Teacher Learning and Exchange Outside of School Contexts: The Role of Communities of Practice

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: Impacts on the Lives of Teachers

Abstract

Teachers increasingly rely on exchanges with others outside of their school or district to address classroom challenges, develop competence, and identify and co-develop new perspectives on instruction. We draw on theories of situated learning and social capital to undertake a multi-method study of knowledge seeking and sharing at Edcamps – informal teacher meet-ups. We analyze the nature of information exchange that takes place at 100 Edcamps. We outline how this information exchange demarcates the emergence of communities of practice. We also explore how the informal teacher exchanges fuel the emergence of teacher relationships outside the boundaries of organizational jurisdiction. In the process, this study provides initial insight on how teacher external knowledge generation and sharing can complement or enhance school-based efforts.

Authors

• Evan Gilbertson, University of Pittsburgh

• Frits Pil, University of Pittsburgh