By ‘our community’, I mean our online community …. quite separate from our classroom community (discussed HERE).
The following quotes are from wikipedia
Quote 1
An online learning community is a common place on the Internet that addresses the learning needs of its members through proactive and collaborative partnerships. Through social networking and computer-mediated communication, people work as a community to achieve a shared learning objective. Learning objectives may be proposed by an instructor or may arise out of discussions between participants that reflect personal interests. In an online community, people communicate via textual discussion (synchronous or asynchronous), audio, video, or other Internet-supported devices. Blogs blend personal journaling with social networking to create environoments rich with opportunities for reflection.
Much literature promote online learning communities as environments conducive to communities of practice as described by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger.
Quote 2
A primary focus of Wenger’s work is on learning as social participation – the individual as an active participant in the practices of social communities, and in the construction of his/her identity through these communities. From this understanding develops the concept of the community of practice: a group of individuals participating in communal activity, and experiencing/continuously creating their shared identity through engaging in and contributing to the practices of their communities.
I’ve tried to involve the wider community.
For example …..
- Our parent evenings.
Thank you to all the mums and dads ….. (and grans and grandads, and brothers and sisters, and aunties and uncles!!!) for coming to our ‘Blogging Evening’!
…. But most of all THANK YOU to Primary 7 …. You were all ‘mega stars’ and you made the whole event great – I was so proud of everyone of you!
- Visits to the local community
Every year at this time, the primary 7 pupils deliver groceries to the elderly people in our community. Today the weather was not good, but there was a smile on everyone’s face …. the givers and the receivers!
Yesterday, John told us about a photograph he was glad to have taken. He explained how he happened to be in a position to be able to capture the moment.
Isn’t it great!!!!
copyright of JSP-photography & John Summers.
……… My hope is that (eventually) other members of our wider community will contribute 🙂