Abstract:

Main rational of this paper is built on the belief that the trusts awareness and its influence upon an online communication context is becoming increasingly important, especially in what concerns our education life practices.

This paper describes and discusses the main results of a survey carried out among e-learning communities in distinct countries (Portugal, Cape Verde and Estonia) to explore the relevance of a proposed conceptual model that relates trust with learners’ predisposition interacts online.

Results analysis provides preliminary exploratory insights on the relevance of some trust indicators in promoting trustful online social relations, and how those can influencing people's willingness to interact, be creative and constructing their knowledge in those virtual spaces.

Based on the belief that today’s connected world, its online communications, shared information, knowledge and social networks and interactions, fosters environments that requires rational and consistent working methods upon shared self-interests.
These environments are usually built upon multidisciplinary and innovative collaborative communities that seek knowledge-based solutions.

Motivated by the idea of this compelling link evidence between today’s technology and people’s trust. We question such influence in the development of successful eLearning environments. eLearning environments where each member shares the same commitments, responsibilities, goals and loyalties; shares the same need or desire to progress, to bound and gain knowledge and skills.

We question how, and at what level these online communication possibilities represent a key element on their relationships.
It is proposed then to study and identify among community participants, trust common beliefs and expectations that eventually could lead to cooperative, harmonious and comfortable relation among community members – a trustful relation.

In other words, identify trust social-behaviour dimensions that might influence peoples’ intentions to relate and learn online.
Member’s which provide independent contribution, community member who shares the same moral beliefs and consistency of actions, members that have to: be able to rely on each other; be willing to act towards a common interest, and at the same time; possess a high degree of confidence of other behaviour.

Keywords:

e-learning, Teaching and learning strategies, learning preferences, trust, social networking, on-line communities.