Web-based Learning Solutions for Communities of Practice

lowing synchronous update of both Compendium
and CoPe_it! spaces. In this scenario, virtual and
traditional communities can work together in
synchronicity on the same project or collaborative
knowledge work, with different means but in
a unique hybrid environment. This is a suitable
environment for HCoP, hybrid Communities of
Practice in which members can:
1. Shift continuously between virtual and real
world environments
2. Simultaneously discuss, modify and produce
knowledge objects in a whole hybrid space
of collaboration.
This type of integration provides HCoP’s
members with a new collaboration space in which
they have the opportunity to perform collaborative
argumentation at various level and in diverse
(virtual/non-virtual) groups and contexts.
The Integration Project
We implemented the third scenario and we allowed
both sides import export of Compendium maps
and CoPe_it! workspaces. This scenario has been
realized relying on the second technical solution
by allowing knowledge exchange in batch mode
through XML export/import.
As previously discussed we had to establish
specific conversion rules in particular for nodes
types, links, documents and reference objects.
In the next figures we show the equivalence
between CoPe_it!-Compendium icons. All
CoPe_it! icons have an equivalent in Compendium
environment. The icons are slightly different but
they have an intuitive meaning (Figure 2). On the
contrary some Compendium nodes, such as question
nodes, list nodes, map nodes, decision nodes
and pro and con nodes, have not an equivalent in
CoPe_it! desktop view. Thereby we associated all
these node types to a ‘comment’ node in CoPe_it!
(Figure 3). This complicates the information
transfer from Compendium to CoPe_it! and some
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Supporting Communities of Practice by Advancing Knowledge Management
information are lost in the transfer. About the
links labels and link colors, they are respected in
information transer. Moreover the XML import/
export has been designed so that nodes maintain
the same XY coordinate on the video canvas.
Despite the described differences, results of
application shows that Compendium and CoPe_it!
integration allowed to create almost identical maps
thus preventing misleading interpretation and
minimizing the information lost in the information
exchange process. In example Figure 4 represent
the results of an import of a Compendium map in
CoPe_it workspace.
As we see in the image, knowledge objects like
statements, narratives, images, documents can be
represented in the same position, with similar icons
(exception made for the question icon, which is
not supported by CoPe_it!). In essence, CoPe_it!
makes some Compendium features available on
line so that off-line and on line discussion can
happen in a unique hypermedia discourse (Buckingham
Shum 2007). In the following sections
we will give an examples of how the two tools
can be used to perform collaborative works in a
real case study.
A CASE STUDY: TESTING COPE_IT!-
COMPENDIUM INTEGRATION WITH
A COMMUNITY OF FARMERS
A case study has been driven in the environmental
planning field in order to test the integration
performances and the users reactions to the use
of CoPe_it!.
Compendium and CoPe_it! have been used by
a community of farmers to discuss about issues
concerning the organization of a new biological
production. In particular Compendium maps describing
some CoP meetings and activities have
been imported in CoPe_it! workspaces in order
to trigger on-line at distance discussion between
CoP members. In the following sub paragraphs
we first describe the case study and the CoP