Why Set-Up an Online Support Network?

Why would anyone set-up a support network?  One reason is to create a sense of community, of sharing ideas and resources and innovations.  A benefit of a community is that members build a shared sense of identity.  I have been involved in building online support networks for more than 12 years, starting with eGroups--which became Yahoo Groups and currently focusing on LinkedIn Discussion Groups.

One of the longest running and most successful groups which I started--and which runs itself--is the Action Learning eGroup on Yahoo Groups, run by IFAL-USA.

My most recent group is the DrM-Language Network discussion group on LinkedIn.  This group was created to provide the opportunity to build a sense of community around the affordable, online language learning programs supported by http://www.drm-language.com/.  While membership is open to people learning languages with other online programs, the main focus is to have the community network available for people working with two different online language programs available globally.  Many of the people will be learning English, and one of the two programs offers eight other languages as well.

Many business professionals around the world will be working with me to enroll learners in these programs and this network is open to language learners and to entrepreneurs setting-up their own businesses concerning e-learning and these online language programs.

Some of the questions and answers and other support areas will also offer members a chance to practice their English in their interaction in the discussion group.