Motivation and skill acquisition in an online amateur multimedia community: a case study

Both the amount of multimedia content and the venues for sharing such content have been steadily increasing, yet not much is known about what motivated, inspired, and helped the content creators to create their artifacts. Using participant observation, web content analysis, and interviews, this case study focuses on one online amateur multimedia community and the animators therein. In particular, it addresses questions concerning 1) one’s motivation to join and create animations in that community, and 2) how one acquires the skills necessary to create animations and participate in the community. Having a better understanding of motivation and skill acquisition in this informal, online setting can provide insight on ways to improve and support the learning processes and environments in other online communities, more formal arenas like classrooms and workplaces, and in other informal settings such as structured after-school programs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Library & Information Science

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Brittany Noell

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tilley, Carol
• Cope, William
• La Barre, Kathryn
• Smith, Linda C.
• Twidale, Michael

• Online communities
• Multimedia communities
• Learning
• Motivation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Brittany Smith

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95375

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/95375