The document discusses lurking in online learning communities, which refers to participating without posting or posting seldom. It examines whether lurkers are learning enough and what benefits they gain from their participation. Influencing factors on lurking include the online community, individual characteristics, online behavior, and commitment. The document suggests strategies for online course designers to plan for various types of participants and encourage participation, such as providing induction, ensuring the technology works, and giving useful feedback. It also provides examples of active learning methods and activities that can be used, such as brainstorming, discussions, and support groups.