Online learning communities are peer-to-peer learning environments conducted through the internet. 

Online learning communities

Online support communities can usually revolve around support from others or suggestions from others on consumer purchases or inquiries about products/services. They bring together experts who share their insights on a specific topic, offering their support or help based on a certain problem. 

Examples of support communities:
- Quora
- various customer service FAQ websites

Online Support Communities

Customer (brand) communities contain customers of a certain brand or company where discussions around their products or services are the primary topics of discussion. These can be helpful in understanding brand perception from the consumer's POV and in creating future marketing campaigns. 

Examples of customer (brand) communities:
- LEGO Ideas
- Duolingo Incubator

Customer (brand) Communities

Online coaching communities are designed to education or support a client through learning or developing a new skill. Members within the community are also able to support each other while on the same journey.

Examples of online coaching communities:
- fitness coaching 
- restaurant coaching
- employee coaching

Online Coaching Communities

Online event communities' communication revolves around events being planned, members of these communities usually work with one another and coordinate details about these events through these online communities. 

Online Event Communities

Online action communities are a group of individuals who unite with the goal of achieving a specific objective or accomplishing something significant.

Examples of settings with action communities:
- schools
- geographical communities

Online Action Communities

These communities are composed of a category that community members take part in reviewing the items/products/places within this category. Examples include: Movielens, Amazon, Yelp

Online review communities

- Support communities
- Customer (brand) communities
- Coaching communities
- Event communities
- Action communities
- Circumstances communities
- Social communities
- Learning communities
- Networking communities
- Review communities

New York University

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

San Jose State University

An "online community" (AKA internet community or web community) refers to any virtual environment where individuals gather to communicate, share information or resources, learn, play or spend time with one another. This term can be used to describe various social configurations, from small tight-knit groups to sites with millions of members.

Online Communities

Types of online communities

- Encouraging commitment
- Encouraging contribution 
- Regulating behavior of its members
- Attracting and maintaining new members
- Maintaining the critical mass of users and content

Factors of a Successful Online Community

Online Communities References

Online communities can be built on a variety of technology platforms, such as email lists, forums, blogs, wikis, and social networking sites.

Where are online communities?

The defining characteristic of online communities is the ongoing interactions among people over time, some of which are facilitated by technology.

Online communities' common feature

Online communities serve a similar purpose as offline groups, networks and communities by providing opportunities for:
- Information sharing and learning
- Companionship and social support
- Entertainment
- Remote work

They can also generate benefits for people outside the community, such as **public goods** like:
- Open-source software
- Product reviews
- Encyclopedia pages

A **private goods** like:
- Suggestions for product improvements
- New product designs

for the organization that created the community.

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