Online learning communities (OLC)
- Peer to peer learning that occurs over the internet.
- Online learning communities (or virtual learning communities or networked learning communities) are learning communities that are computer-mediated by interconnected computers
- Groups of students and faculty connected solely via technology. All interactions begin and occur over the Internet, through conference calls, via videoconferencing, and so forth.
- Online learning communities are comprised of people brought together with a definite purpose, generally the completion of a course and/or program, and guided by processes that involve interaction, collaboration, and social construction of knowledge and meaning (Palloff & Pratt, 2007)
- Learning communities fostered through utilization of Internet technologies.
Online learning communities are created through :
- virtual teaming and multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs) etc.
Necessity of online learning communities for remote learning
distance education both at home and abroad is highly demanding, conflicting schedule to attend the face-to-face mode of education for the working professionals.
- provide access and quality in higher education to the wide range of people through open and distance learning mode.
- e-library (e-repository and e-resources) for distance and online mode of higher education.
- professional and non-academic courses as continuing education for the adults.
- professionals in e-learning, e-pedagogy and e-education
- conduct research, seminars, conferences with a particular focus on distance education, blended learning, technology integration and life-long learning
