Emerging research communities and the World Wide Web: analysis of a Web-based resource for the field of museum learning

In this paper we contrast the possibilities of the World Wide Web to transform communities of educational researchers with actual patterns of use of The Museum Learning Collaborative Web site. We highlight patterns of user interaction that have emerged and discuss the problems and opportunities of creating shared research resources in emerging ®elds such as museum learning research. Our ®ndings have direct implications for three stakeholders: program funders, ourselves as project researchers, and the larger museum research community. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.