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Jessica Gake

Communities of Practice: The Organizational Frontier - 5 views

  • Notsolongago,companieswere reinvented by teams.Communities of practicemayreinventthemyetagain –if managers learn to cultivate these fertileorganizational formswithoutdestroyingthem
  • The best way for an executive to assess the valueof a community of practice is by listening to mem-bers’ stories, which can clarify the complex rela-tionships among activities, knowl-edge, and performance.
  • What are communities of practice? In brief,they’re groups of people informally bound togetherby shared expertise and passion for a joint enter-prise
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  • managers cannot mandate communities of prac-tice. Instead, successful managers bring the rightpeople together, provide an infrastructure in whichcommunities can thrive, and measure the commu-nities’ value in nontraditional ways.
  • The strength of communities of practice is self-perpetuating. As they generate knowledge, they re-inforce and renew themselves.
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    This article discusses communities of practice from a business perspective, which I found interesting because CoPs truly to exist in all professions; they aren't strictly and education trend. The merit of CoPs, according to the author, is that people share their experiences and knowledge in free-flowing, creative ways that foster new approaches to solving problems. They discuss the various benefits of CoPs and then examine why they aren't more prevalent, concluding that though the concept has been around for centuries, it hasn't been widely accepted yet and therefore companies (and education) haven't spent a long time cultivating them and helping people learn to effectively develop them. They refer to CoPs as the new frontier and predict that they will become a more and more important part of knowledge acquisition for professionals in the future.
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    Although many organizations create groups that include people of varying specialties to complete specific problems, people are organizing themselves into communities of practice, informal groups who share "expertise and passion" for a common interest. These communities are new to the business world because their spontaneous, informal nature makes them difficult to supervise. Managers cannot mandate communities of practice, they can only create a supportive environment. Members self select based on common interests and perceived advantage. The authors provide examples from Hill's Pet Nutrition and Hewlett-Packard. While communities should not be forced into creation, managers can cultivate them by identifying potential CoPs that will benefit the company's "strategic capabilities", provide infrastructure to them, and assess their value to the business through "nontraditional methods." Business managers need to realize the wealth of potential available to them through communities of practice.
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    Prior to my studies in the Educational Technology program, I had never heard of the term Communities of Practice. Until I read this article, I have only seen research about CoP in education. This article begins by discussing CoP in business, and how long CoP has been around as well its benefits for businesses. I was really surprised to hear how long CoP has been around, you would think more businesses would invest the time to develop them. A couple examples mentioned show that it can take up to a year or more before change is implemented, but the long term benefits are worth it. Also, I noticed that another article broke down information in a table, much like the "Snapshot Comparison" section in this article. This is a nice way to compare things in an easy to read and understandable format.
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    This article, while a bit longer, introduces and explains communities of practice in an in depth and thorough fashion. I enjoyed the comparison to real-life companies organization and the history coming all the way from Ancient Greece. Two of my favorite comments states that communities offer "creative ways that foster new approaches to problems" and "they give you both the golden eggs and golden goose that lays them". It makes me realize how essential deeper understanding and knowledge can be developed within these types of communities. The article also develops an understanding of a comparison chart of different types of work groups to show when using communities of learners are most effective.
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    This is a great resource that focuses specifically on the use of communities of practice in business environments. However, the information is easily transferred to other areas of industry or academia. It addresses the fact that CoPs are different than the traditional approach of working in teams in that their success and usefulness can be difficult to measure. The author gives tips for how to evaluate the success of a CoP through the sytematic gathering of anecdotal evidence.
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    This is a great resource for businesses to gain insights into the use of Communities of Practice. In this article, Wenger and Snyder discuss Communities of Practice and their value for organizations.
bettywells

