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Cassie Davenport

The End of Isolation - 11 views

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    The study in the paper was interesting as it looked at K-12 educators and their use of Twitter to research, relate and form PLNs. Twitter and other social medias have allowed teachers to form networks that are specific to their needs and wants in terms of their own professional growth. In the "End of Isolation" the researchers findings touched on the fact that "over 82% of the time, the educators in this study chose to follow other educators or content experts related to their field of teaching so they were able to create a personal learning network meaningful to their professional needs." Now I just need to work with teachers at my school site to help them realize the individualized professional potential!
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    Cassie- This is a really neat resource in which actual data has been accumulated and presented for teachers and their use of a social networking website. It was interesting to look at the numbers behind the ten educators that they chose and see them present some other general findings. I think the "Benefits" section towards the end of the article hits the goals of any social network precisely: 1) Access to Resources, 2)Supportive Relationships, 3)Increased Leadership Capacity, and 4)Development of a Professional Vision. IF you get into these tools to become a better educator, then I feel those are four visions that you set out to fill by utilizing the networking/technology.
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    This is a great resource to use to support the research behind using Twitter as an educator. I think the title of the article says it all. As the only social studies on my campus, I have learned to reach out to other teachers using social media. The end of the article brings up some interesting points regarding professional development and Twitter. Research says that teachers need more than just a "one stop shop" when it comes to any professional development, and that they need time to reflect, question, and practice. I would argue that Twitter allows for exactly that. Having a community of teachers to come back to in order to reflect on a teaching experience and/or ask for support provides a safe place to do just that.
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    Cassie, this was a very interesting research article that presented actual statistics and information on how teachers utilize social media, specifically Twitter. It was very informative and discussed the uses of twitter beyond just being a social outlet.
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    This was indeed an interesting research project. It was nice to see that there were so many collaborations that were spawned through Twitter connections. Most of the teachers said they were able to exchange information or resources at a professional level, but I was surprised by how many continued the conversation at a social level also.
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    I feel like this resource has a lot of valuable information. I am very interested in learning to use Twitter as a form of PLN using Twitter and this resource seems to show the value in that. In addition, I liked the research study approach to this article.
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    This study underscored the benefits of Twitter for the educational community. The article shared the advantages to new teachers in particular, where one participant stated it changed her vision and practice in the classroom. Very powerful!
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    Of all the resources I have read thus far on PLNs, this particular article forced me to think deeper and reconsider my interpretation of this concept. First of all, I found that the article provided a picture of the quality of interaction that can occur within Twitter. The data collected by researchers provides an in depth look at Twitter as a PLN - a feat that few other resources I have read have accomplished. By detailing the amount, quality, and type of interactions and connections, a tangible conception of a PLN emerges, even for someone who has little to no experience with Twitter. Of the 10 surveyed, a majority of their connections and tweets were professionally related. According to Nussbaum-Beach (video I posted), the difference between a PLN and a CoP is the familiarity of the people and the connection to an idea or problem. However, this study provides a different perception of a PLN that is largely professionally based with strong two-way connections. These conclusions made me wonder if it is possible for facets of a PLN on Twitter to transform into a CoP. Further, at what point can one argue that a PLN has successfully transform into a virtual CoP? Thanks for sharing. This was an excellent read!
Levi Fletcher

(Fletcher #1) A community of practice in action: SEDA as a learning community for educa... - 2 views

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    This article describes the process of growth of the community of practice of SEDA, the Staff and Educational Development Association. Members of the community went from being on the outskirts, learning from others but not bringing anything new to the table. Then, as they grew, they later became mentors and trainers to those around them. In particular, phrases like "element of selflessness" and "stewarding knowledge" best describe the feeling and attitude of the article.
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    This article describes the process of growth of the community of practice of SEDA, the Staff and Educational Development Association. Members of the community went from being on the outskirts, learning from others but not bringing anything new to the table. Then, as they grew, they later became mentors and trainers to those around them. In particular, phrases like "element of selflessness" and "stewarding knowledge" best describe the feeling and attitude of the article.
Todd Vens

Graduate Professional Education from a Community of Practice Perspective: The Role of S... - 1 views

Polin, L. G. (2010). Graduate Professional Education from a Community of Practice Perspective: The Role of Social and Technical Networking. In C. Blackmore (Ed.), Social Learning Systems and Commun...

communities of practice graduate students higher education

started by Todd Vens on 16 Sep 12 no follow-up yet
Todd Vens

Exploring the Potential of Communities of Practice for Learning and Collaboration in a ... - 0 views

