Virtual Communities

Putting Communities of Practice to Work as Agents for Change

Tuesday, January 27, 2004
12:50 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. CONSES29

Colleen Dietz, Director, Professional Education, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California

Richard M. Lacy, Instructional Technology Program Manager, University of Southern California

Linda Polin, Professor of Education, Pepperdine University

Vicki Suter, Director, iCohere

NLII Key Theme - Virtual Communities of Practice

Information technology's growing importance to campus teaching and learning activities has driven development of campus communities of practice from diverse academic and non-academic units, from faculty development centers to system-wide instructional/information technology staff groups. In fact, the NLII argues that communities of practice can be seen both as professional development environments—as agents for change toward learning-centered practice through linking "local" communities to more "global" efforts—and as a means toward bridging research and practice. We will discuss the process of building communities of practice, using a case-based approach, and will begin building a community of practice that can continue afterward as an NLII-sponsored virtual community of practice.

(If you are interested in contributing more ideas on this topic, plan on joining the NLII "Bridging Research and Practice Members Feedback Forum," from 3:15 to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.)

Postconference Resource

2004 Annual Meeting		Virtual Communities Putting Communities of Practice to Work as Agents for Change Tuesday, January 27, 2004 12:50 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. CONSES29 Colleen Dietz, Director, Professional Education, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California Richard M. Lacy, Instructional Technology Program Manager, University of Southern California Linda Polin, Professor of Education, Pepperdine University Vicki Suter, Director, iCohere NLII Key Theme - Virtual Communities of Practice Information technology's growing importance to campus teaching and learning activities has driven development of campus communities of practice from diverse academic and non-academic units, from faculty development centers to system-wide instructional/information technology staff groups. In fact, the NLII argues that communities of practice can be seen both as professional development environments—as agents for change toward learning-centered practice through linking "local" communities to more "global" efforts—and as a means toward bridging research and practice. We will discuss the process of building communities of practice, using a case-based approach, and will begin building a community of practice that can continue afterward as an NLII-sponsored virtual community of practice. (If you are interested in contributing more ideas on this topic, plan on joining the NLII "Bridging Research and Practice Members Feedback Forum," from 3:15 to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.) Postconference Resource
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