Answer: Consider what would be needed to create an ideal digital learning community. What would be needed to bring such a vision to fruition? What can one do to make an existing DLC more attractive to and welcoming for students and teachers?
After completing the previous lesson on joining Digital Learning Communities, I realized that in a way I'm part of a few other DLCs that I not previously considered. These include local DLCs in my district, such as the FITE Club (Floyd County Instructional Technology Educators) as well as a few groups that I follow on social media, such as Standards Based Learning and Grading on Facebook. These are in addition to those shared on my social bookmarking link.
Reflecting on why I joined and continue to be part of these groups, I began to consider what would make an ideal DLC and how to make it welcoming for other learners. Here's what I've come up with (so far):
Existing DLCs can incorporate any of these to better serve the needs of their users and to make the DLC more attractive and welcoming to new users. In recommending a few others:
After completing the previous lesson on joining Digital Learning Communities, I realized that in a way I'm part of a few other DLCs that I not previously considered. These include local DLCs in my district, such as the FITE Club (Floyd County Instructional Technology Educators) as well as a few groups that I follow on social media, such as Standards Based Learning and Grading on Facebook. These are in addition to those shared on my social bookmarking link.
Reflecting on why I joined and continue to be part of these groups, I began to consider what would make an ideal DLC and how to make it welcoming for other learners. Here's what I've come up with (so far):
1. The ideal DLC is open, but closely monitored and moderated.
DLCs should provide digital citizens equal opportunity to engage and interact with others who share similar interests or who are solving similar problems. Those who wish to join the community should be able to do so, but all content and posts should be monitored and moderated to protect the integrity of the community. Inappropriate posts/content or inappropriate behavior should result in the removal of the content and possibly the user.2. The ideal DLC is accessible across all devices and browsers.
Citizens in the community should be able to access the community (and ideally, the resources it hosts) regardless of the type of device they are connected with and the browser they are using. While a username and password should be implemented to ensure the security of the site, users should not be required to download specific software or create specific accounts in order to sign in or view the general content. For example, content provided by the community should be in formats such as PDFs and MP4s that are generally viewable on all devices, rather than device-specific formats such as .DOCx or .WMV that have to be viewed in specific programs or converted.3. The ideal DLC is supported by credible educational institutions.
This meets several needs of the users in the community. It ensures that learners are connected with experts in their field of interest. Those experts provide (or at least review) content to ensure it is reliable and credible information. It ensures that users who wish to pursue higher learning in these areas are given avenues of exploration both for their content and for institutions that provide degrees or programs in advanced education.4. The ideal DLC fosters collaboration.
Engagement and participation will only take place in the community where users feel safe doing so. Digital citizens will be given opportunities to try and fail and be supported during both. They will feel comfortable requesting help from others, both experts in their field of interest and from others who are learning alongside them. They will also feel comfortable giving help because they have had the opportunity, through success and failure, to develop mastery. Sharing is an essential part of a DLC.5. The ideal DLC is responsive to change.
The community must be responsive to needs of community. As interests change or as new problems arise, the community must shift to meet these new needs. This requires timely content that is up-to-date and based in current research. This also requires an ongoing expansion of sources for content and of leaders to help support the learning. The ideal DLC is also responsive to changes in technology. As new/better technologies emerge, the DLC will evolve to incorporate new technologies that are in the best interest of their members.Existing DLCs can incorporate any of these to better serve the needs of their users and to make the DLC more attractive and welcoming to new users. In recommending a few others:
- Do an audit of the content to determine when it was last updated.
- Review the persons and institutions that the DLC connects users to and determine if and how it could be expanded.
- If the ability to comment or share is not provided to users, then it should be incorporate.
- Incorporate the popular features such as "like" and "share" that are so popular on social media, as these build confidence in users and make them more active in the discussions.
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