Innovation is occurring through open learning because the requirements of learning are changing, the number and types of solutions available through computer-mediated communication are growing rapidly, and these in turn are leading to a new learning paradigm. These changes impact upon our children’s education, adult learning, and the way we as groups, professional communities and organisations acquire and share knowledge.

1. Is learning happening
(and how) in virtual
communities of practice?
Focus on project
management
communities
Prepared for Open
University module H818
by Louise Worsley

2. What’s this about?
Learning opportunities
are changing day on
day and the biggest
influences relate to
online education, free
access…
“For the first time, access to university-level
education was no longer dependent on merit
or means but simply on enthusiasm and
commitment.” Guardian, February 19th, 2014

3. …and extended professional
networks
“Call it the “LinkedIn Effect.” Social networks
like LinkedIn and Facebook have changed the
nature of human interaction forever..” Forbes,
October 20th 2014

4. What’s this about?
How are social networks such as
LinkedIn being used to enhance and
extend learning in Communities of
Practice

5. They share a concern or a passion for something
they do. Through the community they learn how to
do it better.
Shared domain of interest
They engage in joint activities
and discussions
They practice what
they are passionate
about.
What are Communities of
Practices?

6. Why are CoPs important?

7. Click here to see the problem

8. But seriously….
“One of the most persuasive factors is the shrinking
half-life of knowledge.
The ‘half-life of knowledge’ is the time span from
when knowledge is gained to when it becomes
obsolete. Half of what is known today was not known
10 years ago…To combat the shrinking half-life of
knowledge, organizations have been forced to develop
new methods of deploying instruction.” Gonzalez
(2004)
Gonzalez, C., (2004). The Role of Blended Learning in the World of Technology. Retrieved November 14,
2014 from http://www.unt.edu/benchmarks/archives/2004/september04/eis.htm

9. From here to there
Less data storing – Knowledge
management has overfocused on
the data as an object than the
context of the knowledge
More knowledge sharing
Because this is probably the
most important individual and
corporate knowledge we have