Personal Learning Environments - the future of eLearning? - 6 views

  • a Personal Learning environment was not an application. A PLE is comprised of all the different tools we use in our everyday life for learning.
  • All educational software, implicitly or otherwise, either enhances or restrains certain pedagogic approaches to learning. There is no such thing as pedagogically neutral software. A Personal Learning Environment could allow a leaner to configure and develop a learning environment to suit and enable their own style of learning.
  • Social software offers the opportunity for narrowing the divide between producers and consumers. Consumers become themselves producers, through creating and sharing.
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    In this article Attwell begins to discuss the importance of continuing education within the professional field. Attwell highlights that as the learning environment is changing so too must the educational world in how people acquire knowledge. As we are all well aware that gaining an education online is very adaptable, so too must schools recognize the value in allowing educators to gain knowledge through PLN's. Attwell identifies that as PLN's continue to grow so to will the informal and formal acquisition of knowledge.
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    This article explains the basic idea of personal learning networks, especially related to e-Learning. The author makes the argument that the education system needs to adapt the ideas behind personal learning networks in order to be successful in the future.
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    This article discusses the important trends in personal learning environments. It talks of its importance in life long learning, informal learning, the impact of different learning styles and how technology is playing a huge role in our education today,
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    This is paper written back in 2007 about PLNs. The author argues that PLN are the future of elearning because of the power they have to offer individualized learning and give the learner the opportunity to organize his/her own learning. That educational institutions cannot expect to simply recreate the same forms of learning used in tradition education online. rather that we must learn to adapt to the new and emerging technologies of ubiquitous computing and social software. Considering that this article was written 9 years ago, I found it to be extremely accurate and representative of PLNs today.
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    The article looks at personal learning environments and discusses the possibility that some form of PLE will be needed as part of the future of learning. It also discusses the need for changes in education to accommodate PLEs as current teaching methodology is out of date with how current students wish to learn.
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    This article pushes for a change in learning through Personal Learning Environments. This article recognizes that PLEs help to foster lifelong learning though providing multiple tools and resources to support the learning. It is argued that this learning does not have to be a formal, institutional learning, but can be informal which adapts for different styles of learning. A very interesting aspect of the article to me is the addressing of assessment and how the learning that has taken place through the PLE would be assessed. This primarily explains that evidence could be shown through artifacts and possibly an e-Portfolio. It later goes on to explain what a PLE would look like which include a copious amount of tools that one uses daily for learning. These tools primarily would be comprised of what is called social software connecting collaborators. The important take away from this article is that a PLE is not a tool to be implemented, but instead an approach for the use of a web of tools for learning and sharing creating a bridge between the learner and the world outside.
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    @kcastello Thanks for the article! I particularly like the distinction you made between PLEs as an approach, not a tool.
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    Great article Kristin! I really like how the article states that it's lifelong learning when it comes to PLEs and not just temporary if done correctly!
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    This paper explores the Personal Learning Environment and considers why PLEs might be useful to learning in the future. The author looks at the changing face of education and the ways the net generation is using technology for learning. The idea of a Personal Learning Environment understands that learning is ongoing and wants to provide tools to support that learning and help the learner organize his own learning. The article also looks at changing technology, and the development of social software, and it's impacts on education today.
meganapgar

Free Family Feud PowerPoint Templates for Teachers - 0 views

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    A list of free Family Feud PowerPoint templates that teachers can use to create a fun game of Family Feud for their students based on the curriculum.
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    A list of free Family Feud PowerPoint templates that teachers can use to create a fun game of Family Feud for their students based on the curriculum.
Susan Weitzman-Trifman

Handbook on Family and Community Engagement - 0 views

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    This downloadable handbook contains background articles and suggested practices on how to best engage families in their children's education. It was published in 2011 with funding and support from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Academic Development Institute and the Center on Innovation & Improvement.
vanessa botts

Personal Learning Networks: Knowledge Sharing as Democracy | Open Education | HYBRID PE... - 0 views

  • instead constructed from knowledge distributed across networks and on the Web.
  • r assistive guides for self-directed learners—work to develop the fluency required to succeed in these spaces.
  • there is also evidence suggesting social communication strengthens human relationships, particularly for introverts, and has benefitted families, youth and businesses around the world.
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  • The PLN consists of relationships between individuals where the goal is   enhancement of mutual learning
  • The currency of the PLN is learning in the form of feedback, insights, documentation, new contacts, or new business opportunities. It is based on reciprocity and a level of trust that each party is actively seeking value-added information for the other.
  • Underlying the development of a PLN is the need for individual learners to be able to have the capacity for self-direction, which requires a higher level of learning maturity—an absence of which may represent a barrier for a percentage of adults to learn in this way.
  • play an important role in creating richness within a PLN, too. Learners who store important information in Web 2.0 tools such as wikis, blogs, microblogs, social bookmarking and on other platforms create quickly accessible resources.
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    Seamon states in this article that there is evidence that social communication (PLN) can strengthen human relationships, particularly for introverts. It may help foster family and business as well. It encompasses learning from feedback, insights, new contacts, and is based in reciprocity and trust. It is needed to increase the chance of higher levels of learning maturity.
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    The author addresses concerns about the feelings of isolation that can stem from the use of technology (in the sense that it is utilized to the exclusion of in-person connections) but makes sure to point out the benefits of technology as evidenced by Personal Learning Networks.
Rhonda Lowderback

Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity - Etienne Wenger - Google Books - 0 views

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    This is actually an ebook that drives home the notion that learning is not something taking place only in a classroom, but that everyone learns in their communities of practice. These can be a group of friends, a family, a musical band, or pretty much any group that learns and works together.
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    This book could lend a lot of understanding to what CoPs are and what they do. I do like that learning for a CoP is not always in a classroom and this book seems to drive that point.
annieyip

Skype in the Classroom...For Real! - 0 views

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    Another successful Skype application in the classroom! These students are learning about different states and playing games like Family Feud!
jody lazarski

Common Sense Media - 0 views

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    This is a fantastic resource for students, educators and parents. This website hosts curriculum for online learning and social networking information that can be used in classrooms and in homes. According to it's site summary: Common Sense Media improves the lives of kids and families by providing independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media.
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    Took me a little bit of digging, but I can see the benefit of this website. My school just went to 1:1 iPads and I can see the benefit in sites like this.
kettaku

Take a Tour | Learn to Earn - 0 views

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    Adult ELL lessons designed by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). The lessons were designed to have a mixture of vocabulary and games for beginning intermediate students designed around work skills.
Forrest Doud

The Verge - Technology, Science, Art, and Culture - 3 views

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    Technology blog useful for staying up-to-date on the latest tech trends, news, and policy. As a technology teacher, I find this an invaluable resource.
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    One of my new favorite sites to visit daily. News, stories, product reviews in one place with the technology being the main focus. I always can find something interesting to share with my students, friends and family.
James Russell

The digital Safety Debate - 0 views

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    This article hits on the issue that many teachers and administrators don't use social media because the students know more about it than they do. It scares them.
Kim Hefty

Internet Safety - 0 views

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    541, internet safety
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    This is a great resource about Internet safety!
Casey Capece

We Give Books - 1 views

http://www.wegivebooks.org/ Read and share books for free! Wonderful selection, new books added all the time. Great for teachers and families.

free books

started by Casey Capece on 16 Jun 13 no follow-up yet
Ashley Eivins

Module 3: Developing a Positive Digital Footprint and Managing My Online Reputation - 0 views

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    Prior to entering the M.E.T. program at Boise State University I often used the Facebook to keep in touch with old friends and family, but never to advance my career as an elementary teacher.
Mary Carter

PLN: Your Personal Learning Network Made Easy - 4 views

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    Talks about what a PLN is and why it's important to grow the connections that used to only exist between coworkers, friends, and family. Also has a table to show the variety of tools that one can use to expand their PLN.
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    This post describes PLN's and what they look like and the purpose they serve. The author goes on to describe ways people use PLN's, provides a chart with resources, and my favorite part was the stages of PLN adoption section which helps newbies get started without feeling overwhelmed.
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    "PLN's have immense value" was supported in-depth in this great resource. What a great find Jasmine! The chart discussing all the tools we can use to develop our own PLN's can be so crucial to educators who may be unsure about where to begin. The networking world can be overwhelming!
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    This blog entry streamlines the process for getting started with a PLN. It provides a directory of web 2.0 to help build a dynamic PLN. Links are provided. The video "The Networked Student" by Design Inspired by commoncraft is embedded; it highlights the benefits of being a networked student.
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.
scottcastro

PLN's for Retirees? Most definitely. - 0 views

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    Retirees maintain personal interests---just as commonly as non-retirees. The love of learning and being a part of community does not disappear once one has retired. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people 65 and older spend at least 2 hours per day undertaking leisure activities. This article explores the idea of shifting from professional communities of interest to personal communities of interest in retirement and discusses PLNs in retirement that usually consist of friends and family members. The author focuses on the usage of social media for retirees to keep connected with one another.
J Matibag

Part of it All: The High School Musical as a Community of Practice - 3 views

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    A great article on how high school musicals qualify as communities of practice. Impacts are shown beyond the "stage" and onto personal development, family, and work ethic.
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    Ryan John is an elementary and middle school music and theatre teacher in New York City. In this case study, he examined how the community of practice formed in a musical theater group impacted their personal development.
bijal11

The Described and Captioned Media Program - 1 views

shared by bijal11 on 05 Aug 16 - No Cached
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    The Described and Captioned Media Program is a free-loan library of accessible educational media for use by teachers and family member of K-12 students with a vision or hearing loss. This U.S. Department of Education-funded program also serves as a clearinghouse of accessibility information and training resources as well as a gateway to accessibility information from partnering organizations.
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