Are web2.0 tools used to support learning in communities of practice a survey of three online communities of practice

Abstract

Communities of Practice (CoPs) are a group of likeminded practitioners coming together by means of common ground to converse and share knowledge and experience on ways of working within their sector, thus, facilitating knowledge transfer, professional development and learning. While not a new concept they have emerged as a key domain in the realm of knowledge creation and are often cited as facilitating organisational learning and knowledge creation. However, despite the amount of literature available, there appears to be a lack of empirical evidence confirming whether learning takes place within a community. This paper reports on a three-year study based on 3 CoPs, one in industry, one in health and one in education. In particular, the paper reports on the members views’ of their participation in their CoP at the start of the study and at the end of the study.