In+Support+of+Collaborative+and+Lifelong+Learning

=__ ﻿In Support of Collaborative and Lifelong Learning __=

Education in its deepest sense and at whatever age it takes place, concerns the opening of identities — exploring new ways of being that exist beyond our current state (...). It places students on an outbound trajectory towards a broad field of possible identities. Education is not merely formative — it is transformative. (Wenger, 1998).

In order to challenge ourselves, develop as learners and develop learners we need to be part of a dynamic group discussing the limitless boundaries of education. As teachers we are here to advance the learning of others. To have a forum to encourage, facilitate, discuss and experiment ideas leads to inspiration, active involvement, confidence and a support network which in turn creates learning. Commitment to learning enables us to gather tools for lifelong learning.

Communities of Practice engage us to model what we expect our learners to develop and encourages us to create "young people who will be confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners" (The New Zealand Curriculum, page 7, 2007).

The following clip is an example of a CoP supporting collaborative learning in the international mining industry:
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"COPs build on the ability to work together, pool resources and accelerate learning within the context of courses. By their very dynamics, online learning COPs provide solutions to real issues, which confront other students on the courses. But more importantly, they inspire and inoculate all of us, students and tutors, with an on-going ability to learn in collaboration."