From Castalia to Wikipedia: Openness and Closure in Knowledge Communities

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Bibliographic Details
Title: From Castalia to Wikipedia: Openness and Closure in Knowledge Communities
Language: English
Authors: Roberts, Peter, Peters, Michael A.
Source: E-Learning and Digital Media. 2011 8(1):36-46.
Availability: Symposium Journals. P.O. Box 204, Didcot, Oxford, OX11 9ZQ, UK. Tel: +44-1235-818-062; Fax: +44-1235-817-275; e-mail: subscriptions@symposium-journals.co.uk; Web site: http://www.wwwords.co.uk/elea
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2011
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Comparative Analysis, Education, Social Organizations, Novels, Encyclopedias, Collaborative Writing, Electronic Publishing, Internet, Electronic Learning, Educational Technology
DOI: 10.2304/elea.2011.8.1.36
ISSN: 2042-7530
Abstract: This article explores different forms of openness and closure in two knowledge communities: the fictional world of Castalia in Hermann Hesse's great work "The Glass Bead Game", and the twenty-first-century cyberspatial universe of Wikipedia. These two worlds differ in some important respects, but they also share a number of educationally significant features in common. The authors compare the respective approaches to knowledge, decision-making and social organization in Castalia and Wikipedia. They argue that both can be seen as flawed knowledge communities, from which, nonetheless, much can be learned that is helpful in advancing current discussions of openness as an ideal.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 30
Entry Date: 2011
Accession Number: EJ919757
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This article explores different forms of openness and closure in two knowledge communities: the fictional world of Castalia in Hermann Hesse's great work "The Glass Bead Game", and the twenty-first-century cyberspatial universe of Wikipedia. These two worlds differ in some important respects, but they also share a number of educationally significant features in common. The authors compare the respective approaches to knowledge, decision-making and social organization in Castalia and Wikipedia. They argue that both can be seen as flawed knowledge communities, from which, nonetheless, much can be learned that is helpful in advancing current discussions of openness as an ideal.
ISSN:2042-7530
DOI:10.2304/elea.2011.8.1.36