This paper presents a framework developed to monitor the evolution of learning communities intended as open communities of peers, tutors, and mentors from industry and academia. The proposed framework is described through a case study that provides empirical evidence of the benefits of studying learning communities by observing group dynamics and detecting individual trends. It has been applied to observe and supervise a learning community built around a Master’s Program intended to create e-Business Solutions Engineers. The framework is based on two dimensions of analysis: the individual growth and the team growth. The first is function of personal development and satisfaction, while the second depends on social networking dynamics and cooperative content creation. The analysis of data, collected through ten months of exchanged e-mails and five monthly web-surveys, has been validated through interviews to the Program’s coordinator and the Program Director, as well as through the involvement of academic and industrial partners in the formal assessment of the learners’ performance.
Discovering The Hidden Dynamics of Learning Communities
GRIPPA, FRANCESCA;CORALLO, Angelo;PASSIANTE, Giuseppina
2010-01-01
Abstract
This paper presents a framework developed to monitor the evolution of learning communities intended as open communities of peers, tutors, and mentors from industry and academia. The proposed framework is described through a case study that provides empirical evidence of the benefits of studying learning communities by observing group dynamics and detecting individual trends. It has been applied to observe and supervise a learning community built around a Master’s Program intended to create e-Business Solutions Engineers. The framework is based on two dimensions of analysis: the individual growth and the team growth. The first is function of personal development and satisfaction, while the second depends on social networking dynamics and cooperative content creation. The analysis of data, collected through ten months of exchanged e-mails and five monthly web-surveys, has been validated through interviews to the Program’s coordinator and the Program Director, as well as through the involvement of academic and industrial partners in the formal assessment of the learners’ performance.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
