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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Dear Colleagues,<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN class=156111118-25082008>I'm
trying to gather information for a project I'm working on so<SPAN
class=343071118-25082008> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>I’d like your feedback on how to
more clearly articulate how you (and other subscribers) use the <SPAN
class=343071118-25082008><SPAN class=812193218-25082008>Family
</SPAN>Literacy</SPAN> List (and possibly other NIFL lists). For example,
the Institute’s lists (<A
title=http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html
href="http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html">http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html</A>)
historically have been used to <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Problem solve
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Request or receive
information</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Seek others’ teaching or
learning experiences</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Introduce, discuss, and develop
projects and resources</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Introduce field experts and
dialogue with them about their work</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT
face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Raise awareness of and debate
key issues important to the field</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT
face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Plan, preview, and report on
sessions held at national conferences</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT
face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Identify who has knowledge and
learn about our field’s knowledge gaps</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT
face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Some would call groups engaged in
this kind of activity “communities of practice” (CoPs) <A
title=http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm
href="http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm">http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm</A>
.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Communities of practice
are:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><B><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Groups of
people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and they learn how
to do it better as they interact regularly. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">CoPs share a common interest and
commitment to that interest that distinguishes them from others, they engage in
joint learning activities (whether intentional or not), build relationships that
enable them to learn from one another, and they strive to improve what they
do.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">What are your reactions to using
this language “communities of practice” to describe who we are and what we do,
or for some, what we strive for on the list?</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT
face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></LI></OL>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=2>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Is this how you see yourself on
this discussion list? Or, could you see yourself becoming more involved in
this way?</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2> <FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></LI></OL>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=3>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">What comments or concerns, if
any, do you have about the concept and the term “communities of practice” as
it might be used to describe our online interactions?</SPAN></FONT><FONT
size=2> <FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></LI></OL>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">For a quick overview on CoPs: <A
title=http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm
href="http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm">http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">I look forward to hearing from
you! <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Please post your reply to the list no
later than <SPAN class=156111118-25082008>Tuesday, Sept.
2.</SPAN></SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Thanks so much!
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=343071118-25082008><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Dianna</FONT></SPAN></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dianna Baycich</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=2>Ohio Literacy Resource
Center</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=2>Research 1 - 1100 Summit
Street,</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=2>P.O. Box
5190</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=2>Kent State
University</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=2>Kent, OH 44242-0001</DIV>
<DIV align=left></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>330.672.7841
330.672.4841 (fax)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>
<DIV><SPAN class=539231316-02082002><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=2><FONT
size=2>
<P class=NormalWeb1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 11.4pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Verdana>"So please, oh
PLEASE, we beg, we pray/Go throw your TV set away/And in its place you can
install/A lovely bookshelf on the wall."<BR>— <SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Roald Dahl</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=NormalWeb1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 11.4pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=NormalWeb1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 11.4pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"></SPAN></FONT><o:p> <FONT size=2>
</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV></DIV>
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