Participate 1.1.3 Ideal D.L.C.

Because my Master's degree in Instructional Technology was entirely online through the University of West Georgia, I have quite a bit of experience being a part of Digital Learning Communities. While most of my DLC experiences were extremely positive, I can certainly think of some instances where our DLC could have been more effective. With that in mind, these are the qualities I believe an effective Digital Learning Community must employ:

1. The ideal DLC will accommodate all participants.
As classroom teachers, we all know the importance of meeting the physical, academic, and emotional needs of our students. A well-trained teacher learns to accommodate the needs of all students, and making modifications becomes an inherent task that all experienced teachers do nearly effortlessly. I believe that the ideal Digital Learning Communities must, likewise, meet the needs of all learners. The aesthetics and functionality of the DLC should meet all of the Section 508 guidelines for Website Development and Accessibility , which will ensure that all users can access the information appropriately.

2. The ideal DLC will be a safe environment.
Just like the typical Professional Learning Community hosted in any brick and mortar school, the ideal DLC must be a safe place where participants can come to respectfully share their ideas, questions, and concerns. No participant should be fearful of having his or her ideas belittled or mocked, and no one should be intimidated to ask questions. The ideal DLC is a place where all participants are ready and willing to simultaneously pose questions and provide expertise in a variety of areas or subjects.

3. The ideal DLC maintains structure.
In Corporate America, an effective meeting is most often a well-planned meeting. The conference room is reserved; the refreshments are ready; the agendas are printed; the PowerPoint is ready to go. Just because a DLC doesn't take place in a face-to-face setting, doesn't mean that it can or should be void of structure all together. Out of respect for all participants, a DLC needs to have an agreed-upon structure. Things to consider: how will we communicate? how often will we communicate? what norms will we use as we discuss these topics? who will moderate our discussions? Determining and then adhering to this structure will certainly benefit all participants and create a DLC built on mutual respect.