Enhancing the Social Capital of Learning Communities by Using an Ad Hoc Transient Communities Service

Fetter, S., Berlanga, A. J., & Sloep, P. B. (2009). Enhancing the Social Capital of Learning Communities by Using an Ad Hoc Transient Communities Service. In M. Spaniol, Q. Li, R. Klamma & R. W. H. Lau (Eds.), Proceedings of the 8th International Conference Advances in Web-based Learning - ICWL 2009 (pp. 150-157). August, 19-21, 2009, Aachen, Germany. Lecture Notes in Computer Science 5686; Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.In online learning, communities can help to enhance learning. However, because of the dynamic nature of communities, attaining and sustaining these communities can be difficult. One aspect that has an influence on, and is influenced by these dynamics is the social capital of a community. Features of social capital are the social network structure, the sense of belonging and, the support received and provided. It is hypothesized that these features can be improved by using Ad Hoc Transient Communities (AHTCs). Through an AHTC learners are brought together for a specific, learning-related goal (‘ad hoc’) and for only a limited amount of time (‘transience’). To test whether the use of AHTCs has a positive influence on the social capital, a learner support service which enables the use of AHTCs is proposed. Furthermore, requirements, pre-requisites, and future research are discussed.The work on this publication has been sponsored by the TENCompetence Integrated Project that is funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme, priority IST/Technology Enhanced Learning. Contract 027087 [http://www.tencompetence.org

Thematic characterization of research on Information Science in Brazil from 2000-2009

Este artículo tiene por objetivo analizar cuáles han sido los principales temas de interés en el campo de la investigación científica dentro del área de la Ciencia de la Información en Brasil a lo largo de la primera década de este siglo (2000-2009). Para ello se ha analizado el contenido de la producción científica publicada en cuatro de las principales revistas nacionales de la disciplina: Ciência da Informação, DataGramaZero, Perspectivas em Ciência da Informação y Transinformação. La metodología aplicada se basa en el análisis de co-ocurrencia de palabras-clave y en la representación e interpretación de los resultados por medio del análisis de redes sociales. Para dotar de un marco de interpretación a los resultados obtenidos se propone una comparación con las áreas temáticas propuestas por la Associação Nacional de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Informação en sus Grupos de Trabajo por tratarse de un espacio institucionalizado en donde, por consenso, se debate la investigación en la Ciencia de la Información brasileña. Se concluye en que es el estudio de la propia disciplina la que acapara los mayores esfuerzos de investigación

Separating and merging professional and personal selves online: the structure and processes which shape academics’ ego-networks on academic social networking sites and Twitter

Academic social networking sites seek to bring the benefits of online networking to an academic audience. The ability to make connections to others is a defining characteristic of the sites, but what types of networks are formed, and what are the implications of the structures? This study addressed this question through mixed methods social network analysis, focusing on Academia.edu, ResearchGate and Twitter, as three of the main sites used by academics in their professional lives. The structure of academics’ ego-networks on social networking sites differs by platform. Networks on academic sites were smaller and more highly clustered, whereas Twitter networks were larger and more diffuse. Institutions and research interests define communities on academic sites, compared to research topics and personal interests on Twitter. The network structures reflect differences in how academics conceptualise different sites and have implications in relation to fostering social capital and research impact