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Online Knowledge Communities As Student-Centered Open Learning Environments: How Likely Will They Be To Integrate Learners As New Members?, Nicolae Nistor, Mihai Dascălu, Christian Tarnai, Nicolas Bresser

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Using online knowledge communities (OKCs) from the Internet as student centered, open learning environments (SCOLEs) poses the question how likely these communities will be to integrate learners as new members. This premise of learning in SCOLEs is analyzed in the current study. Based on the approaches of voices inter animation and polyphony, a natural language processing tool was employed for dialog analysis in integrative vs. non-integrative blog-based OKCs. Three dialog dimensions were identified: participants’ individual content-oriented contribution, social contribution, and their position within the social network. Hierarchical clusters built upon these dimensions reflect sociocognitive structures including central, regular and peripheral …