Communities of practice the art of learning partnership

1. Communities of practicethe art of learning partnership Etienne Wenger-Trayner CSTD Community Leaders Workshop Toronto, November 17-18, 2011

2. Orientationsways of experiencing togetherness … meetings … open-ended conversation … projects … content publishing … access to expertise Community activities oriented to … … individual participation … relationships … community cultivation … context In collaboration with Nancy White and John Smith

3. A social discipline of learningkey processes Reflect andself-design Meaning Push practiceforward Domain Identity Bring practice in Learningtogether Community Practice Boundaries Competence/power Create self-representation In collaboration with Beverly Trayner

4. Learning activitiesa great variety • Exchanges • Productive inquiries • Building shared understanding • Producing assets • Creating standards • Formal access to knowledge • Visits Outsidesources Pointers to resources News Informal Information 1 Hot topicdiscussions Stories Broadcast inquiry Polls Exploringideas Debates Tips 3 Case clinics Document sharing Readinggroup 2 Jointevents Documentingpractice Project/after-actionreviews Eachother With Guests From Jointresponse Peerassist Collections Visits 7 4 Field trips Problem solving Learningprojects Formalpracticetransfer Role play Boundarycollaboration Practice fairs Q&A 6 Mutual benchmark Casestudies 5 Models of practice Helpdesk Trainingand workshops Warranting Formal External benchmark Invited speaker Systematic scan

5. Community rhythmfinding the heartbeat of a learning partnership

6. Forms of participationa common picture transactional outsiders lurkers peripheral occasional experts alumni active beginners core group leaders coordinator sponsors

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

8. Self-design activities…enabling distributed community cultivation Enabling participation • Convene meetings • Initiate activities • Facilitate interactions Enabling reification • Gardening website • Records and summaries • Capturing learning Distribute leadership • Cultivate core group • Form leadership groups • Coach leaders Learning agenda • Challenges of practice • Emerging issues • Hot topics Community cultivation Self-care • Pursue own learning • Meet other leaders • Visit other communities Backchannel work • Keep in touch • Invite members to act • Notes and newsletters Assessment • Health checks • Monitor indicators • Value-creation stories Community building • Manage boundaries • Welcome newcomers • Build identity and trust Institutional brokering • Talking with sponsors • Making business case • Budgeting

9. How to get going… the first three steps • Potential members • What are your challenges? • Who do you talk to? • Is there a community? 1. Conversations • What do you think of the idea? • Are you willing to help make it happen? • What would that mean to you? • Who else could help? 2. Internal leaders 3. Launch design • Choose a launch approach • Plan a launch activity • Prepare a follow-up • Do it

10. Thank you! Etienne Wenger-Trayner etienne@wenger-trayner.com