Importance of Community in Constructivist Online Learning EnvironmentsIntroductionIn this article I will look at the importance of interaction in the constructivist online learning environment and how community influences online learning. To demonstrate this Since community and interaction are important for online learning and in particular for constructivist learning environments, this article will first examine the definition of constructivist approach, identify the relevant types of interaction and define community as understood in online learning environment. Furthermore, the link between interaction and community building and the effects of interactions on community will be examined. This article will also examine the importance of community in the constructivist learning environment, examining interaction and community building, and explain why constructivist online learning goes beyond the provision of information or knowledge. Constructivist Learning TheoryConstructivism as a paradigm and a foundation of some distance education theories, states that knowledge is interpreted by students based on their own experience and reality. According to the constructivist theory of learning, the instructor does not transmit knowledge to the student, but the student interprets and processes the information received, thus creating individualized and contextualized knowledge. Another important aspect of the constructivist learning school is the role of the student and the instructor, in which the student becomes central and the instructor returns to a consultative and facilitative role (Ally, 2008). In the student-centered constructivist learning environment, the role of the instructor and even the student... half of the paper... tion. American Journal of Distance Education, 8(2), 6-29. doi: 10.1080/08923649409526852 Wanstreet, C. E. (2006). Interaction in online learning environments: A literature review. Distance Education Quarterly Review, 7(4), 399-411. Retrieved from http://www.infoagepub.com/index.php?id=89&i=10Wilson, B. G., Ludwig-Hardman, S., Thornam, C. L., & Dunlap, J. C. (2004). Boundedcommunity: designing and facilitating learning communities in formal courses. International Review of Research on Open and Distance Learning, 5(3). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org.ezproxy.umuc.eduYeh, Y. (2010). Analyze online learning behaviors, roles, and communities through online discussions. Educational Technology and Society, 13(1), 140-151. Retrieved from http://www.ifets.info.ezproxy.umuc.edu/journals/13_1/14.pdf