Sánchez-Cardona, I., Sánchez-Lugo, J., & VŽlez-González, J. (2012). Exploring the Potential of Communities of Practice for Learning and Collaboration in a Higher Education Context. Procedia - Socia...

communities of practice higher education professional development

started by Todd Vens on 16 Sep 12 no follow-up yet
jaelorduy

What is a Community of Practice? - 7 views

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    I am very pleased with this video. It's an interview with Etienne Wenger and he explains, in his own terms, his research and definition of the Community of Practice.
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    Wegner talking about CoP. Again, although it is a short summary overview, it makes several key points which help my understanding. Firstly that the challenge which can arise in a CoP can become like a sort of curriculum which is wired on and developed. Learning, sharing happen and even new knowledge creation. As he talks about tools he makes it clear that such online tools are not in themselves CoP bbut the tools which enable them. Interesting and digestible.
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    I like this overview a lot. Thank you for posting. He makes CoPs sound so helpful and the people that are in them so positive and available. It makes me want to join one right now!
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    I enjoyed this video quite a bit. He's point at 3:25 regarding the correct usage of tools in CoPs seems obvious, but it emphasizes the need for management and organization in successful CoPs.
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    I really like that you chose a video. This is a great summary of what a CoP is and what it needs to be successful! Defining a community of practice is not easy but using the correct tools appropriately can make all the difference!
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    This was refreshing to watch a video instead of reading an article about these topics. I think that it was powerful when he mentioned that it is the learners duty to organize and be in charge of how they would like to learn and what they would like to learn. We interact daily with our coworkers, friends, family, etc. We can and do learn from all of them, it is up to how what we want to learn and to what extent.
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    I really enjoyed watching this video. I had searched for some videos on Communities of Practice, but this is clearly the best one I have seen. It provides a clear explanation of CoP's and even some information on what it takes in order to be successful.This is important because it shows what a successful CoP should look like.
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    I also liked the explanation about how members from a Communities of Practice are engaged in a similar practice but they may do it in different settings. They don´t need to do it together. The learning contract between the members is the key of success.
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    Dr. Wenger talks about his Community of Practice. This discussion gives us an outline of how skills be shared through a CoP. According to Dr. Wenger, the CoP creates an on-going network of resources to communicate problems and discuss solutions. The learning and knowledge sharing can even create knowledge creation as solutions are discussed.
Jaime Bennett

What is a Community of Practice? - YouTube - 0 views

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    This is a decent video of a discussion between two professionals who discuss CoPs.  It defines a CoP and gives examples of what might happen in a CoP.  It is informative and helped me understand the difference between CoPs and PLNs.  
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    This video contains an interview with Dr. Etienne Wenger in which he discusses communities of practice. Wenger describes his background and how communities of practice create partnerships in learning. Wenger explains that a community of practice provides a group of people one can turn to during a challenge, giving him/her a learning partnership to go to for assistance or ideas.
Jason Marconi

Communities of Practice By: Miriam Meyerhoff - 1 views

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    Meyerhoff, M. (2002). 21 Communities of Practice. This is another article that researches the marriage between social and linguistic definitions used in communities of practice. What I enjoyed about this excerpt was when the author went beyond the foundation communities of practice has, and explored distinguishing frameworks on which linguistic and social understandings were built. I also enjoyed that a good portion of this writing included the research that went on in the developmental stages of defining community of practice. This allowed me to draw strong correlations within my own educational arena and within the development of adolescents. All the research made sense to me as I read it; I just wish I knew the conclusion to the research, such as how it can affect those who want to belong to a less than morally ideal community of practice. How do I combat the need for certain students to want to feel part of a community of practice I know will not lead them to professional success.
Jennie Finafrock

Communities of Practice: A Brief Introduction - 6 views

I found this article very helpful! I just recently heard the term "community of practice" for the first time. This article truly helped me to understand that this is not a new thing by any means. A...

education technology resources edtech543

wagnerang

Cultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge - Seven Principles f... - 3 views

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    This article provides an excerpt from the book, Cultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge by Wenger, McDermott, and Snyder. This pieces notes what CoPs are and what makes them successful. It explores seven design principles to help CoPs thrive and evolve. Each principle is explained and supported with understandable real-world examples.
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    This does give a really complete explanation of each one. I agree that the examples are relevant and helpful. I think this is a great resource.
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    I like this article. Much of what I read dealt with what communities of practice are. This article focuses more on how to set up and maintain a successful community of practice. Each of the elements brought up is very detailed. I like this article because it details what a community of practice is indirectly. In describing what a successful CoP looks like you can easily see what it is and how valuable it can be. Good find!
cynthiaott

