ERIC Number: EJ917105
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Oct
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0273-5024
EISSN: N/A
From Committee to Community: The Development and Maintenance of a Community of Practice
Parker, Melissa; Patton, Kevin; Madden, Matthew; Sinclair, Christina
Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, v29 n4 p337-357 Oct 2010
Despite the benefits associated with teacher development through participation in communities of practice, many questions about these groups remain unanswered. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine a group of elementary physical education teachers as a community of practice whose objective was to develop and disseminate district-wide elementary curriculum. Participants included four teachers, the district curriculum coordinator, and project facilitators. Results identify the importance of a catalyst, a vision for students and the project, the importance of support, the significance of personal and professional relationships, and the realization of empowerment as critical. Ultimately, the development of curriculum was a meaningful, purposeful, and authentic task that allowed the transformation of this group. Adhering to the assumption that learning takes place within social practice, these data provide valuable insight as to the contexts that underlie the ability to mediate change, the relationships between individuals, and their ability to transform individual and group identity. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Physical Education, Physical Education Teachers, Communities of Practice, Elementary School Teachers, Curriculum Implementation, Curriculum Development, Learning Processes, Inservice Teacher Education, Interviews, Coordinators, Facilitators (Individuals), Participant Observation, Program Effectiveness
Human Kinetics, Inc. 1607 North Market Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 800-474-4457; Fax: 217-351-1549; e-mail: info@hkusa.com; Web site: http://www.humankinetics.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Arizona
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A