Student use of knowledge building tools in networked communities

This paper reports on an elective unit of study, offered to undergraduate primary and early childhood education students at the Queensland University of Technology. The course has as its main focus, the notion of online virtual communities, and explores students' current trends and practices with communication tools and networked communities with those currently being offered in a variety of educational contexts. After exploring and using a range of knowledge building tools, students then attempt to develop an online environment that espouses a sense of community amongst its participants. The students participate in the course through the use of various tools including multi user domains and bots, video and audio streaming including live video, chat including comic chat, threaded discussion lists, online gaming environments, email lists and instant messaging.