Online communities refer to people who use different online platforms to communicate and join hands to accomplish a common objective. There are several groups of online communities. Each of the online communities I have interacted with has helped improve education in various ways. Members of the online communities write and broadcast information that influences the quality of education. They also participated in online initiatives directed at developing educators professionally and also helping students excel in academics.
Example of Online Communities
There are four main classes of online communities that promote education globally. These include support community, insight community, social community and advocate community.
Support Community
This group is made up of people who offer structured and innovative ideas to education stakeholders; for example, education strategists and consultants.
Insight Community
This community is made up of individuals who are passionate about education or have a career in education. These individuals ensure that people are educated about the role of education in society. Therefore, they do research to solve problems facing the education sector.
Social Community
This community is created by people drawn from all walks of life. Most people are in this cluster because they occasionally use social networks such as Instagram and Facebook to talk about educational matters.
Advocate Community
Lastly, the advocacy community plays an integral role in mobilizing resources that institutions need to improve education delivery. For example, this group may pressure companies to sponsor needy students so that they can access education.
Importance of Online communities to Education
If you are a supporter of education, you need to know that online communities can help you in solving certain issues facing your studies. When communities express their dissatisfactions, educators can improve the quality of services provided based on this criticism.
Flexibility
Availability of information online promotes problem-solving flexibility. Therefore, when you trying to improve weak areas in education you will get all the advice you need to make things right.
Easy communication for the Shy
Do you feel intimidated or shy anytime you need to address weighty issues that may not be popular? Being a member of an online community allows you to express your concerns freely. Using various social media platforms, you may start a conversation aimed at improving the way schools are being managed or students’ welfare.
Strengthens tolerance
Online communities will talk about sensitive issues that you dare not to touch. Over time, educational stakeholders have learned to listen and implement ideas communicated online. Students are also allowed to highlight grievances they may have without fear of being punished.
Improving Productivity and Outcomes
All manner of information can be found online. For all your needs, online communities will provide updated and credible information. Assuming that you are a teacher trying to teach about recent technological or business ideas, you can get updated teaching materials online. You may also guide the students to participate in discussions. This way, you will be promoting your students’ performance as well as your productivity as a teacher.
Practical Learning
Almost everything is being done via the internet. People are even paying for homework assistance online. Thus, when students are allowed to study online and become active social media platforms users, they end up practicing concepts studied in class. Being part of an online community allows you to put skills acquired into practice.
Global Exposure
Some of the great researchers of our time are using online platforms to share their findings. As a student, you may establish yourself as an international researcher by sharing your work online.
Conclusion
Online communities are the pillar of education systems worldwide. There are many great ways that online communities have improved education. Among all of them, research has shown that education advocacy and social criticism act as the major inputs of online communities on education.