Communities of Practice - 0 views

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    KM stands for knowledge management. This article talks about CoPs in terms of the need to do away with canonical practice because the rules and procedures inhibit problem solving abilities. There is something I cannot identify that annoys me with this article. I do like the " Empowerment is key to learning" statement.
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    This article looks at Communities of practice and the implications to knowledge management. Communities of practice is a term originally developed by Lave and Wenger (1991). It describes a learning theory with a strong relationship to the social construction of knowledge. http://www.knowledge-management-tools.net/communities-of-practice.html
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    "Communities of practice is a term originally developed by Lave and Wenger (1991)." A community of practice is a group with common goals and interests. It is important to note that they are not a team. The goal is not to acquire specific information but to be part of a group to share information. It is unstructured dialog which leads to problem-solving and innovation.
Todd Vens

Communities of Practice: Learning Opportunities in Adult and Higher Education Classrooms - 0 views

Monaghan, C. (2006). Communities of Practice: Learning Opportunities in Adult and Higher Education Classrooms. Adult Higher Education in the 21st Century: Conversations, Collaborations, and Deliber...

communities of practice hospitality networking Higher Education graduate students

started by Todd Vens on 16 Sep 12 no follow-up yet
Todd Vens

Using Storytelling as the Pedagogical Model for Web-Based Learning in Communities of Pr... - 0 views

Sharda, N. (2010). Using Storytelling as the Pedagogical Model for Web-Based Learning in Communities of Practice. In N. Karacapilidis (Ed.), Web-Based Learning Solutions for Communities of Practice...

communities of practice storytelling higher education

started by Todd Vens on 16 Sep 12 no follow-up yet
Levi Fletcher

(Fletcher #6) Researching religious education pedagogy through an action research commu... - 3 views

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    This article discusses the uses of communities of practice in specifically religious education contexts. Key line on page 126 about how "community of practice as rhetoric becomes community of practice as reality." This seemed to argue that as members more and more participate, the more beneficial communities of practice become and more and more of "what they are supposed to be" - the development of a community of practice takes commitment and time.
anonymous

Communities of practice: A brief introduction - 2 views

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    This 2011, Communities of Practice: A Brief Introduction, by Etienne Wenger distills earlier writings and discussions about communities of practice and outlines some characteristics and guidelines. Wegner's definition, "Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly." There are 3 characteristics: the domain of shared interest, the community shares information, activities and relationships and the practice of practioners who share resources, experiences, stories, tools and problem solving. Communities of practice can be for problem solving, information requests, experience seeking, reusing assets, coordination and synergy, documentation projects, visits and mapping knowledge. They can be small or vast, online or face to face. The theory of communities of practice has spilled over into organizations, businesses, government, education, associations, social sectors, international development and the web.
Kelsey Ramirez

Connectivism: a network theory for teaching and learning in a connected world - 11 views

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    Breakdown of the theory of Connectivism, distinctions between groups and networks and learning about the history & application of Connectivism in education
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    This article is packed with concise information about connectivism. The eight bulleted points about connectivism really did a great job of summarizing the main points that Siemens makes about learning in a digital age. This was a great find. The embedded multimedia added to this site giving a great overview of this learning theory.
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    I think this article provided a succinct description about what connectivism is and the two main proponents of this theory, Stephen Downes and George Siemens. The background information and basic principles are helpful in further understanding the concept of connectivism, and there are many additional resources providing within the article to help the reader learn more, as well.
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    A valuable synthesis and outline of connectivism. I agree, the detailed summation is easily understood and simplified for practical application.
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    What I really liked about this article is the idea that teachers who use connectivist principles for their own learning can model that behavior for students to do the same.
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    a. In this short article, Bell provides an overview of connectivism as a theory for the new era of education. Statistics of increases of internet access in homes and us in higher education set the stage to making connectivism a legitimate player in education today. Bell then breaks down connectivism as a theory and identifies it as the successor to classic educational theories such as behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. The article ends with some suggestions for educators looking to apply this theory.
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    This article talks about the importance of networks and the difference between a group emphasis and a network emphasis. The author discusses the importance of information running through a network of human and non-humans. He additionally outlines Siemen's principles of Connectivism. Further, he discusses the implications for using the principles of Connectivism by educators and within higher education.
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    Kelsey, thanks for sharing. I found the article relevant to my own practice as a higher ed librarian, where we are increasingly encouraging students to be producers of information and to participate in the scholarly conversation.
cooperjrn

