Knowledge Crystallisation describes the evolution of a document or node within a knowledge construction platform. The more learners approve of and/upvote a document or node, the more it becomes crystalized and stays within the community. The less crystalized it is, the more likely it will be deleted. The two ways that knowledge crystallisation is evaluated is by the amount of continuity points vs. improvement points on the latest version of a node or document. Ex: if a document/node has 5 continuity points and 7 improvement points, the newer version of the document or node will replace the old one. 

Encouraging collaboration in Online Learning Communities through Knowledge Crystallisation

Comment features allow other learners to give their opinions, suggestions, or approval of another's contribution and help develop more quality knowledge entities within the community. 

Encouraging Collaboration in Online Learning Communities through Comment features

When there is more collaboration of information creation, there is also likely a chance for higher engagement, cohesion, and connection amongst the members of the community, leading them to continue contributing and maintaining the community.

New York University

- Cohesiveness within the community
- Personal commitment to the community
- Constant Communication within the community
- Capacity for growth (i.e. enough members for expansion of the community)
- Well-qualified leaders (ex: instructors, admin, etc.)
-  Collaboration within the community

Maintaining online learning communities

Altebarmakian, M., & Alterman, R. (2019). Cohesion in online environments. International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, 14, 443-465.

Cohesion in online environments

The process of shared creation: two or more individuals interacting to create a shared understanding that none had previously. Collaboration creates a shared understanding about a process, a product, or an event.

Collaboration

With the substantial increase in online learning, communication between teachers and students has become critical. Instead of in-person communication, teachers must adapt to using technology-mediated communication (TMC) with their students.

Communication in Online Learning

Assigning students personal responsibility makes each of them feel a sense of ownership and commitment to bettering the community, thus promoting higher engagement, communication, and participation. 

Personal Commitment to the community

The greater the cohesion within the community, the greater chance ideas exchanged are agreed upon and encouraged greater engagement with one another to collaboratively improve the online community and its information.

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