January 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaldemark, Jimmy
• Is Part Of: International journal of Web based communities. Volume 8:Number 3(2012)
• Page Start: 375
• Page End: 388
• Publication Date: 2012-01-01
• Subjects: design -- interaction -- intersection -- learning -- learning communities -- online communities -- online learning communities -- transaction -- online courses -- participation -- web-based communities; Online social networks -- Periodicals; Social media -- Periodicals; World Wide Web -- Periodicals; 302.30285
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-8394

Abstract

This article deals with the question of how participation in online learning communities can be understood. Starting from the idea that participation in such communities has an intersectional character; it investigates how understanding of this character of participation relates to different rhetoric. Such rhetoric is discussed as being either interactional or transactional. The discussion links the application of rhetoric to both human beings and non-human objects such as content and technologies. The article concludes that application of a dualistic interactional rhetoric is suitable to a narrow conceptualisation and design of participation in online learning communities. However, a non-dualistic transactional rhetoric is suitable if a wider conceptualisation and design of participation in online learning communities is sought. An example from the healthcare sector is used to illustrate how the ideas discussed in the article could be applied to designing for participation in online learning communities.