Peer Coaching | Instructional Design | Mentoring | Assessment | Evaluation | Social Research | Community of Practice
 
Community of Professional Practice

A community of professional practice is a group of people who share a passion for an area of professional performance and who come together on a regular basis to learn how to be more effective professionals. 

A CPP can span organizational boundaries because performances such as teaching and managing are similar in varied contexts.  A CPP adds value to an organization because investments in people lead to greater productivity.

Rationale
bulletCommunity.  CPPs enrich lives by providing a supportive environment that helps people grow and become high performers.
bulletResults.  CPPs create strong professional practices that lead to results.
bulletBusiness Case .  The investment costs of setting up and managing a CPP are much less than the returns that are provided because members of the CPP perform at higher levels.   

Methodology

Inputs. A CPP is a possible strategy for an organization when there is a need to improve performance that spans across traditional boundaries.

Design the CPP (step 1) For the new community, define the mission, vision, and values within the broader organizational contexts.   Articulate key practices.  Design a documentation system.  Design a system to promote metacognitive practice and to measure added value.  Align with the organizational evalution system.

Pilot Test the CPP (step 2). Using a small team, review, test and improve all aspects of the CPP.  Test practices via application (learn by doing).  Train the pilot team in mentoring.

Execute a Cycle of the CPP (step 3).  Plan the next cycle, recruit new community members, and execute the cycle.   

Learn from the Cycle  (step 4).  Review the previous cycle, and build the learning into the planning of the next cycle. 

Document Knowledge (step 5) . Use documentation to scaffold the application and advancement of knowledge. 

Outputs. The CPP grows in size, the CPP produces increasing higher levels of performance, the CPP applies and advances knowledge, and members of the CPP create meaningful results in their departments, colleges or units. 

Resources

bulletAt present, no additional resources available.

Key References

DuFour, R. & Eaker, R. (1998). Professional learning communities at work: best practices for enhancing student achievement. Bloomington, Indiana: National Educational Service.

Senge, P., Kleiner, A., Roberts, C., Ross, R., Roth, G., & Smith, B. (1999).  The Dance of change: The challenges of sustaining momentum in Learning Organizations. New York: Doubleday.

Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Web Links. 

bulletEtienne Wenger's description of a Community of Practice
bullet Funderstanding's description of a Community of Practice

 

 Partial Support By:
Grant # EEC-0202293
Program Director Sue Kemnitzer
Grant # DUE-0088591
 

Scholarship Community Leadership Team
Steve Beyerlein      Don Elger      Dan Apple