The Emerge project set out to support the creation of a sustainable community of practice around the exploitation of new and emerging technologies, such as social software and pervasive computing, for use in educational settings. To achieve this aim the project itself adapted a number of social software based tools and practices to support community emergence of the community of practice. Seven critical phases of activity were identified during the life-cycle of the Emerge project and the community of practice that grew around individuals and funded projects. Each of these phases, from initial community engagement to building for sustainability, demanded differing support mechanisms to be employed.

These challenges were addressed through the types of tools, services and activities that were deployed over time. Our conclusions suggest that it is possible to identify a range of benefits and potential outcomes to deploying social networking and social media tools to scaffold community emergence. However, the form and patterns of interaction that develop across a community over time cannot be predetermined.

The dynamic and changing needs of the community and its' processes are reflected in changing demands for appropriate social and collaborative spaces. These impact directly on the type and form of the tools and services that need to be made available to the community. Deploying an iterative and agile model to scaffold community needs is a key factor to the successful development of community identities and active participation by its membership.