Education for a Digital World Advice, Guidelines and Effective Practice from Around Globe, 2008a

30 – Supporting E-learning through Communities of Practice
GENERAL
• Select tools that match your specific community requirements
and context. There is no single ideal
community platform, so plan for a good foundation
to build as new uses and needs emerge.
• Document observations in the community.
• Support movement between communities.
• Avoid heaping in lots of content. Rather, model how
it can be done and encourage members to contribute.
• Begin working on your own research needs early on.
What should you keep track of? What type of agreement
do you need with your members to conduct research?
• Research new communication technologies and
trends both outside and inside your community. Be
creative and responsive in experimenting with tools
to support community activities.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
• Identify an existing gap or need for the target
stakeholders (e.g., needs assessment of Co-op students).
• Establish an overall vision or value statement to meet
the target stakeholders’ needs.
• Actively involve the development team from the inception
of the idea to create a community, including
participation in brainstorming activities.
• Elicit input about specific needs / requirements / wishes
from the stakeholders. Conduct surveys with the
stakeholders pertaining to topics for the learning
modules and the types of activities they would find
useful in an online community.
• Involve stakeholders in planning, design, development,
and implementation of the online community.
• Ensure that resources are in place for the project. (This
is not an initiative done on the side of one’s desk.)
• Build enthusiasm and excitement both internally and
externally so that everyone feels they have contributed
towards, believes in, and is committed.
• Maintain ongoing project evaluation.
• Monitor and analyze stakeholders’ use patterns and
satisfaction levels.
• Ensure resources are in place to implement future
technical upgrades and development changes as the
community grows.
WHO CAN HELP? (HUMAN RESOURCES)
• A development team with multiple perspectives and
roles, i.e., Co-operative Education staff, disciplinespecific
Co-operative Education coordinators, learning
designer, instructional designer, experience designer,
programmers and systems administrators,
intellectual property coordinator, editors, new media
designer, project managers, facilitators, and most importantly,
students’ (Co-op and work-study) involvement
in planning, hosting, moderating, and
providing input and feedback.
WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE NEEDED?
• An online community platform with content management
and discussion capabilities
• Server and back-up
WHAT FUNDING IS NEEDED?
• Funding for the multitude of staff roles and expertise,
i.e., a community coordinator, community host,
marketing materials, and promotional events and
prizes, as well as funds to ensure the continued development
of existing and new features.
HOW DO I PLAN?
• Identify the overall scope for the online community
and different phases as needed.
• Allocate extra time for testing, launching, and unforeseen
events.
• Provide promotional items to departments, internally
and externally.
• Secure support and buy-in from stakeholders (key for
success).
• Ensure that orientations and training are part of the
plan. Allot generous time for training.
• Identify milestones within the scope of the online
community plan and celebrate accomplishments.
• Conduct a phased-launch approach whereby you
advertise then launch the online community to one
group of stakeholders at a time to assess their interactions
and uses, etc.
• Dedicate a minimum of one full-time staff member/student
to administer/monitor the online community.
• Expect that it will take time for the online community
concept to take root, and even longer for stakeholders to
engage with the online community. Ensure you indicate
the direct value each stakeholder group may experience.
OUTLINE THE KEY STEPS IN THE DELIVERY OF
THE ONLINE COMMUNITY
• Plan events and promotions (marketing plan).
• Ensure necessary resources are in place to support
and maintain the online community.
• As much as possible, make the delivery of the online
community appear seamless to the target group.
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