Networked Knowledge Communities in the 21st Century Classroom Practices

Abstract

This chapter explores the emergence and current status of Networked Knowledge Communities (NKCs) in Higher Education in the United Kingdom and, specifically, in the field of nurse and healthcare education. In particular, the chapter focuses on how new technologies can enhance learning and provide opportunities to create online communities at a global level, thereby contributing to the internationalization of curricula and the development of cross-cultural awareness within these communities. The chapter provides a brief overview of what we understand as “internationalization” and “cultural awareness” followed by a critical review of the recent literature debating the pedagogical possibilities and implications of using digital technologies to develop NKCs. The chapter concludes with an evaluation of the evidence for the existence of “primitive” NKCs within the curriculum at this point in time and expectations for their emergence in the future, along with recommendations and suggestions for future research.