The Usefulness of Wenger’s Framework in Understanding a Community of Practice.

Jane Bozarth's dissertation on communities of practice, including a proposed revised framework for analyzing and understanding these communities. The revised version clarifies the difference between engagement and participation and adjusts definitions of other terms.

Imported from Diigo #CoP #community #learning #PLC

·lib.ncsu.edu·Nov 3, 2009

The Usefulness of Wenger’s Framework in Understanding a Community of Practice.

A review of research on professional learning communities: What do we know?

Like the title says, a research review on PLCs, synthesizing results from 10 articles.

All research supported the idea that learning communities change teaching practice, although not all articles were specific about what changes took place.
In one study, teachers in PLCs developed more student-centered classrooms. Some other studies discussed specific teaching strategies used as a result of PLCs.
All studies showed a change in school culture through "collaboration, focus on student learning, teacher authority, and continuous teacher learning."
All 6 studies that looked at student achievement found that student learning improved. However, this was only seen when the focus of collaboration was student learning and not just working together.
Their conclusion: "The focus of a PLC should be developing teachers’ “knowledge of practice” around the issue of student learning"
"...working collaboratively is the process not the goal of a PLC. The goal is enhanced student achievement."

Imported from Diigo #plc #education #learning #research #community

·nsrfharmony.org·Aug 3, 2009

A review of research on professional learning communities: What do we know?