ETC Blog#6

When referring to communities of practice it is important to remember from Blog # Social Media that we are beings that are learning as members of various social groups in our communities and as such our networks are important in all aspects of our lives.

eelefever (2007, June) Social Networking in Plain English [Video File]. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc

Since we are in the educational studies let’s talk about relationships, between schools and communities, as they are needed for the best education possible. These relationships require some essential elements like high efficiency schools, student-centered learning environments, effective partnership teams, principal leadership and external support.

Sanders, M.G. (2006) Building School-Community Partnerships

Corwing Press Thousand Oaks California

These are traditional school-community partnership that when adding technology and Internet to tools and applications become stronger with guaranteed growth. The numerous network connections will add contacts not just in the community but will share with other communities located far away. Also, they will instantly share their findings and what has worked or not in these relationships.

Relationships between schools and communities are the base for community of practices and they make easier to organize and maintain as Wenger, E. says: “The art is to help such communities find resources and connections without overwhelming them with organizational meddling. This need for balance reflects the following paradox: No community can fully design the learning of another; but conversely no community can fully design its own learning.”

http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/lss.shtml

Finally, Sanders (2006) points out that school-community relationship alone will not be effective if the support from emergent educational leaders doesn’t bring this type of social networks to the school policy makers. Moreover, will not support community of practice in any given field.