Niche and Community Online: Artists’ Tactical Media Activities as Pedagogy

Pedagogy And Niche Online Communities

Niche, derived from the Latin word nidus, meaning nest, suggests a safe place to grow. Ideally, the nature of a niche online community is nurturing; in such relations, we, as members who have similar interests, feel confident and secure in our assumptions that we control who we are and what we do online. Niches are specific to the member’s interests, and satisfaction comes from the educative relationship that develops from the local sharing of knowledge. This style of informal learning is motivationally powerful; therefore, educational institutions have much to benefit from this actor-driven arrangement. In order to foster a rich educational experience through online curricular designs, educators can learn from this model. By incorporating such activities into structured online learning environments, the gap between formal and informal learning can be reduced. This is desirable so that a more holistic platform is established for students who creatively produce their learning within social networking sites. It also opens opportunities for schools to be involved in significant ways in issues of digital citizenship and social change.