Photo: Jean Lave, a leading proponent of social learning theory called communities of practice, during her visit to WSU. (Photo by Robert Hubner, WSU Photo Services).
The first order of business in Kimberly Vincent’s math courses isn’t reviewing algebraic concepts or formulas; it’s helping students get to know each other and feel comfortable sharing their ideas and making mistakes.
“It’s a lot of work,” said Vincent, an assistant professor of math. “You have to make it a safe environment.”
Vincent, who says she has a “constructivist approach” to teaching, emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving and inquiry, and she uses a lot of different technology to engage students. But, she said, she’s always aware that more than teaching math, she’s teaching people how to think about math and how to work with each other.
According to Jean Lave, professor emeritus at UC Berkeley and a leading proponent of social learning theory, the two — learning and participating — cannot be separated.
Lave, who visited WSU on Sept. 20 for a series of seminars and discussions, as well as a public lecture in Todd Hall, has developed a theory of “communities of practice.” It posits that learning occurs most naturally and effectively when a group of people with a common interest in a subject or problem join together to share ideas and find solutions.
“Learning is changing participation and changing practice,” she said. And to do that, she said, teachers need to create social interactions that make transformation possible.
Amy Roth McDuffie, an associate professor at WSU Tri-Cities, said she works hard to create a community of practice among her students, both preservice teachers and teachers working toward an advanced degree. From day one, she said, she creates an environment where students are learning from each other as well as from her.
Sometimes that involves assignments that explicitly require collaboration, but sometimes that means just being aware of classroom interactions.
For instance, she said, one common practice she tries to avoid is restating what a student says in her own words. It sends the message, she said, that “if it’s really important, the teacher will say it again and say it more clearly.” Instead of looking to her for validation, McDuffie said, she encourages students to participate with each other directly and form a community of learners.
Lave’s visit to WSU was sponsored by the President’s Teaching Academy and the Engineering Education Research Center. For more information about Communities of Practice, visit www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm and also www.evergreen.edu/washcenter/project.asp?pid=73.
