Online Learning Community, Social Interaction, Analysis And Countermeasures

With the development and popularization of Internet technology, more and more people use QQ E-mail BBS etc. to communicate in the cyberspace. The formation and maintence of the virtual social interaction forms online communities based on individual interest and special needs. The online learning communities which of some learning content have become one of the important informal study sites. Moreover, online learning communities are also the hot topic for the area of Educational Technology and Distant Education. Virtual social interaction promotes the formation and development of online communities. It is the fundamental factor for the maintence of online learning communities. Therefore, one of the way to develop the online learning community is to improve its social interaction.In this paper we use social network analysis method an so on to analyze the social interaction phenomenon in three cases. Interaction platform, the characteristic of the participants, Interaction environment,such as discussion atmosphere, the content and quality of the posts, rewards and punishment strategies are all the important factors for the social interaction in an online learning community.According to the participational extent, the roles of an online learning community can be separated to key participants, active participants and lurks. The three kinds of roles can be transformed into each other in a certain instance. On the basis of analysis and comparative three cases of online learning communities, we give some strategies on how to enhance social interaction. Making use of these methods and technologies to improve social interaction in the online learning communities of education field, therefore, advancing learning effect.