Abstract
The objective of this chapter is to introduce a model that outlines the evolution of knowledge and sustainable innovation of community through the use of social software and knowledge management in an online environment. Social software presents easy-to-use, participatory technologies, thus bringing increased interaction with others and a diversity of perspectives into the classroom. Knowledge management provides the opportunity to capture and store information so that content and learning can be personalized according to learner preferences. This model describes a circuit of knowledge that includes instructional systems design, individualization of learning, interaction and critical reflection. It also represents a new framework within which communities develop and become more sustainable.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Individualization: A process in which differentiated instruction based on learners’ needs and interests allows the learner to personalize the knowledge in a meaningful way.
Social Software: A combination of two or more online tools encouraging learning, interaction and community development between two or more people.
Knowledge Management: The process of capturing, storing and distributing information across learning environments to improve the application of knowledge to a variety of social contexts, thus increasing its availability to others to increase innovation in the evolution of community development and learning.
Instructional Design: The systematic application of instructional content, technology and tools used to design an individualized, interactive and reflective online learning environment.
Online Education: A dynamic learning format taught by means of the Internet in which learners and instructor interact through the use of several of technologies for the purpose of intentional learning.
Community: A purposeful group of people centered around a knowledge concept who collaborate through the use of knowledge management and social software tools to support a sustainable and innovative online course and to share learning experiences with person(s) outside of the group.
Interaction: An exchange of knowledge and ideas between learners, instructor, content and learning interface(s) that encourages sustainable community development and innovation.
Reflection: A process in which online participants (learners and instructors) and community members (former learners and experts in the field) observe and interpret the learning experience so that they can consistently adapt and improve the high quality instructional systems design.