The community is an important unit of society that connects like-minded people.
For example, a classroom is some kind of community with a special learning strategy tailored to the needs of the classroom. In modern education, we have the Communities of Practice (CoP) model, a proven educational method that encourages deep learning, knowledge sharing, and teamwork among like-minded groups. It emphasizes social interaction, group learning, and active participation in spreading information. This model is used across different fields for its effectiveness in fostering collaboration. Today, we will talk about CoP, the idea behind it and its role in learning processes.
What Is a Community of Practice?
Communities of practice form through collective learning. They are created within a shared domain of activity. Whether it is artists testing new expressions or managers supporting one another, these groups are united by a shared concern or passion.
Regular interaction within the group is significant and fosters skill enhancement, embodying the essence of these communities. Importantly, this definition does not mean deliberate learning. In fact, it can naturally evolve from member interactions and connections.
You may say that there can be millions of communities like neighbors, coworkers, or even your friends. The truth is, there are communities but not CoP.
What Are the Characteristics of a Community of Practice?
Three key characteristics define a community of practice:
Domain
A community of practice goes beyond being a casual group of friends or a network of connections; it is defined by a shared domain of interest. Within the community, the members share competence, which can also be a natural process without acknowledgment. I mean, you can be a part of the Harry Potter fan community and acknowledge it, but you can also be a member of Hatha Yoga practices without knowing there is such a community.
Communities value their collective abilities and learn from each other. This is true even if their expertise is not recognized or appreciated by those outside the group.
Community
Members of CoPs collaborate through joint activities, such as collaborative note-taking. They also engage in discussions, mutual assistance, and information sharing. Members build relationships that encourage mutual learning. They appreciate their connections with each other. Simply having a website or sharing the same job title does not contribute to the community of practice. Meaningful interaction and shared learning experiences are essential. However, members of a community of practice are not required to work together daily. For instance, writers can annotate their written texts individually. Then, they can collaborate through extensions such as Saima.
Practice
A community of practice is not simply a group with shared interests. Its members are practitioners who cultivate a collective repository of resources. This process requires time and constant interaction. In addition, developing a shared practice can vary in its level of awareness. For instance, engineers who engage in cohort-based learning may gather and document their insights. Yet, the case of nurses might differ. Those nurses who regularly meet for lunch at a hospital may not realize that their discussion contributes to their knowledge. However, through these interactions, they gather stories that form a shared “storage” for their practice.
A community of practice is formed by the interconnection of these three elements. Thus, it is essential to cultivate all three factors at the same time to foster such a community.
How Does Community of Practice Work?
Communities of practice serve five essential roles:
Educate by collecting and sharing information on practice-related questions and issues for education.
Support by organizing interactions and fostering collaboration among members.
Cultivate by assisting in launching and maintaining group learning efforts.
Encourage by advocating member work through discussion and sharing.
Integrate by encouraging members to apply new knowledge to practical changes in their work.
Types of Communities of Practice
Communities of practice are classified into four main types. They are based on their structure and primary objectives. These types may intersect, with a community falling into two or more categories simultaneously.
Helping Communities
A supportive environment is key to maintaining collaboration and communication within the community. Helping community members assist with daily tasks related to shared interests. Members discuss challenges and receive advice from peers to overcome these barriers.
An example of a helping community of practice is Stack Overflow. Stack Overflow has over 14 million registered users and 100 million monthly website visitors. It stands as one of the largest helping communities for software developers. It is a great option for both professionals and enthusiasts. Users post questions on the public platform, while others respond to the community’s code of conduct. Additionally, users can share question links with non-members who might offer valuable insights. All questions and responses contribute to a knowledge base accessible to users for future reference. Most open-source frameworks are also great examples of helping communities.
Best Practice Communities
Best practice communities offer strategies to enhance members’ knowledge in specific areas. They host regular group discussions and produce written and video content to educate members.
Jimmy Daly’s Superpath can be a great example of a best-practice community. It is an online marketing community with over 8,000 content marketers. Daley organizes and shares community-generated resources. These include links to threads and blog posts, with members communicating via email and Slack each week.
Knowledge-Stewarding Communities
A knowledge-stewarding community of practice oversees and maintains an extensive knowledge repository. It often includes videos, white papers, and courses through various learning management systems.
Let’s look at Peak Freelance as an example of a knowledge-stewarding community of practices. Peak Freelance is created for freelance writers trying to grow their businesses and secure premium clients. The community features a content library. The latter includes blog posts, expert interview videos, and business templates. These resources empower Peak Freelance members to improve their writing skills.
Non-Professional Communities
Communities of practice extend beyond professional support. Additionally, they aim for personal growth and lifestyle changes. Non-professional communities meet the demands of various interests, from skiing enthusiasts to vegans. You can create or join one aligned with your goals.
The Digital Nomad World is an example of a non-professional community of practice. For freelancers, a supportive community is crucial to prevent loneliness and share experiences. Also, the platform is growing and meets the demands of its users. Its open forum promotes the exchange of firsthand experiences.
