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A methodological framework to monitor the performance of virtual learning communities
Author(s) -
Corallo Angelo,
Maggio Marco De,
Grippa Francesca,
Passiante Giuseppina
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
human factors and ergonomics in manufacturing and service industries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.408
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1520-6564
pISSN - 1090-8471
DOI - 10.1002/hfm.20205
Subject(s) - knowledge management , function (biology) , key (lock) , computer science , virtual community , learning community , engineering , engineering management , world wide web , psychology , pedagogy , the internet , computer security , evolutionary biology , biology
This article presents a methodological framework developed to monitor the evolution of virtual learning communities intended as open communities of peers, tutors, and mentors from industry and academia. The proposed framework is described through an explorative case. It has been applied to observe and supervise a virtual learning community built around a Master's program intended to create “e‐Business Solutions Engineers.” The framework is based on two dimensions of analysis: individual growth and team growth. The first is a function of personal development and satisfaction, and the second depends on social networking dynamics and cooperative content creation. The analysis of data, collected during 10 months of exchanged e‐mails and five monthly Web surveys, has been validated through interviews with key informants and through the involvement of academic and industrial partners in the formal assessment of the learners' performance. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.