Understanding Wenger’s Theory of ‘Communities of Practice’

Understanding Wenger’s Theory of ‘Communities of Practice’

Our first Master’s course – Introduction to Lifelong Learning , provided an overview of the foundations of Lifelong Learning with a concentration on Afrocentrism and race. The class was encouraged to integrate and analyze personal experiences in relation to continuous learning and race in contemporary Canadian society and the lager global community. I was familiar with these fundamental concepts and easily related to the subject matter and classroom discussion.

Lifelong Learning Processes seeks to expand on these fundamental paradigms and social constructs through the exploration of theoretical concepts and processes of learning. The initial seminar introduced the class to Wenger and his theory of learning which asserts that “engagement in social practice is the fundamental process by which we learn and so become who we are or, more succinctly  that, learning is a process of social participation” (Introduction, Wenger). The lecture and subsequent classroom discussion focused on the negotiation of boundaries between communities, the exclusivity of communities of practice, the shared history of learning and the organic nature of communities of practice.

The film Black Candle provided a practical example of a community of practice that the class could relate to. There was a defined community of practice with a shared history and clear boundaries; there were benefits and some identified negatives associated with the membership; and individuals shaped the community of practice through their ongoing participation while being influenced by their experience. As stated in the previous blog posting, the film left a lasting impression on me and truly resonated with me in a very visceral way. However I was unable to make clear connections between the subject matter and Wenger’s concept of communities of practice. In a word – I was overwhelmed.

I began developing a better understanding of Wenger’s theory and became more comfortable about the course material and assignments through some informal conversations with fellow classmates who affirmed some of my frustrations. Reviewing other blog postings has also provided invaluable insight and helped me form connections to my personal perspectives on race, community and individual/collective identity. The postings were interesting and diverse and broadened my understanding about the type of topics that could be discussed on-line.

The assigned readings from Communities of Practice offer a broad conceptual framework of Wenger’s theory and his basic assumptions about learning. He describes individuals as active participants in learning who engage in and, in turn, contribute to these communities of practice. “Collective learning results in practices that reflect both the pursuit of our enterprises and the attendant social relations”(p.45, Wenger). This parallels my understanding of lifelong learning as an experiential process that takes place through formal and informal mechanisms and interactions with others where individuals are both teachers and learners. Wenger clearly describes his theory through the Vignettes - ‘Welcome to Claims Processing’ and ‘C,F,and  J Thing’. In a conversation with a fellow student we discussed making personal linkages to the readings. For example, the African Nova Scotian community was largely marginalized in the public school system until the mid-twentieth century. Consequently, learning was obtained largely through informal means. Wenger would assert that African Nova Scotians comprised a unique community of practice that developed practices, a collective identity, norms, beliefs and learning tools to confront the effects of segregation and create alternative learning opportunities.  This community of practice interacted with others( legal system, government - education system, etc.) which ultimately resulted in integration. In thinking about a community of practice in this regard, in addition to the vignettes and its ideological underpinnings, it was much easier to understand Wenger’s thinking.

I like Wenger’s theory of communities of practice because of its fluid nature. We are all members of various communities with shared histories and clearly demarcated boundaries. As members of these communities we interact with others and through our interactions alter these collectives. We also enter, participate and leave communities as we move through life. According to Wenger, “participation refers to local events of engagement in certain activities with certain people but to a more encompassing process of being active participants in the practices of social communities and constructing identities in relation to these communities”. (p. 4, Wenger). Through these interactions  – we learn and develop meaning of our lives.