Share Paper: Learning in a Virtual Community of Practice

  1. Hong Zhou, University of Texas at San Antonio, United States

Abstract: This study examines the evidence of learning and teaching within one discussion thread from an online forum for the players of the video game Minecraft. The selected thread is analyzed as a flow of thematic interactions among members. The purpose of this study is to investigate how learning occurs in this environment that is rarely associated with the concept of learning, and how it relates to teaching. The findings suggest that members of this virtual community of practice prefer to learn from each other as equal peers collaboratively constructing knowledge, and tend to decline planned direct instruction.