Sustaining Communities of Practice with Early Career Teachers: Supporting Early Career Teachers in Australian and International Primary and Secondary Schools, and Educational Social Learning Spaces

This book explores how to sustain communities of practice in primary and secondary schools for the professional learning of teachers, particularly early career teachers. It draws on research by Wenger-Trayner and provides practical suggestions on implementing and improving communities of practice. It also highlights the importance of online communities and collegial support networks in supporting early career teachers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 173 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the realm of sustaining communities of practice in primary and secondary schools across Australia and internationally, with a primary focus on the professional learning of all teachers, particularly early career educators. Drawing upon the rich research of Wenger-Trayner on communities of practice, it offers insightful perspectives and practical insights into what factors contribute to the sustainability of these communities. Through a detailed case study of an Australian regional secondary school, the book explores how it has successfully sustained support for early career teachers over a three-year period.

The first chapters of the book provide a longitudinal perspective, utilizing qualitative data, and encompass perspectives from a diverse range of stakeholders, including the principal, professional learning coordinator, and early career teachers who have actively participated in the school's communities of practice for three or more years. These chapters offer valuable practical suggestions on how to effectively implement and enhance communities of practice within schools, emphasizing the growing significance of online communities in supporting early career teachers.

Policy-makers, school principals, teacher educators, and teaching practitioners alike will find this book invaluable in their efforts to establish and sustain communities of practice in schools. Subsequent chapters delve into the value of online communities, such as Twitter communities, the role of collegial support networks in supporting early career teachers in Flemish primary education, and professional learning in Northern Ireland's pre- and in-service teacher networked communities.

By examining these diverse aspects, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of communities of practice in fostering professional growth and development, particularly for early career educators. It serves as a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers seeking to enhance the learning experiences and outcomes of teachers and students.

Weight: 308g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789813363564
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021