Introducing The Fandom Framework for Learning™: Where Passion, Community, and Collaboration Meet
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the way people come together in online communities, around shared interests—whether it’s a favorite brand, a sports team, an artist, or a cause. I’ve seen firsthand how these fandoms and communities spark creativity, confidence, and deep, meaningful learning. From being BakitWhy.com’s Community Manager, the first Filipino-American online community, to my experience building a social network around an animal wellness product beloved in rural America, my dissertation research was inspired by decades of community engagement, relationship building, and lessons learned from the work.
As an educator, marketing professional, and lifelong fangirl myself, I’ve wondered:
What if our classrooms, teams, and learning spaces felt more like that?
More joyful. More collaborative. More human.
After years of exploring that question through my doctoral research, professional work, and lived experience, I’m excited to finally share what’s come out of that journey:
This framework was born out of my research and real-world experience—and is rooted in the idea that people learn best when they feel seen, connected, and inspired.
The Fandom Framework for Learning™
This framework draws from what the BTS ARMY, the powerful fandom of the South Korean music group BTS, has organically realized—that learning is most powerful when it’s collaborative, inclusive, joyful, healing, and confidence-building.
It’s grounded in five essential elements that my research found to support collaborative learning:
Inclusion: Welcoming diverse voices and authentic participation.
Joy: Fueling passion, creativity, and positivity.
Learning: Encouraging continuous, peer-driven knowledge sharing.
Healing: Cultivating psychological safety and emotional well-being.
Confidence: Building visibility, agency, and leadership pathways for all participants.
The world is changing fast. Our traditional approaches to learning aren’t always keeping up. But we already have models—right in front of us—in the communities where passion and participation thrive.
Fandom spaces demonstrate that when people feel seen, valued, and empowered to co-create, incredible things happen. I always look to my favorite example, BTS and their fandom, the BTS ARMY. Imagine bringing that powerful, collective energy to how we teach, lead, and learn.
What’s Next?
Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing insights, stories, and practical strategies tied to each element and component of the framework. My hope? To spark conversations—and to help educators, leaders, and lifelong learners design spaces where learning feels joyful, collaborative, and truly inclusive.
Thank you for being part of this next chapter with me.