I like the definition of a community of practice explained as occurring in a social context where things evolve around common goals and where newcomers can enter and attempt to learn the 'ways' of best practice within the group.
So what is my community of practice? Of the top 3 that come to mind: Mindlab Hawke's Bay, Facebook Group; Accounting Teachers' Google Group and Schoology Educators a common denominator is that they are all closed groups. For the purposes of this blog I will be focusing of the Schoology educators CoP. Wenger (2000) 3 key elements are are satisfied by:
- Joint enterprise: The shared domain of the schoology educators group is demonstrate by the members having a commitment to and a shared competency about schoology; which is an online social networking based learning management system (LMS).
- Mutual engagement: the community is identified by joint discussions, sharing of resources, professional connects made and general help is given. Because the members of this CoP come from all around the world, activities are happening frequently throughout the week. An example is that someone can post a question to which others answer:
Or create a new separate group page for interested people to follow:
- Shared repertoire: a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems—in short a shared practice. The schoology educators group has been created as: "This is a place for our community of educators to come together to discuss the successes and challenges of teaching both inside and outside of the modern classroom". There are a treasure trove of useful hints, resources and best practice ideas within the group to assist new and existing user of the LMS.
- But it is a closed group so does it satisfy the true intent of a CoP? If we look back to the definition opening this blog "newcomers can enter and attempt to learn the ways" I believe the Schoology Educators group is a CoP as the only reason it might be "closed" is that you have to sign up to schoology to have access.
I do have a strong sense of connectedness with this group as I receive (and read) updates by others on a daily basis. That said, I am somewhat of a observer. I only contribute infrequently. I am far more comfortable contributing to best practices with Schoology within my school in person, rather than on the international stage.
This is definitely my 'work on' area. My reluctance to blog is based on a similar fear of "what do I know, why would anyone value what I have to say, what if I get it wrong?"
