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Open education allows people to connect regardless of individual characteristics (location, age, gender or culture) and leads to online communities. These communities magnify local knowledge and diversity, and encourage a culture of learning. At the core of the concept of online communities lies the principle of knowledge as a ‘public good’ that should be available for everyone to share. Online communities are destinations on the internet where a group of people with a common goal or shared interests facilitate peer-to-peer learning.

This blog post highlights the fundamental elements necessary to build and sustain online communities. It also highlights some of the barriers faced by online communities that prevent open online communities from flourishing. Building a website is not enough to create an online community. There are several key elements to bear in mind when creating an online community.