Week 25 - APC - Defining Your Practice
Activity 1: My community of practice
Etienne Wenger first coined the concept of “communities of practice”, which are defined as “groups of people who share a concern or a passion or about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interaction on an ongoing basis” (Wenger, McDermott & Snyder, 2002, p.4).
Modes of learning
According to Wenegr communities of practice 'belonging to social learning systems can take various forms at various levels between local interactions and global participation'.
My practice lies within the primary school section. I teach a year 5/6 girls only class. I have lead e-learning for the past 7years a in 2 different schools. I have also been a team leader, lead maths. This year my role within the school I work is SENCO as well as co lead E-learning. I have a passion for E-learning have have lead workshops for other teachers as well as PD sessions for other other schools within the community.
Not only is my community of practice within the school I work, it is also national. I am a member of the primary teacher facebook page, follow and interact on Twitter, A member of mind lab, member of different Google plus communities, belong to different groups on VLN, as well as part of the connected Wanganui teachers. Within these organisations I interact within different ways. Through Twitter, Google plus and facebook, I follow different people/ groups and at times post and participate in different discussions. As a member of the 'connected Wangnaui teachers' I have helped in running PD sessions with and for other teachers within our school community.
- What is the purpose and function of your practice? In what ways do you contribute to the community of your practice?
The purpose and function of my practice is as a teacher. As a teacher I aim to teach my students the skills and knowledge they need to be successful for an unknown future. I aim to equip the students I teach with the 21st century skills of critically thinkers, creative, be collaborative, innovative, be problem solvers, communicators.
Within my community I am also a leader. Therefore, I support and help other teachers that I work with in e-learning as well as extending my students in this area. I also collaborate with outside agencies to gain support for our students with different learning, behavioural and social needs.
As a learner myself, I have been completing my mind lab studies. This is not only to further my own knowledge, but also to continue to support my colleagues as well as the students that I teach. As part of this community, I participate in conversations with others completing this either face-face or through Google+ community.
The other communities that I belonging to are mainly online and therefore join in discussions as well as sharing my own knowledge and experiences. Through these online communities I am not only questioning and reflecting on my own learning and teaching, but also extending my own knowledge.
Within my community I am also a leader. Therefore, I support and help other teachers that I work with in e-learning as well as extending my students in this area. I also collaborate with outside agencies to gain support for our students with different learning, behavioural and social needs.
As a learner myself, I have been completing my mind lab studies. This is not only to further my own knowledge, but also to continue to support my colleagues as well as the students that I teach. As part of this community, I participate in conversations with others completing this either face-face or through Google+ community.
The other communities that I belonging to are mainly online and therefore join in discussions as well as sharing my own knowledge and experiences. Through these online communities I am not only questioning and reflecting on my own learning and teaching, but also extending my own knowledge.
- What are the core values that underpin your profession? Evaluate your practice with regard to these values.
- What is your specialist area of practice? How does your specialist area of practice relate to the broader professional context?
- What are key theories that underpin your practice? Evaluate your practice with regard to these theories.
Reflecting on practice:
From Class notes:
It is important that reflective practice be cultivated and fostered to become effective. It can then be a “powerful tool to examine and transform practice” (Finlay, 2008, p.10). Critical reflection looks at individual concerns within a wider perspective, “connecting individual identity and social context” (Fook & Askeland, cited in Finlay, 2008).
Your reflective journal may also become a space where you can start to gather thoughts, sketches, mind maps, diagrams you have created and collected and readings to inform particular interests you may have.
A reflective journal is an important evaluative learning tool for you as a learner and as a professional. Sharing aspects of your journal and working collaboratively in shared e-reflective journal spaces is part of the reflective process. The feedback you give and receive can be critical for further investigation, reflection, and change.
Defining your practice
Before you can fully extend your practice you will first need to be able to define it. You can start your reflective journal by introducing yourself, articulating who you are and what is your professional community of practice. In order to be able to do this effectively you should consider the following aspects of your role:
Before you can fully extend your practice you will first need to be able to define it. You can start your reflective journal by introducing yourself, articulating who you are and what is your professional community of practice. In order to be able to do this effectively you should consider the following aspects of your role:
- What is my practice?
- What is my professional context?
- Who are my community of practice ?
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