Functions & Features of Online Communities (Edexcel IGCSE Ict)
Exam board Pearson Edexcel · IGCSEUpdated 2026-04-09
What is an online community?
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An online community is a group of people with a shared common interest who communicate online
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Every online community has:
- a function- what it does for people who use it
- features- what enables it to function
Social networking
Spec point —
3.6.1
What is social networking?
- Social networking is the practice of forming groups in society
- The internet has made it possible to do this online
What is the function of social networking communities?
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The function of social networking communities is to allow users to connect through shared interests or relationships
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Traditionally, they were separated in to personal and professional communities
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Personal communities included examples such as:
- Twitter (X)
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Professional communities included examples such as:
Features of social networking communities
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Profiles | - A collection of information about a person |
| Friends, follow and connect | - Ability to add friends to your network - Can be followed to keep up to date with events - Profiles can be limited for certain friends/groups |
| Stream, wall and timeline | - Messages from friends and groups appear here - Usually the first thing a user sees when logged in - Chronologically ordered |
| Status updates and posts | - Users can write messages to friends, groups or to everyone - Messages appear on their stream - Messages can be directed at groups of users - Content of status updates is stored by social network providers and can be used for targeted advertising |
| Groups, lists and circles | - Users can belong to specific groups created for common interests or likes - Members can be added/removed |
| Tags | - Allows content to be categorised - Users can search for tags to find content |
| User suggestions | - Users with similar interests or shared personal/professional experiences can be suggested for users to connect with |
| Reactions, ratings, likes, upvotes and downvotes | - Users can rate content - Letting other users know what they like or find funny - Users can also downvote content - Feedback can feed in to targeted advertising |
| Share | - Users can share other peoples posts/comment - Opening users comments/posts to a wider audience can lead to them going viral |
| Comments and quotes | - Allows users to mention specific posts/comments in their messages - Can start a dialogue between users |
| Third-party integration | - Allows users to easily share content across other platforms (Facebook & Instagram for example) |
| Notifications | - Tells users about new activities - Keeps users up to date |
| Private or direct messages | - Allows users to be able to send private messages directly to other users without posting publicly |
Online gaming
Spec point —
3.6.1
What is online gaming?
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Online gaming is when video games are played over the internet or computer network
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Examples include:
- Xbox Live
- PlayStation Network
- Steam
What is the function of online gaming?
- The function of online gaming is to allow users to play multiplayer games together
Features of online gaming
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Links to social media | - Share gaming experience and connect with friends |
| Users profiles | - Personalise online identity and showcase achievements |
| How-to's | - In-game tutorials and guides to completing games |
| Experience points/trophies | - Rewards for in-game achievements to motivate users to continue to play |
| Discussion boards/forums | - Somewhere for users to share tips, tricks and general game talk |
| Notifications | - Keep you informed about updates, friend activity and events |
Online work spaces
Spec point —
3.6.1
What is an online work space?
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Online work spaces are virtual platforms that bring remote teams and projects together
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Examples of online work spaces include:
- Slack
- SharePoint
- Adobe Connect
What is the function of online work spaces?
- The function of online work spaces is to give users a platform to be able to collaborate together for the purposes of work
Features of online work spaces
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Cloud storage | - Provides access to data to all users |
| Commenting | - Users can provide feedback directly in documents and tasks |
| Messaging system | - Quick and easy communication between users |
| Shared calendars | - Allows users to see availability of other users and for scheduling |
| Contacts list | - Central location to find and connect with users |
| Chat rooms | - Real-time discussion spaces for specific topics or projects |
| Virtual meeting spaces | - Conduct video conferences and presentations online |
Virtual learning environments (VLE)
Spec point —
3.6.1
What is a VLE?
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A VLE is an online platform for education and training
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Examples of online work spaces include:
- Google Classroom
- Microsoft Teams
- Moodle
What is the function of a VLE?
- The function of a VLE is give teachers and students a shared platform to use learning and assessment features
Features of a VLE
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wall or timeline | - Allows teachers/students to keep up to date with latest posts/events |
| Notice boards | - Allows teachers to give announcements to students or classes |
| Multimedia sharing | - Allows users to share audio, video, web links or files |
| Quizzes or multiple choice tests | - Self marking tests that are graded automatically |
| Communication tools | - Moderated by a teacher |
| Log-in system | - Linked to a school or colleges management system to auto enrol students/teachers |
| Gradebooks | - Allow teachers and students to monitor progress through a course |
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