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Knowledge Sharing Using Virtual Communities of Practice
PROCEEDINGS

, , , Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa ; , Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Swaziland

E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ISBN 978-1-880094-90-7 Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), San Diego, CA

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Abstract

Since instructors are seldom available for consultation, the alternative for learners is to turn to knowledgeable peers for knowledge sharing. This paper argues that virtual communities of practice (VCoP) can facilitate interaction and knowledge sharing amongst mobile learners as they traverse varied learning contexts. Verbal and textual interaction among peers is fundamental for the provision of personalized learning. To this point, learners’ social network ought to move with the learners, and a VCoP is seen to have this realized. This paper unravels the factors that facilitate and influence VCoPs for knowledge sharing, concluding that, awareness of knowledgeable peers (social presence) is a key characteristic for VCoPs. Using Activity Theory as a lens, and informed empirical evidence gathered through a Contextual Inquiry method, this paper investigates the factors needed to be in place for mobile learners in a South African university to be afforded knowledge sharing through VCoPs.

Citation

Tsela, D., Kekwaletswe, R., Matsebula, F. & Howe, E. (2011). Knowledge Sharing Using Virtual Communities of Practice. In C. Ho & M. Lin (Eds.), Proceedings of E-Learn 2011--World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education (pp. 458-466). Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved August 7, 2024 from .

© 2011 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)