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CoP : Getting Started 3. Forming a Community of Practice. Based upon the work of Etienne Wenger Communities of Practice (COP) 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. Website:
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Forming a Community of Practice • Based upon the work of Etienne Wenger • Communities of Practice (COP) 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. • Website: • http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm
IDEA Partnership: Another View of COP • www.ideaparternship.org • A Community of Practice (CoP) is quite simply a group of people that agree to interact regularly to solve a persistent problem or improve practice in an area that is important to them. • A New Approach to Solving Complex Educational Problems • Cashman, J., Linehan, P., & Rosser, M. (2007). Communities of Practice: A new approach to solving complex educational problems. Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Directors of Special Education. • http://www.ideapartnership.org/documents/CoPGuide.pdf
The Community and its practice groups • The community keeps the members focused on the big picture of behavioral health • The practice groups keep the community sensitized to the dimensions of the issues • Together, the community and the practice groups: • make connections • invite participation • create and share knowledge • change practice!!!
COPs involve sharing.... vision passion decision making problem solving knowledge language commitment work
COPs are not successful because of like-minded people,they are successful because of shared passion.
3 Critical Elements to a COPReference: Etienne Wenger • The Domain • A “shared identify” that unifies the community • The Community • Members building relationships & helping each other. Members engaging in shared dialogues, activities, and information and resource sharing. • The Practice • Practitioners with a shared repertoire of resources that interact for a shared purpose.
5 Critical FunctionsReference: Etienne Wenger • Educate • Collecting and disseminating information related to problems of practice • Support • Provide a method for communicating and interacting (eg. Wiki worksite, Sharedwork.org, etc.) • Cultivate • Assist a group in “getting going” and sustaining a positive “rhythm of interaction” • Encourage • Promote the work and accomplishments of the community by talking about the work • Integrate • Involve and integrate the community work in the policies and decision-making of the organization