Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning Communities

This study was designed to explore how the electronic learning community (eLC) process at an established state virtual high school (SVHS) supported new and veteran online high school teachers through the communities of practice (CoP) framework. Specifically, this study focused on the institutionally...

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Main Author: Jayme N. Linton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Online Learning Consortium 2017-03-01
Series:Online Learning
Subjects:
Online Access:https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/953
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author Jayme N. Linton
author_facet Jayme N. Linton
author_sort Jayme N. Linton
collection DOAJ
description This study was designed to explore how the electronic learning community (eLC) process at an established state virtual high school (SVHS) supported new and veteran online high school teachers through the communities of practice (CoP) framework. Specifically, this study focused on the institutionally-driven nature of the eLC process, using Wenger’s CoP framework to analyze institutional factors that influenced the eLC process. Case study methods, including observation, interviews, and document analysis, were used to provide a rich and dynamic analysis of the eLC process in light of what research says about preparation and support for quality online teaching. While the institutionally-driven nature of the eLC process posed some barriers to alignment with the domain and community elements of the CoP framework, case study participants expressed that the eLC process impacted their practice and connected them to colleagues with which they could collaborate and problem solve. The use of strategies such as valuing the work of eLCs, removing barriers, and connecting the eLC process to the organizational strategy served to facilitate alignment with the CoP framework and overcome some of the potential disadvantages of an institutionally-driven eLC process.
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spelling doaj.art-7e088bfc8aee47c7a8234b2f0435e4bf2024-02-03T08:25:31ZengOnline Learning ConsortiumOnline Learning2472-57492472-57302017-03-0121110.24059/olj.v21i1.953Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning CommunitiesJayme N. Linton0Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityThis study was designed to explore how the electronic learning community (eLC) process at an established state virtual high school (SVHS) supported new and veteran online high school teachers through the communities of practice (CoP) framework. Specifically, this study focused on the institutionally-driven nature of the eLC process, using Wenger’s CoP framework to analyze institutional factors that influenced the eLC process. Case study methods, including observation, interviews, and document analysis, were used to provide a rich and dynamic analysis of the eLC process in light of what research says about preparation and support for quality online teaching. While the institutionally-driven nature of the eLC process posed some barriers to alignment with the domain and community elements of the CoP framework, case study participants expressed that the eLC process impacted their practice and connected them to colleagues with which they could collaborate and problem solve. The use of strategies such as valuing the work of eLCs, removing barriers, and connecting the eLC process to the organizational strategy served to facilitate alignment with the CoP framework and overcome some of the potential disadvantages of an institutionally-driven eLC process.https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/953electronic learning communityonline learning communityK-12virtual schoolcommunity of practice
spellingShingle Jayme N. Linton
Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning Communities
Online Learning
electronic learning community
online learning community
K-12
virtual school
community of practice
title Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning Communities
title_full Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning Communities
title_fullStr Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning Communities
title_full_unstemmed Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning Communities
title_short Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning Communities
title_sort institutional factors for supporting electronic learning communities
topic electronic learning community
online learning community
K-12
virtual school
community of practice
url https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/953
work_keys_str_mv AT jaymenlinton institutionalfactorsforsupportingelectroniclearningcommunities