The concept of Community of Practice Sample Clauses

The concept of Community of Practice. The term Community of Practice (CoP) was coined initially to describe the totality of the social learning systems that originates around any particular activity (Lave & Wenger, 1991). Later, Xxxxxx (2011) defined CoPs as “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”. Wick (2000) also proposes the definition of “collaborative teams and communities of practice as entities that help solve authentic problems” or “groups of professionals with similar task responsibilities” (Xxxxxxx, 2001, p. 48). CoPs represent social learning spaces in which commitment derives from identification with a shared domain of interest, a shared repertoire of tools and words and specific modes of communication which emerge as a result of continuous collaboration (Xxxxxx, 1998). In this learning space, an internal social organization arises and it has different levels of influence and prestige. Then, with time, members of the CoP share common artefacts, narrative practices, knowledge and methods, so they become closer. The community of practice focuses the attention on both the learning process and the relationships and the exchanges to improve practices. Concerning the learning process, he situated learning theory, born in the 1980s, showed an alternative method of learning overcoming the traditional cognitive theory where knowledge passes from the teacher to the learner. This theory affirms that learning is a continuous active and social process characterized from the involvement in the socially constructed practice and the personal meaning that is associated with the experience (Xxxxxxx, 1999; Xxxx & Xxxxxx, 1991 Brown & Xxxxxx, 1991). Within this new approach, learning is conceived much more as a process involving practice and knowing in a social context. In addition, communities of practice emphasize the relationships between community members that lead to learning. In this way people with the same practice are joined by “complex relationships, self-organization, dynamic boundaries, ongoing negotiation of identity and cultural meaning” (Wenger, 1988). In summary, CoPs works for different aims including knowledge sharing, innovation and peer learning. CoPs are very effective in learning processes of best practices through social relations, in solving problems and finding solutions, because the community members ask to who has the specific expertise, and in updating professional skills (Xxxxxx & Xx...