What Are Learning Communities? (Examples, Types & Best ...

A learning community is a group of students with shared learning goals who collaborate and connect with one another. In a community of ... Menutoggle StartHere CreateYourCourse GrowYourBusiness EducateatScale CreatorStories ThinkificNews GetstartedwithThinkific Getstartedfree Skiptocontent InternetExplorerdoesn’tworkwellwithourwebsite.WerecommendusingadifferentbrowserlikeGoogleChrome.Therightcommunitycanbeasourceofsupport,connectionandmotivation–andalearningcommunityisnodifferent.Ifyouwanttogiveyourstudentsthechancetotaketheirlearningexperiencetothenextlevel,whilehelpingtogrowyourbusinessandboostyourbrandreach,it’stimetostartbuildingalearningcommunity.Findoutwhatisalearningcommunityandtheessentialelementsofanonlinecommunity.Whatisalearningcommunity?Alearningcommunityisagroupofstudentswithsharedlearninggoalswhocollaborateandconnectwithoneanother.Inacommunityoflearners,interactionsarebothpracticalandemotional.Learnersshareknowledgeandresources,aswellassupport,withemphasisonopen,cohesivecommunication.Herearesomeideastohelpyouunderstandwhatisalearningcommunity–andwhatitisn’t!Alearningcommunityisorcanbe…Agroupwithsharedgoals,motivationsandvaluesAplacetoshareideas,problemsandquestionsAspacefordiscussionAcollaborativeenvironmentAsourceofinspirationAnetworkoffellowstudentsandexperts Alearningcommunityisn’t… AschoolorprofessionalcommitteeJustasocialgroupAjobsboardormarketingplatformAsubstituteforformalteachingIfyou’restillfiguringoutwhatisalearningcommunity,thesearesomethingstohelpyoubetterunderstandwhatitisandwhatitisn’t.Usethisasyourguidelinestohelpyouunderstandwhattopromoteandwhattoavoidwhenbuildingalearningcommunity!Readmore:HowToCreateACohortBasedCourseThatStudentsLoveWhatisalearningcommunity:4examplesWithinthedefinitionofalearningcommunity,therearealsodifferentcategoriesoflearningcommunities.Thesecategoriesarebasedonthecommonalitiesbetweenlearnersandtheyusuallydependontheenvironmentwherethelearningcommunityisformed.Hereare4learningcommunityexamples:Interest-basedlearningcommunity:Oftencommunitiesoflearnerscometogetheraroundtheirsharedinterestsorpassions.Aninterest-basedlearningcommunitymightbebasedonsourdoughbreadorsportscarsoranythingelse!Whateveryourinterests,youcanfindorcreatealearningcommunityaroundit.Action-basedlearningcommunity:Peoplewhobelieveinacommoncausemightformanaction-basedlearningcommunitycenteredonactivitiesthathelptopromoteorfurthertheircause.Socialactivismgroupsthatrunlectures,createeducationalresourcesandorganizefundraisingeventsareoneexampleofanaction-basedlearningcommunity.Location-basedlearningcommunity:Forsomegroups,thecommonthreadintheirlearningcommunityislocation.Geographicallearningcommunitiesmightbecenteredonlearningmoreaboutlocalfloraandfaunaorthehistoryofthelocalarea,forinstance.Profession-basedlearningcommunity:Acommontypeoflearningcommunityisprofessionaldevelopmentcommunitiesaimedatbringingpeopleofaparticularprofessionaltogether.Membersmightshareadvice,opinionsorjustsupportoneanother.Anexampleofaprofessionallearningcommunityisjazzmusicianswhogettogethertosharetheirwork,providecritiqueandfeedbackandnetworkwithothermusicians.Theseexamplesshouldhelptogiveyouabetterideaofwhatisalearningcommunity–andsomeideasforbuildingyourownlearningcommunity. Readmore:HowtoBuildaCommunityofPractice(withExamples)KeygoalsofalearningcommunityEverylearningcommunitywillhavetheirownsharedgoalsbuiltaroundtheirspecificlearningjourney.Atthesametime,therearekeyelementsoflearningcommunitiesthathelptomakethemanenjoyableandrewardingenvironmentforstudents.Herearesomekeygoalsofalearningcommunity:SharedlearningAttheheartofanylearningcommunityistheaimtocreateaneffectivelearningspacethathelpslearnersachievetheirgoals.Inalearningcommunity,studentshavetheopportunitytosharethelearningprocesswiththeirpeers.Communitiessharethelearningprocess,thiscaninclude:BuildingsolutionsSharingresourcesFeedbackandcritiqueQuestions&AnswersTheseareallactivitiesthathappenwithinalearningcommunity,helpingmemberstolearntogetherandgettogripswiththelearningmaterial.ConnectednessAswellaslearningtogether,alearningcommunityisalsoaboutdevelopingconnectionsbetweenmembers.Thebestlearningcommunityenvironmentsarecollaborative,withopencommunicationthat’saimedatpromotingbetterlearning. Learnerscanshareideas,getemotionalsupportandhavefuntogether.It’snotjustanacademicspace,it’salsoasympatheticsocialspace.Related:It’sTimetoTapIntoTogethernesswithCommunitiesSupportInanylearningprocess,therewillbeupsanddowns.Aneffectivelearningcommunityalsoprovidessupportforitsmembers.Thiscanbebothacademicandemotionalsupport.Membersareabletoassistoneanotherandsharetheirproblems.Aswellasthesupportofotherstudents,learningcommunitiesalsoprovideaspaceforexpertstooffertheirsupporttoo.Thismightbeintheformofmentors,coachesorcourseleaderswhoactasmoderatorsinthecommunity. Thesupportthatlearningcommunitiescanofferstudentsnotonlyhelpstopromotemorethoroughandin-depthlearning,butitmakesthelearningprocesseasiertoo.Readmore:HowtoBuildanOnlineCommunityTheOnlineLearningCommunitymodelOnlinelearningrequiresaslightlydifferentlearningcommunitymodeltoin-personorblendedlearning,thankstobeingfullyremote.Toencouragecooperationandsocialinteractioninfullyonlinecourses,researchersattheFacultyofEducationattheUniversityofOntarioInstituteofTechnologydevelopedalearningcommunitymodelspeciallydesignedforonlinecourses.TheirFullyOnlineLearningCommunitymodelisbasedontheCommunityofInquirymodeldevelopedbyRandyGarrison,TerryAndersonandWalterArcherin2001.Itfollowstheideathatanyonlinecommunityoflearnersneedstwothings:SocialPresenceandCognitivePresence.Socialpresence Whenyoujoinanewgroup,it’snicetobeabletoshowyourfullpersonalitytothegroupmemberstoallowyoutobuildacloser,moremeaningfulconnection.YourSocialpresenceisdefinedasyourabilitytoprojectyourselfsociallyandemotionally–tobeseenasa‘realperson’.Socialpresenceincludes:CommunicationGroupcohesionCollaborationInanonlinelearningcommunity,itcanbehardertoshowyourfullpersonalitywhenyou’restuckbehindascreen.Digitaltechnologyistheprimarytoolforallsocialactivitiessoithastobeusedwell.Theonlinelearningcommunitymodelconsidershowtoimproveinteractionsbetweengroupmembersonline,helpinglearnerstofeelmoreconnectedwithoneanother. CognitivePresenceThesecondelementtotheonlinelearningcommunitymodelisCognitivePresence.Thisisthelearningportionofalearningcommunity–Cognitivepresencelooksattheabilityforlearnerstounderstandmaterialandconfirmwhatthey’velearnt.Cognitivepresenceincludes:ExplorationofproblemsProposingsolutionsChallengingand/orquestioning