Abstract—This paper discusses FLOSS communities as a prime example of learning networks, i.e. informal, interconnected sets of individuals mutually supporting shared knowledge acquisition and committed to self-defined goals. In particular, it addresses how the incorporation of a web-based, certification platform for Free / Libre Open Source Software in community culture and practice may increase the community impact both as learning network and open, high-quality software producer.
Index Terms—FLOSS, communities, learning networks, source code analysis, educational technology.
S. Fernandes is with the United Nations University – International Institute for Software Technology, Casa Silva Mendes, Estrada Engenheiro Trigo NO 4, P.O. Box 3058 Macau (e-mail: sara.fernandes@ iist.unu.edu).
L. S. Barbosa is with Minho University and HASLab, INESC TEC, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-400 Portugal.
A. Cerone is with the United Nations University – International Institute for Software Technology, Casa Silva Mendes, Estrada Engenheiro Trigo, No. 4, P.O. Box 3058 Macau (e-mail: cerone@iist.unu.edu).
Cite: Sara Fernandes, Luis S. Barbosa, and Antonio Cerone, "FLOSS Communities as Learning Networks," International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 278-281, 2013.