Foreword, Sir John Daniel. A Focus on Online Learning Communities, Rocci Luppicini.; PART I: PERSPECTIVES ON ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITIES. Online Learning Communities in Perspective, Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt. A Typology of Catalysts, Emphases and Elements of Virtual Learning Communities, Richard A. Schwier. Online Learning Communities with Online Mentors: A Conceptual Framework, Shujen L. Chang. Foundations And Practice for Web-Enhanced Science Inquiry: Grounded Design Perspectives, Minchi C. Kim and Michael J. Hannafin.; PART II: DESIGN AND INSTRUCTION FOR ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITIES. Designing Effective Online Instruction, Gary Morrision and Steven Ross. The Use of Discussion Forums in Learning Communities, Kinshuk and L.M.Jeffrey. Engaging and Supporting Problem Solving in Online Learning, David H. Jonassen. Laying The Groundwork for the Development of Learning Communities within Online Courses, Jennifer V. Lock.; PART III: RESEARCH ON ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITIES. Connections in Web-Based Learning Environments: A Research-based Model for Community Building, Janette R. Hill, Arjan Raven and Seungyeon Han. Identifying Factors That Effect Learning Community Development and Performance in Asynchronous Distance Education, Douglas Harvey, Leslie A. Moller, Jason Bond Huett, Veronica M. Godshalk, and Margaret Downs. Examining The Use of Learning Communities to Increase Motivation, Jason Bond Huett, Leslie A. Moller, Douglas Harvey, and Mary E. Engstrom. Linking Community; PARTners: Utilizing Video conferencing, Pamela A. Havice, William L. Havice, Clint Isbell, and Larry Grimes.; PART IV: INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITIES. Exploring Elements for Creating an Online Community of Learners within a Distance Education Course at The University of Southern Queensland, P.A. Danaher, Andrew Hickey, Alice Brown, and Joan M. Conway. Building Learning Communities Around New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) E-schools Initiative, Peter E. Kinyanjui. International Perspectives on Distance Education and Learning Communities; Within Anglophone Commonwealth Countries, Badri N Koul. Orchestrating Ethics for Distance Education and Online Learning, Ugur Demiray.; PART V: TRENDS IN ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITIES. Online Self-organizing Social Systems: Four Years Later, David Wiley and Erin Brewer. Exploring Qualitative Methodologies in Online Learning Environments, Mary Beth Bianco and Alison A. Carr-Chellman. Revisiting Categories of Virtual Learning Communities for Educational Design, Rocci Luppicini. Contrasting Forces Affecting the Practice of Distance Education, Brent G. Wilson, Patrick Parrish, Nathan Balasubramanian, and Scott Switzer. About the Authors.