10-Rep Learning ~ Teague's Tech Treks

Learning Technology & Tech Observations by Dr. Helen Teague

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Communities of Practice: Key Words

Communities of Practice:

Key words: created over time by the sustained pursuit of a shared enterprise
Wenger, 1998

 

Communities of practice are formed by people who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain of human endeavour: a tribe learning to survive, a band of artists seeking new forms of expression, a group of engineers working on similar problems, a clique of pupils defining their identity in the school, a network of surgeons exploring novel techniques, a gathering of first-time managers helping each other cope. In a nutshell: Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. (Wenger circa 2007)

 

 

Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger (1991: 108-9) comment, ‘the purpose is not to learn from talk as a substitute for legitimate peripheral participation; it is to learn to talk as a key to legitimate peripheral participation’. This orientation has the definite advantage of drawing attention to the need to understand knowledge and learning in context. However, situated learning depends on:

  • connecting concepts to other areas of influence and importance
  • create something new from the internal locus of the CoP

References:

Smith, M. K. (2003, 2009) ‘Jean Lave, Etienne Wenger and communities of practice’, the encyclopedia of informal education, http://infed.org/mobi/jean-lave-etienne-wenger-and-communities-of-practice/

Wenger, Etienne (1998) ‘Communities of Practice. Learning as a social system’, Systems Thinker, http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/lss.shtml.

Wenger, Etienne (c 2007) ‘Communities of practice. A brief introduction’. Communities of practice [http://www.ewenger.com/theory/

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My New Favorite 3D Search Engine~Squify

Search the web in 3D and generate money for good cause’s you select. Squify, the First 3D Visual Search Engine! Share Squify with your friends and lets better the world.

squify

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Weekend Ed. Quote~May 17

Embracing change means looking forward to what will come next…viewing the future as a set of new possibilities, rather than something that forces us to adjust. It means making the most of living in a world of motion. We can no longer count on being taught or trained…
Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown, A New Culture of Learning, Kindle loc 464/2399

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Confessions of the Oldest Padawan on Tython~3

As part of my doctoral coursework, I’m enrolled in a Game-design course. One of the immersives is to spend time in the MMORPG domains of either Star Wars Old Republic or Guild Wars2. The obvious fact that I was born before Sally Ride blasted to space is not lost on me. At any given time, I am the oldest Padawan on Tython.

 

Level 3: Padawan Consular Finds Her Inner Warrior

Star Wars Old Republic is not only a game it is a story set with storylines. There are  eight different classes that participants can create their character from—The Republic’s Jedi Knight, Jedi Consular, Trooper and Smuggler, or the Empire’s Sith Warrior, Sith Inquisitor, Bounty Hunter and Imperial Agent—has its own branching plot to play out. Unlike some MMOs, the storylines have a quest to care about and characters to nurture.

JediConsular SWTORI choose the Jedi Consular, although I can’t find the cute hat. I choose wild red hair with braids.

As mentioned in a previous post, the appeal of the Jedi Consular is that its character back story is one of philosophy. Seems appropriate for doctoral study.

“Led by the Council of Reconciliation, the Consulars sought diplomatic measures in spreading peace and harmony across the Galactic Republic. Refraining from drawing their lightsabers (many Consulars wielded green lightsabers) except as a measure of last resort, Consulars spent a great deal of time studying the mysteries of the Force.*

 

Confession: I get over myself and start slaying Fleshraiders all by myself. By embracing this dark side, I quickly reach Level 3.

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More Confessions

* Storyline Source

Additional Source

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My Favorite Acronym/SMS Text 3

My Favorite Acronym/Chat Text #3—TLDR— means “Too Long, Didn’t Read.”

Alternative Rendering: TL;DR

Etymology: Academia and 17th century France —

I have made this letter longer than usual, because I lack the time to make it short

— Blaise Pascal

Used in Sentence: “tl;dr…why don’t you give up on your unabridged edition of War and Peace or at least stop posting it here?”

Synonyms: wordiness, thought-terminating cliché, {{Very long}}

Antonyms: concise, brief, succinct

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See more of my favorite Acronyms

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Confessions of the Oldest Padawan on Tython~2

As part of my doctoral coursework, I’m enrolled in a Game-design course. One of the immersive experiences is to spend time in the MMORPG domains. I chose Star Wars Old Republic. The obvious fact that I was born before Sally Ride blasted to space is not lost on me. At any given time, I am the oldest Padawan on Tython.

 

Confession: I wade into Tython’s waters slowly. When learning something new, it’s best to tether to an expert.

My Games professor discovered our SWOR Facebook support group and asked to join. I am a timid new Padawan, resolutely remaining a pacifist which is problematic for my first Mission to slay FleshRaiders. My professor and his friend agree to meet “in game**”  We combine Skype with SWOR field work. We moved beyond the dilemma of “do I call you by your first name?” to “do I call you by your screen name?” which is a necessary protocol to anticipate.

Phystei and Peit respect my pacifism and forge through the field of Tython (nicely manicured lawns for a game realm) and slay Fleshraiders on my behalf which is how I acquire my first points. I dutifully take notes of their instructions creating a cheat-sheet to navigate when the scaffolding support of my professor is absent next time.

My initiation to games matches up to on the SAMR model. I am definitely in the “Redefinition” stage!

http://msad75summertechnologyinstitute.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/samr3.jpg

 

*game lingo*

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More Confessions

Picture Source

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Teacher Appreciation Month

keepcalmandthankateacher

Happy Teacher’s Appreciation Month!

Click here to read 10 Inspiring Teachers Worth Celebrating

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Weekend Ed. Quote~May 11

bookwithpinkflowerYou don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them. ~Ray Bradbury

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Weekend Ed. Quote~May 10

mistakes

This weekend quote applies to education, although not directly attributable to an educational theorist. It is a quote from Fred Astaire, a dance savant and extraordinary performance artist.

Fred Astaire said: “The higher up you go, the more mistakes you are allowed.
Right at the top, if you make enough of them, it’s considered to be your style.”

Today would have been Astaire’s 115th birthday. When he auditioned for his first film the director wrote in the daily notes,  “Can’t act, can’t sing. Balding. Can dance a little.” Astaire would perform in over 50 movies.

 

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More Ed. Quotes

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Confessions of the Oldest Padawan on Tython~1

As part of my doctoral coursework, I’m enrolled in a Game-design course. One of the immersives is to spend time in the MMORPG domains. I chose Star Wars Old Republic. The obvious fact that I was born before Sally Ride blasted to space is not lost on me. At any given time, I am the oldest Padawan on Tython.

Level 1: Padawan ergo sum

A Padawan is an apprentice in the Jedi order.  (Wookieepedia, http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Padawan) I have chosen to “be” a Jedi  Consular. (NOTE: I am still marinating in the idea of my “be-ness” in a MMORPG game, having spent far too much time with the Shakepearean and Descarte- (Cogito ergo sum), and Erikson orientations). My entry into this situated learning experience has been the subject of much discussion at work. The role of Jedi Consular appealed to me after reading Zayne Carrick’s definition, “ A Consular is a specialized kind of Jedi. They focus more on cerebral Force skills. They’re our healers, our researchers, our seers.” The Pacifist in me needs the  Consular designation over a Jedi fighter and the Puritan in me chooses Consular over the Smuggler role or (gasp) members of the Sith tribe. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jedi_Consular

Confession: Padawan ergo sum replaces Cogito ergo sum

 

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More Confessions

Essential resources: sent by my cadre-mate, Deb via her game afficionado son, Ben Star Wars: The Old Republic | Game Overview

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