Connectivism: Learning theory of the future or vestige of the past? - 13 views

  • Connectivism is a theoretical framework for understanding learning.
  • ccording to connectivism, knowledge is distributed across an information network and can be stored in a variety of digital formats.
  • objectivism, pragmatism, and interpretivism
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  • Where connectivism differs from those theories, I would argue, is that connectivism denies that knowledge is propositional. That is to say, these other theories are 'cognitivist', in the sense that they depict knowledge and learning as being grounded in language and logic.  Connectivism is, by contrast, ‘connectionist’.  Knowledge is, on this theory, literally the set of connections formed by actions and experience. It may consist in part of linguistic structures, but it is not essentially based in linguistic structures, and the properties and constraints of linguistic structures are not the properties and constraints of connectivism. . . In connectivism, there is no real concept of transferring knowledge, making knowledge, or building knowledge.  Rather, the activities we undertake when we conduct practices in order to learn are more like growing or developing ourselves and our society in certain (connected) ways.”
  • Vygotsk
  • Vygotsky
  • learning is the act of recognizing patterns shaped by complex networks.’  
  • The role of the tutor will not only change, but may disappear altogether.
  • A paradigm shift, indeed, may be occurring in educational theory, and a new epistemology may be emerging, but it does not seem that connectivism’s contributions to the new paradigm warrant it being treated as a separate learning theory in and of its own right.  Connectivism, however, continues to play an important role in the development and emergence of new pedagogies, where control is shifting from the tutor to an increasingly more autonomous learner.
  • Downes and Siemens do not suggest that connectivism is limited to the online environment.
  • Connectivism stresses that two important skills that contribute to learning are the ability to seek out current information, and the ability to filter secondary and extraneous information.
  • The learning process is cyclical
  • In contrast, a developmental theory may attempt to take strides towards becoming an established formal theory over time.
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    An article detailing the history and development of Connectivism as a learning theory.  Goes on to question whether or not it should be considered a learning theory in it's own right.
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    I like the explanation of the difference between a full-blown theory and a developmental theory and whether connectivism is a theory or not at this point. I also appreciated the connection to earlier learning theories that this article termed pre-connectivist. With all of the different theories most educators have studied and incorporate into their teaching practices, it is helpful to see how some of them relate to one another.
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    Connectivism may not be an actual learning theory, according to the authors of this article. It may, they conceed, be a developmental theory that might one day become an actual theory. However, its full list of contexts has not yet been identified so its title as a learning theory could be premature.
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    This article argues that connectivism is not a theory because it does not introduce any new ideas. It is a great resource for reviewing other learning theories. In the article is states that Verhangen sees connectivism as a level of pedology and curriculum rather than theory. I like this quote from Downs 2007 "Knowledge is the set of connections formed by action and experience."
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    The author discusses about connectivism as a theory and how it affects learning in a digital era. Connectivism is a new theory that may not have a ton of research compared to other learning theories, but as the technology world continues to evolve, the theory of connectivism evolves too.
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    Kop and Hill give an overview of connectivism and discuss it as a learning theory. They also discuss the implications in education the increasing influence of the internet has. Kop and Hill look at the connection between connectivism and formal education. They come to the conclusion that, while they foresee radical shifts in education, they do not view connectivism as warranting its own place in learning theory structure.
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    In this journal article, Connectivism is referred to as helping develop new pedagogies and not a learning theory on it's own. The role of a tutor is diminishing as learners move from a learning environment controlled by an institution, to an environment where they direct their own learning.
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    I like this article for the overview of connectivism. The overview gives a good idea about what connectivism is. The article goes on to analyze older learning theories and how they need to be addressed in regards to the digital age. It explains how connectivism can build on older theories to better address current digital learning.
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    Connectivism: is a framework for understanding learning. Siemens (2004) states, "A community is the clustering of similar areas of interest that allows for interaction, sharing, dialoguing, and thinking together." Knowledge is always distributed and shared across learning networks. Information is gathered from everyone and then relating information back to everybody as well as receiving feedback from others.
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    This source really compares different theories about connectivism. It is discussed whether or not it is a learning theory or not, and what different people think in terms of connectivity. It also discusses some basics about connectivity, and how it means that information is just stored in different places and learners can move between networks to access different information.
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    This article discusses what learning theories meet the needs of today's learners and how connectivism is built on older theories to connect newer theories. (I didn't check the resources page until after I posted this - I'm hoping I can still use it because I spent a good 20-30 minutes on it!)
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    This article is a good critical evaluation of connectivisms usefulness in the modern classroom. Ultimately, the authors state that while new theories are emerging in response to technology, connectivism still plays an important role. This is due to the connective nature of technology and the internet.
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    This article sets out to distinguish Connectivism as either learning theory or developmental (learning) theory. The similarities and differences between the two are briefly discussed before relating how connectivism fits within the frameworks. One interesting aspect of this article is the importance placed on higher-order thinking skills and applications, which seems to be a growing demand in our current education and business markets.
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    It gives great insights on how connectivism is a learning theory. Also, I find the explanation for how connectivism fulfills the three main tasks for developmental theories.
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    Thanks for sharing this Alanna! This was a thorough article explaining the past and future of Connectivism. I liked how it puts it all into perspective and we can envision what is in store in the future regarding Connectivism.
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    Connectivism is a learning theory for the digital age. What does that mean for existing learning theories. This articles questions if previous learning theories still meet the needs of today's learners, and the needs of learners of the future. This articles analyzes connectivism to determine if it has anything new to offer as a learning theory.
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    I truly appreciated this quote..."New learning environments are informing present and future trends from which both educators and students stand to benefit. Moreover, the way in which global networks and communities of interest are currently being formed through emerging technologies is encouraging young people, in particular, to develop new, creative, and different forms of communication and knowledge creation outside formal education." I also appreciated how this article examined, and almost made the reader feel, the discourse that often arises when new theories emerge. As an educator, I have learned that balance is key! It truly isnt one method or theory over another! Rather an intersection of theories is where powerful learning can take place. Connectivism is certainly a 21st century theory which I believe is built to capitalize how how connected today's learner are through the Internet and social media! Connectivism, to me, feels that a theoretical vehicle to deliver many different theories and strategies.
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    This article delves into connectivism and whether it can be considered a learning theory. It discusses the ability of a network to be able to not only seek out current information but also to filter out extraneous information. It narrows the definition to connections formed through actions and experience. The authors envision a paradigm shift where the student will have the power to drive their own learning without the need of a tutor.
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    This is an interesting article, arguing that connectivism isn't fully a learning theory, but rather a shift away from the tutor/teacher role to more autonomous learners.
Allison Hall

