Chapter 5

*Professional Development*

How are the web 2.0 tools being used in professional development?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of using these tools to provide professional development?

What are communities of practice and how can they be used to promote professional development?

The web 2.0 tools such as blogs, podcasts, and wikis are being used in professional development so that teachers will be more knowledgeable about the subject.  Solomon & Schrum (pg. 111) state that educators can use web 2.0 tools to have potential for building a "learning community" and be able to connect with their peers.  They will also have access to experts in a variety of content or process areas.  Blogs help with making teachers more comfortable in using these new tools (112).  Podcasting are a convenient way to "attend" a workshop.  They allow teachers to listen to a session on their own time without having to take time off of work (113).  I wish I had more experience with wikis, because they seem to offer a great deal of excitement.  Solomon & Schrum say that allowing members of a community to participate in the creation of goal, plan, or direction is a great opportunity (114).  I think these web 2.0 tools offer many advantages; the most important being communication.  Teachers and educators can share ideas and lesson plans using these tools as the source.  I think the major disadvantage would be that teachers and educators will have to take the time to learn how these tools operate, and that may take time to feel comfortable. 

Communities of practice are viewed in a couple of ways.  Solomon & Schrum look at Wenger and Bielaczyc & Collins views.  Wenger (1998) suggests that a community of practice defines itself along three essential dimensions--joint enterprise, mutual engagement, and shared repertoire.  Bielaczyc & Collins (1999) suggest that the defining quality of learning community is that there is a culture of learning in which everyone is involved in a collective effort of understanding.  Solomon & Schrum give a statement that I feel best explains how communities of practice can promote professional development; "If a learning community is presented with a problem, then the learning community can bring its collective knowledge to bear on the problem." (104)