Knowledge Sharing in the Context of E-Learning: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Distance education mediated by technologies, also called e-learning or online learning, has experienced tremendous growth. This growth has been supported by the advancement of disruptive technologies and the rapid expansion of the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the various benefits that this type of education offers is the possibility of knowledge sharing (KS) between individuals in a fast, fluid, and storable way. The present study, using bibliometric techniques, seeks to contribute to the academic and professional world of KS in technology-mediated learning environments. We identified 1,167 relevant documents (articles, conference papers, book chapters, and books) in the Scopus database on which the different analyses were carried out. It was established that KS publication in technology-mediated learning environments is experiencing rapid expansion, that this is a multidisciplinary field of study, and that it is carried out by institutions associated with developed and emerging countries. The science mapping analysis allowed us to identify three relevant research areas: 1) KS in the context of organizational education or employee training using e-learning; 2) psychological and social aspects in the adoption and practices of KS; and 3) KS in the context of e-learning in higher education institutions or universities. An analysis called the overlay visualization of terms allows us to identify a change in emphasis from the techniques and technologies behind KS to the people and communities that are protagonists of KS. This article concludes by discussing these results and their implications for research and professional practice.