Research-based communities of practice in UK higher education.: EBSCOhost - 0 views

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    This article examines how communities of practice can enhance research in higher education. They seek to gain greater understanding of what individuals gain from their membership, how CoP enhance personal research, and how CoP can be integrated into higher education.
Rhonda Lowderback

http://www.udel.edu/educ/whitson/files/Lave,%20Situating%20learning%20in%20communities%... - 0 views

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    Communities of practice, according to this article, resemble apprenticeships in other parts of the world and in earlier times. It used to be that in order to learn you became an apprentice to a master in that topic. You formed a community of practice to learn that skill. Learning, in general, can take this form and mimic this apprentice relationship.
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    While the CoP references in this group have clearly illustrated the concept as defined by Wenger, I found this reference equally valuable as it illustrates the practice of these communities in life situations. This helped me solidify my understanding in a different context.
Todd Vens

Using Communities of Practice to Foster Faculty Development in Higher Education - 1 views

Teeter, C., Fenton, N., Nicholson, K., Flynn, T., Kim, J., McKay, M., O'Shaughnessy, B., et al. (2011). Using Communities of Practice to Foster Faculty Development in Higher Education. From Here to...

communities of practice higher education teaching sharing

started by Todd Vens on 16 Sep 12 no follow-up yet
Jason Marconi

Communities of Practice the Organizational Frontier - 4 views

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    By: Eitenne C. Wenger and William M. Snyder Wenger, E. C., & Snyder, W. M. (2000). Communities of practice: The organizational frontier. Harvard business review, 78(1), 139-146. The first article I started with was a Harvard Business review entry regarding communities of practice within organizations. While my other articles focused on the education world and describe actions within the social environment, this article took a different approach in explaining the inner workings CofP's play in the office. The fundamental meaning communities of practice represent go unchanged, but it is interesting that this article puts a table and explanation for the differences other office groups represent, such as an informal network, project team, and formal work group. This distinction allows for other varied communities of practice to be represented. Such as the education field and social psychology. Wenger and Snyder then take the article one step further by explaining the uses of CoPs for management and how to facilitate their growth for strong company cultures.
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    This article is great that CoPs and PLNs (PLEs) build upon one another to drive a foundational strategy. The primary group might only be a few people but will continue to build to the point that the entire organization is involved. I also think it is important to discuss how this is utilized not only in education but also in business (or other fields). Great pick Jason!
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    I liked some of the real world examples for benefits of CoP's. The story of the technician who came up with the pneumatic tube idea that was ulitmately adopted because of support from his fellow technicians was really cool to hear.
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