Community of Practice Examples
University of Colorado Boulder hosts an Online Pedagogy Community of Practice. It showcases outstanding work. Moreover, it fosters trusted relationships among collaborators. The community aims to promote dialogue and share effective strategies. It approaches challenges with empathy and promotes change collectively. It is a network of trusted collaborators dedicated to constant improvement.
Librarians at the University of Nevada created an inclusive teaching community of practice within their instruction department. It aims to foster equity discussions and promote shared responsibility. It stresses the involvement of majority group library workers in equity efforts. Moreover, it fosters educational equity by creating inclusive workspaces and learning experiences.
Oregon State University faculty can establish communities of practice through a proposal process. The process takes place with the Office of Faculty Affairs. Approved communities must submit a summary report. An example of such a community can be the Research for Undergraduate Network.
Orange Coasts College offers communities of practice for part-time faculty. These experiences include celebratory events and teaching-focused activities. The latter may include outcome-centered teaching and enhancing the lecture experience.
The California State University San Marcos Office of Success Coaching provides “Wisdom Exchange” opportunities. They serve as communities of practice to encourage shared participation for everyone.
Community of Practice Framework
Identify purpose and objectives
Each community of practice has a distinct purpose that motivates its members. To organize a successful community, begin with a clear, big purpose. “We meet Tuesdays to talk about online collaborative learning” is not enough.
Break down your purpose into three parts:
Domain: What topic or fields will the community cover?
Community: Who will be part of the community?
Practice: What activities will the community engage in?
Keep it simple. A clear purpose is often the most effective.
Identify the ideal member
Every community needs an “Ideal Member.” They are the ones who need to be there and can contribute the most.
Build your community around this Ideal Member. Interview potential members to learn their pain points. It is also important to understand what they want to learn and what topics they would engage in.
A few short interviews can help in chatting up a community of practice. Yet, sometimes it is not needed. Many communities of practice grow naturally from existing communities. If you have a group of Ideal Members forming naturally, you might be ready to go.
Leadership
Set up your leadership structure for your community of practice. For larger communities, this might involve forming a leadership team or board. Still, smaller groups may only need a regular chairperson.
If you choose to have a leadership team, consider scheduling regular meetings and establishing goals.
However, keep the leadership flexible. Communities can grow without strict leadership setups. Moreover, it is often more effective to direct leadership efforts toward the community rather than bureaucracy.
Establish a platform
Your community of practice needs a place and a method to meet.
For in-person meetings, this might involve setting a time and location. For instance, you could meet at a regular conference or event or choose a place that suits your schedule.
For online meetings, you will need to decide how to organize the meetings and conversations. This could involve creating a newsletter, starting an online community, or hosting a virtual event.
Choose what is best for your community based on their needs and preferences. By identifying your Ideal Member, you will have a good idea of what suits them best.
Create guidelines and structure
Most communities use guidelines to establish expectations and ground rules. Setting rules is not about being strict. It is about creating a trusted environment where people feel safe to partake. This is especially true for online environments where moderation is crucial.
When people feel safe from bullying or mocking, they are more likely to contribute. Moreover, you can also set up a group structure. Each community is different, but make sure to consider these aspects.
Regular meetings
Monthly expert guests
Learning workshops
Working groups
Open discussion forums
Community feedback
Mentorship programs
Social and networking events.
Launch and promote
Once everything is set, you can launch the community of practice. Consider a live or virtual launch event to bring people together. It could feature guest speakers or networking opportunities. Let the launch itself provide value. In this way, you will set the tone for future meetings.
To promote your community of practice:
Invite people personally.
Host a free event.
Invite industry experts as speakers.
Email subscribers.
- Advertise on relevant websites.
Build a knowledge database
Some communities of practice choose to establish a knowledge database. The purpose is to collect and share knowledge. This could involve shared content, notes, or a collective guide.
A knowledge database is important for:
Creating an “institutional memory”
Bringing new members up to speed on past discussions
Using past work and sessions to address current problems.
Collect feedback
As you host a community of practice, it is important to gather feedback from members. The feedback should be about what is effective and what is not. This is often best done namelessly, especially for larger communities.
Use survey tools such as SurveyMonkey for feedback.
Use platform features such as polls.
Organize member interviews or feedback sessions.
Recognize and celebrate
Some communities of practice try to be excellent in their industries through recognition. This might involve rewarding group members for their contributions or highlighting companies.
As you collectively develop expertise in your field, celebrating excellence is essential. It is a great way to reward individuals and organizations for their hard work.
Evolve and grow
Every successful community needs to grow and adapt. Goals shift, members develop, and new individuals bring new views.
A community of practice should evolve along with your practice. In fact, it should regularly meet the needs of its members.
Conclusion
First question, are you a member of CoP? Or maybe you are a member of many CoPs, which is quite natural. In fact, Community of Practice has a huge role in building societies and growing as a human and as a professional. This dynamic entity is essential for collaborative learning because it carries its members' collective wisdom and adaptability. A community of practice also fosters an environment where shared knowledge promotes constant success.
Finally, you can balance these two by adding a level of professionalism and spicing everything with interaction for maximum effectiveness.