What are the elements / characteristics of an e-Community?
• e-Community can be seen as a way of building the structure that allows for collaboration and interaction. • There are small communities that have developed and exist informally at UBC, mainly because people have come together gradually over time. • These communities of practice need attention and support, and resources if they are to grow and continue the work they are doing. • How do we support and sustain the work that needs to be done? • We need to find tools to help support the work that has already begun. Why do e-Communities develop? • e-Communities develop out of need. • There is an identified need by the end-user in an e-Community to be online. • This is usually because there is a group of people who need to be a community and the only way for them to be a community is to be online. • The reasons for this can vary; often it is because people are separated by geography, or time zones or other challenges that disrupt people’s ability to communicate in real time or to come toget
