Online Community Engagement through Simplicity, Relevance and Connection

Abstract

This paper reports on the first stage of a phased approach to the development of an intervention which aims to support adult literacy educators in developing e-learning for their learners. The intervention is being implemented within an online environment created using Moodle, and studied using a design based research methodology. This initial iteration of the intervention was designed to encourage the members of the extant community of adult literacy educators to develop an online community, and to engage with the online environment. Engagement was encouraged though the facilitation of communications within this physically spread community, and the provision of online access to their community resources. Simplicity, relevance and connection were the elements found to be central to participant engagement within this first phase of the intervention.