Success factors of virtual university communities based on social networks. Analysis of XarFED

Abstract

The article analyses the elements of success factors in a new virtual university community called XarFED, which has been built based on social networks. Its keep connected lecturers, students and former students of the School of Education of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). The aim of this new space is to become a meeting point between the formal, non-formal and informal learning environments of the participants. Besides the analysis of the key elemento of success for virtual communities highlighted so far by research, the theoretical framework uncovers a new vision base don others aspects analysed within the context of social networks. Data collection has been carried out through a survey, which design is based on a model of critical factors of success. The information obtained shows an emerging participative and collaborative activity as well as positive perceptions by users. Conclusions suggest some reflections for professional practice and interesting future lines of research based on the affordances of social networks for the creation of virtual communities as well as the need to answer the claims generated by new open learning environments.