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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dianna: I monitor discussions and then
contact anyone from whom I need more information, especially about
evaluation. That is quite useful in my consultant work in evaluating Even
Start programs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Don Seaman</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dbaycich@literacy.kent.edu
href="mailto:dbaycich@literacy.kent.edu">Dianna Baycich</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=familyliteracy@nifl.gov
href="mailto:familyliteracy@nifl.gov">familyliteracy@nifl.gov</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, August 25, 2008 1:33
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [FamilyLiteracy 1175] Are we a
community of practice?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Dear
Colleagues,<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>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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