In today’s world, communities are not only limited to physically bounded environment, it extends to virtual or online spaces as well. Owston (1998) defines a virtual or online community as “a group of people who regularly interact online and share common goals, ideals, or values” (p. 60). Preece (2000) also points out the key elements of online communities such as socially interacting people who are trying to achieve common needs; the driving motive shared by the community; guiding rules to direct participants’ interacting behaviors, and facilitating media to foster the sense of union or togetherness. Online learning communities provides “a general sense of connection, belonging, and comfort that develops over time among members of a group who share purpose or commitment to a common goal” (Conrad, 2005, p. …show more content…
In addition, online communities establish social networking for professional educators through “rich and open exchange of ideas, experiences, and resources where educators feel both respected and supported” (Booth, 2012,