Learning rooted in agency and connectivity
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In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, communities of practice (CoPs) are more crucial than ever. Educators, mentors, and instructors must adapt their methods to new contexts, and with no definitive experts to turn to, the best way to learn is by sharing experiences and strategies with each other. This is what makes CoPs indispensable.
So, what exactly is a community of practice? According to Wenger-Trayner, CoPs 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." These communities are dynamic, with every member acting as both a learner and a contributor. CoPs are defined by three key characteristics: a shared domain of interest, an active working community, and practitioners who develop a shared repertoire of resources.
At Convergence Design Lab, we believe deeply in the power of CoPs, and we believe in optimizing these communities to ensure they have the greatest impact. In 2019, we collaborated with Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) to enhance their existing CoP. We facilitated an activity inspired by "The Art of Game Design," where we designed a Community of Practice: Deck of Lenses to facilitate discussions. These cards allowed members to define what made their community strong and identify areas for improvement.
The process was simple yet powerful. Groups were given focused prompts to discuss, which led to deep dives into important considerations without feeling overwhelmed. After discussing their assigned cards, groups shared their insights, adding ideas, questions, and feedback to each poster. This exercise not only generated a wealth of ideas but also increased members' ownership and investment in CLX’s future.
For instance, one card asked members to consider the problems their community solves. This led to rich discussions about the central issues and how to address new challenges. The activity fostered a sense of collaboration and readiness to tackle emerging problems.
Our Deck of Lenses is just one of the many ways Convergence supports CoPs. By offering strategies for generating new knowledge, we help educators transform their practice and adapt to ongoing changes in the learning ecosystem.
Our flexible and client-centered approach ensures that the final outcome is perfectly tailored to meet your organization’s unique vision of success.
