1. a social discipline of learning Etienne Wenger and Beverly Trayner Learning for a small planet 118 Chester Street Grass Valley, CA 95945, U.S.A. Phone (530) 205-3534 E-mail etienne@ewenger.com, bev@bevtrayner.com Website: www.ewenger.com, www.bevtrayner.com

2. … a self-governed group of people, who q share challenges, passion or interest q interact regularly q learn from and with each other improve their ability to do what they care about In gangs… In gangs… they learn to survive on the streets In organizations… In organizations… they provide better service to clients

3. q To help each other solve problems q To hear each other’s stories and avoid local blindness q To find synergy across structures q To keep up with change q To reflect on their practice and improve it q To build shared understanding q To cooperate on innovation q To find a voice and gain strategic influence

4. What issues of practice can a community of practice help you with? What personal stories illustrate this?

5. Community Domain Learning together Key dimensions Practice IdentityIdentity BoundariesBoundaries MeaningMeaning Competence/powerCompetence/power

6. Community Domain Learning together Key dimensions ParticipationParticipation SponsorshipSponsorship NurturingNurturing SupportSupport Practice IdentityIdentity BoundariesBoundaries MeaningMeaning Competence/powerCompetence/power

7. Community Domain Learning together Key processes Bring practice in Reflect and self-design Push practice forward Create self- representation Practice IdentityIdentity BoundariesBoundaries MeaningMeaning Competence/powerCompetence/power

8. Information Informal Formal With From Models of practice Project reviews Case clinics Document sharing Collections Learning projects Hot topic discussions Stories Formal practice transfer Visits Invited speaker Mutual benchmark External benchmark Broadcast inquiry Reading group Problem solving News Joint response Boundary collaboration Training and workshops Pointers to resources Systematic scan Guests Joint events Documenting practice Field trips Exploring ideas Each other 1 2 7 4 3 6 5 Tips Practice fairs Warranting Help desk Outside sources 1.Exchanges 2.Productive inquiries 3.Building shared understanding 4.Producing assets 5.Creating standards 6.Formal access to knowledge 7.Visits Debates

9. Platform perspective  packages Activity Configuration perspective  community Feature perspective  usability Tool perspective  activity using and integrating technology

10. Community profiles as patterns of togetherness Community activities oriented to … … meetings … context … community cultivation … access to expertise … projects … open-ended conversation … content publishing … individual participation … relationships In collaboration with Nancy White and John Smith© 2006 Wenger, White, and Smith

11. occasional transactional peripheral active coordinator core group lurkers leaders sponsors experts beginners alumni outsiders a common picture

12. Elected Consensus Self-selected Volunteer Rotation Tacit q Facilitator q Assistant q Help desk attendant q Journalist Support roles q Convener q Core group member q Subject matter expert q Networker/weaver q Broker q Outpost/scout q Questioner Member roles q Coordinator q Subgroup leader q Cybrarian q Technology steward Community roles Appointed Assigned Emergent community nurturing roles

13. ● Passion for domain ● Internal leadership ● Energized core group ● Focus on practice ● Trust ● Community rhythm ● Personal touch ● High value for time ● High expectations ● Engaged sponsorship ● Skilled support ● Lack of time ● Leader neglect ● Focus on events ● Focus on documents ● De-energizing tasks ● Red tape ● Logistics or IT ● Command/control ● Cookie-cutter approach ● Ideology

14. Will it work? DebateDebate q Present arguments for and against q Prepare and present rebuttals q Open discussion in roles (for and against) q Personal comments q Thumb up or down by audience It will not work q The conditions are not met q There are too many obstacles q Better alternatives will work Each group divides into two teams that prepare an argument … It is the right approach q The conditions are met q Obstacles are surmountable q Alternatives do not achieve goal or …for …against

15. For more information, go to www.ewenger.com Etienne Wenger Learning for a small planet P.O. Box 810 North San Juan, CA 95960, U.S.A. Phone (530) 292-9222 E-mail etienne@ewenger.com Website: www.ewenger.com