Course Description:
Before Wikipedia was created, there were seven very similar attempts to build online collaborative encyclopedias. Before Facebook, there were dozens of very similar social networks. Why did Wikipedia and Facebook take off when so many similar sites struggled? Why do some attempts to build communities online lead to large thriving communities while most struggle to attract even a small group of users?
This class will begin with an introduction to several decades of research on computer-mediated communication and online communities to try and understand the building blocks of successful online communities. With this theoretical background in hand, every student will then apply this new understanding by helping to design, build, and improve a real online community.
Once per year, Comm Lead students have the lucky opportunity to learn from Benjamin Mako Hill, esteemed faculty in the Dept of Communications. Inevitably, his students reach out to me asking when he can teach again. Anyone interested in online communities personally or professionally should take this class if they can! –Gretchen Ludwig, Associate Director
University of Washington
Department of Communication