Learning communities in smart cities. Case studies

Abstract

Nowadays, when more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas, when information and (mobile) communication technologies are real catalysts for innovations in all domains, there are a lot of studies and debates related to how our cities should become “Smart Cities”, “Smarter Cities” or “Future Cities”, in order to improve life quality and to reduce costs, to become a “Smart Learning City”. The paper reviews the definitions of the term “Smart City” and to the strategies required for such a transformation. The new citizens will have vital roles in building smart cities; they should be hyperconnected, creative, entrepreneurs, also they should actively participate and collaborate in the cities' activities and decisions. Thus, the main purpose of this paper is to focus on how e-Learning Social Media, OERs and MOOCs can support the citizens' learning communities, as well as the development of new skills and competencies, proposing a framework for scenarios of Learning Communities in Smart Cities, starting from four Case Studies.