Reflection on Chapters 4-6 Digital Habitats

What does it take to construct a digital habitat? Like any other habitat it is composed of not just physical attributes but how the species (in our case humans) adapt to a given environment. This chapter looked at how communities of practice also need effective habitats to thrive and how a digital one can be an enticing possibility.

Factors that should be taken into consideration are the following:
- Tools available to support and perhaps individualize tools that meet specific needs.
- Platforms that organize facilitate the use of tools for communities to utilize for better and optimal performance.
- Features that enhance use of platforms for communities.
- Configurations that serve as 'substrate for a community's habitat at a given point in time' to interrelate on a global scale.

There are still discussions on how to better integrate tools to manage collaboration amongst member of communities and for "flexibility, diversity and individualized participation"(Wenger, 2009).

This chapter looked at the challenges digital communities come across. The three main challenges that were discussed were:
- Rhythm can be a challenge for communities that are spread globally and need to keep the momentum of engagement, At the same time, this challenge can also contribute to the richness of the group to learn together.
- Interactions that contribute to meaningful and 'reification' learning. Technology can be an asset for collective digital togetherness.
- Identities that are built on inquiry of coming together and questioning our own learning and pedagogy. While disagreements can be challenging, complex interactions can bring about community formations and hopefully development.

Communities as well, need to keep in mind that while there are an array of options for technological tools for a community to gain more functionality, tools can also create the dynamics of a digital community.

This last chapter looked at ways communities can collaborate and find ways of creating togetherness. Some ways that were suggested were open-ended conversations, meetings, projects, and creating content to name a few. Each suggestion also showed possible applications and tools that can be used. Also, each suggestion moved from basic knowledge of technology tools to more advanced ways to collaborate.

Tech stewards must think about supporting communities of practice in a digital world and let them reflect on the path they want their practice is heading. Maintaining and growing a community of practice as is or if there needs to be a shift of practice in order for new members to want to integrate themselves.