Communities of Practice

Tapped is a wonderful tool that I will definitely use!  Communities of practice such as Tapped are just what my school needs to assist teachers and staff to collaborate and share resources. As a special education teacher, my time is very limited. I teach multiple subjects and grade levels simultaneously, and I have special education paperwork to complete. I also work with students in various stages of crisis, which is emotionally draining. All of the teachers that I work with are in the same situation.  Having a professional community of practice at my school to allow us to connect with and learn from each other would be wonderful.  Having a place to upload and share resources, articles, lesson plans, ideas, and materials could allow us to develop a collective mind, vision, and unified sense of purpose.  The ability to effectively share resources and solve problems could free up time, resources, and energy that can be redirected into teaching and working with students. In addition, teachers and staff members would have less stress and more time to accomplish the many tasks that are required each day.

Communities of practice are great ways for educators to connect and collaborate with each other, and form communities that extend beyond their individual schools. Educators can collaborate with other schools all over the world. Communities of practice can also include parents and community stakeholders in new and innovative ways.   Community members and businesses can work together in exciting new ways to provide customized services to schools, students, and educators without the constraints of time and physical boundaries. These social networks could even include educational psychologists, law enforcement agencies, community business partners, universities, and social services agencies. These networks are of particular importance to the lives of students that are at risk for academic failure, students with disabilities preparing to graduate from school, and people preparing to enter assisted living situations. Social network sites have enable professional learning communities to grow exponentially, and to include more people and resources, benefitting more students, families, communities, and schools.