Research On The Learning Interactive Behavior Of Learners In Informal Learning Virtual Community

80%of our knowledge is acquired through informal learning. Currently, with the rapid development of modern information technology, virtual community formed by various social new media provides an unprecedented support services for informal learning; therefore, informal learning in virtual community has become a hot research issue in the field of educational technology.Interactive learning, as an integral part of the learning process, plays a pivotal role in the two-way interactive communication in informal learning within virtual community. It is because the level of interactive learning directly affects upon the learner’s ability to acquire and digest new knowledge. However, there is a lack of related research in this aspect, let alone the systemic research conducted in terms of information interaction. Therefore, an in-depth study that is characterized by the systematical analysis of the interaction relationship among members and its characteristics is doomed to provide a significant guidance on how to improve the level of the construction of community members’knowledge.To study aforementioned issues, this paper introduces the interactive classification theory proposed by Bates, which is a two-way interactive theory. As per the theory, the paper--from the two aspects, namely, individual interaction and social interaction--explores the members-content interaction and the members-members interaction in informal learning within virtual communities, with an aim to analyze the member interaction relationship and its characteristics. Then, in the phase of case study research, the paper selects a community called Calligraphy Learning--which is a typical virtual community of informal learning with a distinctive informal learning characteristic--in sina micro-blogging service, a twitter-like social networking. And as for the samples used for analysis, they are determined through snowball sampling and random sampling.101members are selected from the community, and629pieces of effective interaction information are extracted from the community. After that, the paper uses social network analysis and CMC content analysis method for quantitative and qualitative analysis of the obtained samples.1. Taking the characteristics of micro-blog into consideration, the paper proposes the learning interactive text encoding scheme, which is an improvement version of a scheme proposed by Professor Li Jiahou, namely, the analytical framework of the level of interaction in blogs for teaching. And according to this scheme, the paper analyzes individualized interaction (members-content interaction) using CMC content analysis method.2. Encodes the relationship of member interaction, charts the matrix of interaction relationship, builds member interaction patterns using social network analysis tool, and finally analyzes the social interaction (members-members interaction) using social network analysis method.After research and analysis, the results concerning the learning interaction relationship and its characteristics are as follows:1. Learners interact with each other mainly through ways such as sharing their works, exchanging experiences, and solving problems. The interaction contents cover topics extensively, but not detailedly. Comments usually come quite simple but not constructive, and comparisons of the interactive information turn out more. Members mainly post brief comments to others’views, and comments are given mainly in form of reasons or advice, rarely involving independent thinking, and also lack of questioning, critical voice in the process of learning.2. The interaction pattern among members is a combination of the network interaction pattern and Y-type interaction pattern. Two roles are observed in the community:opinion leaders and peripheral members. But the opinion leaders show no significant leadership; and the relationship among members stays loose. Oftentimes the community is divided into several factions, and the share members constitute a majority of them. However, the internal interaction within a specific faction is closely knitted. Generally speaking, community learning environment as a whole is very agreeable, sharing some characteristics with the small-world effect.