Wenger's Social Theory Research Articles

Power relations and the negotiation of meanings in a Community of Practice in the field of Mathematics Education

This article aims to identify and analyze power relations in the negotiation of meanings in a Community of Practice, called the “Observatório da Educação Matemática” da Bahia (OEM-BA), formed by academics from the university and teachers of Basic Education, who came together to produce educational math curriculum materials. The research carried out was of a qualitative nature and the data were produced through observations of the activities carried out by OEM-BA. To support the analysis, we used Etienne Wenger's Social Theory of Learning and Basil Bernstein's Theory of Codes. By analyzing the data, we identify power relations between academic and non-academic discourses, as well as interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary discourses. This happened when members negotiated meanings relative to teaching and learning content operations with whole numbers and quantities directly and inversely proportional. The results of this research gave visibility to variations in the principles and hierarchies underlying the meeting between academics and scholars.

Recursos educacionais abertos para o Ensino de Física: um curso de extensão para licenciandos brasileiros e colombianos

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar um relato da experiência de planejamento e desenvolvimento do curso de extensão Recursos Educacionais Abertos para o Ensino de Física. O curso, na modalidade a distância, foi planejado tendo como base a Teoria Social da Aprendizagem de Etienne Wenger. Seu objetivo foi congregar licenciandos de Física colombianos e brasileiros, buscando favorecer o eventual surgimento de uma Comunidade de Prática interessada no desenvolvimento de Práticas Educacionais Abertas no Ensino de Física. Realizado ao longo de doze semanas, com carga horária de 30h, o curso contou com a participação inicial de 40 licenciandos de Física. Destacam-se, nas atividades do curso, a busca e ensaio de solução de situações-problemas da sala de aula de professores de Física, através do trabalho colaborativo em equipes. Todas as atividades conjuntas foram realizadas em ambientes de comunicação e de trabalho colaborativo virtuais e open- source. Após o fim do curso, alguns dos participantes demonstraram interesse na continuidade das ideias e atividades – desenvolvendo um trabalho conjunto até a presente data.

Building student belonging and engagement: insights into higher education students’ experiences of participating and learning together

ABSTRACTStudent belonging and engagement has received increased attention in the context of an expanding and more diverse higher education student population. Student retention is regarded as a priority with many universities augmenting their retention strategies to instil a sense of belonging. This article provides insights into first year Business Management students’ experiences of starting their degrees and retention interventions at a university in the South of England. It is based on findings from an ongoing study that applied Wenger's social theory of learning and adopted an appreciative inquiry approach to focus group interviewing to investigate students’ perceptions. Students developed a sense of belonging, constructed learner identities, made sense of their learning and gained confidence, but also experienced instances of tension and frustration that raise questions about the extent to which sociality practices within evolving communities of practice can address diverse engagement and identity development needs and mitigate disengagement.

The education of Hindu priests in the diaspora: Assessing the value of community of practice theory

The utility and limitations of Lave and Wenger's social theory of learning can be evaluated through specific case studies which enhance our understanding of how education proceeds in diverse contexts. Here I provide an ethnographic case study of the training of Caribbean-born Hindu pandits ( priests) living and working in Queens, New York. Sanatanist pandits have many responsibilities such as performing rituals, interpreting astrological charts and scripture, managing the day to day affairs of temples and counseling people. In order to explicate the process by which people are moved into the social roles of “pandit-in-training” and “pandit,” I shift between interviewees’ words, vignettes of their actions and my interpretation of communities of practice and its relevance for mapping the education of Hindu pandits.

Academic research at a South African higher education institution:

The aim of the research was to critically analyse how a university context influences the quality of academics' research output. Wenger's social theory of learning was used as theoretical framework. The investigation involved an ethnographic case study of the research culture at one college at the institution. Data collection was mainly by means of participant observation, interviews and document analysis. In the light of Wenger's theory, the findings revealed that certain institutional practices facilitated high-quality research. These included financial incentives, some training programmes and travel opportunities to interact with other researchers. Practices that inhibited the delivery of quality research related to lack of job security, research support and uninterrupted time as well as excessive institutional control. Training that was disconnected from research practice did not stimulate quality research. South African Journal of Higher Education Vol. 22 (3) 2008: pp. 644-661

Portfolios and assessment in teacher education in Norway: a theory‐based discussion of different models in two sites

Two teacher institutions in Norway involved in a new ICT‐supported portfolio project provide data for our study. In this paper we present a model of analysis for portfolio processes based on sociocultural perspectives of learning and assessment and describe and discuss differences and similarities of the portfolio models in these institutions in relation to our model of analysis. We also highlight areas for improvement; among them the importance of building reflection, self‐assessment and feedback into portfolio assignments and processes in such a way that it becomes part of what is documented. This will strengthen the formative assessment aspect of portfolios. The summative assessment practices are strongly influenced by exam traditions in both institutions. Digital portfolios provide new learning opportunities that are not yet fully utilized. By way of conclusion we explore some critical aspects of portfolios in teacher education in light of Wenger's social theory of learning, focusing on the concepts participation, reification and identity formation.