ERIC Number: EJ801956
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1065-0741
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Identifying Success Factors of ICT in Developing a Learning Community: Case Study Charles Sturt University
Campbell, Matthew; Uys, Philip
Campus-Wide Information Systems, v24 n1 p17-26 2007
Purpose: A learning community has been developing in a distributed environment amongst the members of the Centre for Enhancing of Learning and Teaching (CELT) located in the Bathurst, Goulburn and Orange campuses of Charles Sturt University. This group is known by the acronym of GDMOB, with the purpose of the community to facilitate the professional development and learning of its members. To facilitate the learning ICT has been employed to enhance, through an improved sense of community and social presence of the more isolated members of the group, the learning of the members of the community. It is the intent of this paper to explore and identify factors that contribute to the successful implementation and use of ICT to enhance learning and the construction of a sense of community. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology used in this study was that of a case study with a questionnaire that used the reflections of members within the GDMOB and personal reflections of the authors, both of whom are active members of the community. The data were interpreted using an insider's perspective. The reflections of the members of the community were gained through the execution of an anonymous survey, through free form discussion as a collective group, and through observations of the interactions of the group. Findings: Three key factors have been identified in this study that contribute to the successful implementation and use of ICT to enhance learning and the construction of a sense of community; communication, culture and purpose. Research limitations/implications: This research is limited by the small size of the community being investigated, though it is argued that the ideas that emerge can be relevant to larger groups. This aspect needs further investigation. Originality/value: The paper reviews an emerging community of practice and provides reflections on the experience of moving from interactions that were purely face-to-face to a distributed and virtual community environment. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Community, Educational Practices, Information Technology, Computer Mediated Communication, Case Studies, Telecommunications, Professional Development, Program Implementation, Trust (Psychology)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A