CognitivepresencecombinedwithSocialpresencearethetwoessentialelementsneededforanonlinelearningcommunitytobeeffective.ToolsforafullyonlinelearningcommunityTobuildanonlinelearningcommunitythatisgenuinelyusefulforlearners,it’simportanttohavesometoolsattheready.Therighttoolscanaidcommunicationandmakeiteasiertobuildasenseofconnectednessbetweencommunitymembers.Helpfultoolsinclude:Videoconferencingsoftwareeg.ZoomSocialmediagroupseg.FacebookChattingtoolseg.WhatsApporSlackOnlineCommunityPlatformseg.ThinkificThesetoolsallowstudentstocollaborateeasily–includingaskingquestions,sharingproblemsandday-to-daysocializingandchatting.Whycreatealearningcommunityforyourcourse? Therearemanybenefitstocreatingalearningcommunity,especiallyifyou’reacoursecreator.Fromboostingyourbrandreputationtoencouragingfeedback,herearesomeofthereasonstoconsiderbuildingalearningcommunityaroundyourcourse.GrowyournetworkAnonlinelearningcommunityisn’tjustawaytokeepintouchwithstudentsandencouragemoreengagement–it’salsoagreatwaytogrowyourprofessionalnetwork.Encouragemembersofyourlearningcommunitytorefertheirfriendstothecommunityorsharecommunitypostswiththeirfollowers. Withthesemethods,youcanquicklygrowyourcoursecommunitynetwork,nopaidadsneeded!It’salsoaneffectivewaytogeneratehigh-qualityleadsthatwillbeeasiertoconvertintopayingcustomersdowntheline.BoostyourbrandreputationWhenyou’reacoursecreator,aswellascreatingincrediblecontent,youalsohavetoconsideryourbusiness’brand.Thisishowpotentialcustomerswillspotyouinthecrowdandgettoknowyourproducts. Alearningcommunityisagreattooltobuildupyourbrandreputation.Ifyouhaveanactivegroupofengagedandenthusiasticlearners,youcanusethisasasellingpointforyourbusiness.Peoplewanttoknowthatotherpeoplearealreadyenjoyingyourcourse–andyourlearningcommunityisareallyeffectivewaytodemonstratethat.Takingtimetobuildyourlearningcommunitycanallowyoutoboostyourbrandreputationandconvinceotherlearnerstojoinyourtribe.Afterall,whowouldn’twanttobepartofahappy,supportive,sociablecommunityright?ImprovecustomerloyaltyIfyoucancreateaclose-knitlearningcommunityaroundyourcourse,youcanalsoincreasecustomerloyaltyforyourbrand.Havingalearningcommunityasacustomertouchpointisagreatwaytogetrepeatsalesfromcustomers.Oncetheyareapartofyourcommunity,youcancontinuetoselltostudentsevenafterthey’vecompletedacourse. Aswellasgeneratingnewleads,youcanuseyourlearningcommunitytointroducenewproductstoyourexistingcustomers.Thisisespeciallyeffectiveifyouhavecoursesthatbuildonpreviouscoursecontent.Forinstance,encouragegraduatesofyour‘beginners’coursetosignupforthe‘advanced’coursenext.Thisnotonlyaddsvaluetoyourstudents–itcanboostyourrevenuetoo!CollectfeedbackfromstudentsThebestcoursecreatorsknowthattheircoursecontentisneverperfect–there’salwaysmoreyoucando!Oneofthemajorbenefitsofcreatingalearningcommunityaroundyourbrandisthatit’seasiertocollectandcollatecustomerfeedback.Encouragelearnerstoprovidereviewsandtestimonialsforyourcourse,aswellasfilloutregularfeedbackforms.Youcanthenuseallthatdatatoimproveyourcoursecontentandmakethestudentexperienceevenbetter.Anactivecommunityoflearnersaremorelikelytoprovidefeedbackandthey’llreallyappreciateyoulisteningtotheiropinions.Thinkifichasbuilt-incommunitytoolsthatmakeiteasytocreateanonlinelearningcommunityrightoffthebat,aswellascollectingfeedbackandencouragingbrandloyalty–findoutmorehere.3thingstowatchoutforWhilecreatingalearningcommunityiseasy–somearenotasgoodasothers.Researchintowhysomelearningcommunitiesfailintheiraimshasrevealed3factorsthatcanaffectthesuccessofalearningcommunity. Herearethethingstowatchoutfor:ToonarrowfocusWhileit’sgoodtohaveaclearfocusforyourlearningcommunity,whenalearningcommunityfailsit’softenbecausethefocusistoonarrow.Whentoomanylimitsareplacedonthescopeofalearningcommunity,itcanlackimpact.Learnershaveadiverserangeofneedsandinterestswithinyourcentraltopic–yourlearningcommunityshouldbeabletoembracethatandencourageit.NotenoughsupportAnylearningcommunityisonlyasgoodasthesupportitprovidesstudents.Mostlearningcommunitiesneedastrong,supportivenetworkofmentorsandothercommunitymemberstohelpstudentsprogressandachievetheiraims.Whenalearningcommunitylacksthissupport,it’satriskoffailing.Toboostsupportinyourlearningcommunity,tryappointingdedicatedmentorsorcoachestohelpstudentswhoarestruggling.Youcouldalsoincentivizeactivityinthegroupbyrewardingpeoplewhoanswerothers’questions.LimitedcommunicationCloselylinkedtothesupportavailablewithinalearningcommunity,istheissueofcommunication.Foralearningcommunitytowork,thereneedstobeacultureofcollaborationandcooperationinthecommunity.Ifmembersdon’thaveenoughtime,motivationortoolstoenableeffectivecollaboration,itcanbehardtoachievetheoriginalaimsofthecommunity.Formanycoursecreators,theearlydaysofalearningcommunitywillprobablyinvolvemoreinputfromyouoryourteamtobuilduptheatmosphereofcommunication.Tryposingquestions,runningpollsandevenofferingcompetitionstoboostengagementandcommunicationinyourgroup.Buildingastrong,supportivelearningcommunitytakesplanningandtime.Butwiththerighttools,youcancreateaspacethathelpsyourlearnersachievetheirgoals.Nowyouknowallaboutlearningcommunities–trymakingyourown!Ifyou’vecreatedanonlinecourseoryou’reintheprocessrightnow,don’thesitatetobuildalearningcommunityforyourstudents.Learningcommunitiesareareallyeffectivewaytoboostengagementinyourcourseandimprovetheoveralllearningexperiencewhilehavingsomemajorplusesforyourbrandtoo.Ofcourse,youdon’tneedtostopatjustonelearningcommunity–youcancreateasmanyasyouwantorneed.JoinThinkific’slearningcommunitydedicatedtocoursecreatorsorsignupforourProPlantogetstartedwithyourownlearningcommunityrightaway!Sharethisarticle Colin Burton ColinisaContentMarketeratThinkific,writingabouteverythingfromonlineentrepreneurship&coursecreationtodigitalmarketingstrategy. MostPopular HowToUseWebinarsToPromoteYourCourses(CompleteGuide) HowtoCreateaSalesFunneltoSellOnlineCourses(SalesFunnelTemplate) Udemy’sPricingModel:HowToUseItToYourAdvantageAsAnOnlineCourseCreator HowtoBuildaPersonalBrand(CompleteGuide) Thinkific.com RelatedArticles CreateYourCourse-22minread 14WaysToProtectYourIntellectualProperty(OnlineCourseVideos&Conte... Nocoursecreatorwantstoseesomeoneelsestealtheircontent.Hereare14tipstohelpyouprotecttheintellectualpropertyinyouronlinecourses. bySarahCordiner GrowYourBusiness-5minread OnlineCourseMarketingwithYouTube–IncreasingExposure IncreasingyourexposureandonlinecoursesaleswithYouTubeNote–thisispart2 ofaseriesofresourcesabout… byGregSmith CreateYourCourse-7minread 4StepsToValidatingAndSellingYourOnlineCourse LearnMichaelMarcial’sframeworkforvalidatingyourcoursecontent,andunderstandingtheneedsofyouraudiencebeforesellingyourprogram. byEliseAsanias MostPopular HowToUseWebinarsToPromoteYourCourses(CompleteGuide) HowtoCreateaSalesFunneltoSellOnlineCourses(SalesFunnelTemplate) Udemy’sPricingModel:HowToUseItToYourAdvantageAsAnOnlineCourseCreator HowtoBuildaPersonalBrand(CompleteGuide) Thinkific.com TryThinkificforyourself!AccomplishyourcoursecreationandstudentsuccessgoalsfasterwithThinkific. Pleaseenteravalidemail GetStartedFree Startfree.Nocreditcardrequired. Downloadthisguideandstartbuildingyouronlineprogram! Thankyou! Itisonitswaytoyourinbox Downloadtheguide