The Research On The Group Dynamic Mechanism Of Online Learning Community In The Web2.0Environment

With the development of educational information, online learning has become a major way. And the research on online learning community has been a hot issue in the field of educational technology with learning concepts transforming from individuality to social, formal to informal, as well as the development of web2.0technology.Online learning community can overcome the limitations of time and space, make up for lacking of real exchange, meet the needs of member’s knowledge and emotional acquisition.However,what are the main factors that influencing learning community to participate in online learning activities?What are the dynamic mechanisms of online learning community?What roles do these mechanisms play in the process of development?These are all related to sustainable development of online community.But now there were not many researches on internal mechanisms.So this study investigated the group dynamics within the online learning community,which was based on the web2.0platform.This study will provide a new perspective on research of online learning community.The main contents were as follows:(1) Literature and theories about online learning community and group dynamics mechanism were combed. First of all, the status of domestic and international online learning community and group dynamics were reviewed to identify deficiencies in present studies and find the meeting point, then the research theme was identified. Second, relevant theories were elaborated, such as learning ecological theory, field theory, reciprocal theory of knowledge, motivation theory.And analyzing the enlightenment to this study, these theories provided theoretical support.(2)The factors of what influence learning community to participate in online learning behavior and activities were surveyed. These main factors were investigated through interviews and questionnaires.A group dynamic model was built based on these factors and their relationship.(3) Supporting platform of online learning community was designed and developed.On the basis of researching the learning needs of the platform and combined with the platform design principles, the functional modules and contents of this platform were designed. Then a web2.0platform was built by the means of open source software and relevant technologies.(4)The group dynamic effects were analyzed and group dynamic mechanisms were extracted. Some students and teachers of educational technology in Southwest University were invited to take part in this platform after test measurements Then community density, center, correlation and small-world effect, cohesion sub-group of online learning community were analyzed by the means of social network analysis method. The depth of interaction was analyzed by method of CMC content analysis. Based on the above, four important dynamic mechanisms were extracted.The results showed that:There were some opinion leaders within the online learning community.They played a leading role in the process of community development, but there were still some members in the state of peripheral participation.There was a clear small-world effect within the community, information delivers rapidly, connection was closing, interaction was frequent,the internal cohesion among members was strong.The community was divided into eight cliques,the dispersion among cliques was not obvious,they also had some communication and interaction with each other.However,there was much more surface interaction,and less deep interaction.Overall, the target of each member in the community consisted by students of educational technology was unanimous, they agreed with each other and had a stronger sense of belonging to the community, the internal cohesion was strong at some extent.However,due to surface interaction, some members did not actively involved yet,thus the whole density was just close to middle lever,had not reached the ideal state.Thus four group dynamic mechanisms were summed:opinion leaders’leading and the consistency of group target are contribute to the formation of group cohesion.Sharing knowledge and positive interaction are conducive to the formation of driving force.Deep interaction,reflection and brainstorming are benift to the formation of sustainability.Evaluation and incentives,normative constraints,technical support could guarantee the the development of a group.These mechanisms could enhance group dynamic of online learning community, and promote the development of online learning community.