Understanding Online Knowledge Sharing: An Exploratory Theoretical Framework

Abstract. Online learning has been getting popular in higher education. Key functionalities of online learning environment include the access to a wider per-spective of learning resources and the provision of social interactions between instructor-learners and among learners-learners. Recent empirical findings in online learning have acknowledged the importance of online knowledge sharing as an integral part of online learning, through the various forms of learner inter-actions within online learning environment, such as discussion forums, collabo-rative learning and communities building. However, recent studies still find mixed results that instructors and students are not always fully engaged in online learning activities. Without frequent and persistent interactions, it is doubtful whether online knowledge sharing could really take place in online learning environment. Thus, the present study examines prior literature to ex-plore the motivational factors to online knowledge sharing. It is found that per-ceived online attachment motivation and perceived online relationship com-mitment are two determinants to online knowledge sharing. As a result of the literature review, theoretical propositions are developed to explain online knowledge sharing. Discussion section explains the theoretical and practical implications