I have really enjoyed this topic. I DO believe this group to be an
example of a community of practice.

 

o        I read and or respond frequently to request information from
others, and I have come to feel like I know many of the people who
regularly contribute to the list.  

 

o        I tend to be drawn to certain topics (reflecting upon other
teachers' experiences) and carefully watch those discussions.  I am VERY
interested in Communities of Practice and I would like to incorporate my
interest in COPs into a serious research topic for my doctorate work in
Educational Technology (University of Delaware).  I would love to hear
from those of you reading and responding to this topic with suggestions.
This semester I am taking my ninth (of 14) class, and it is the first of
a set of three that are designed to teach me how to write Executive
Position Papers (University of Delaware's EdD alternative to a
dissertation).  I am a correctional educator in the state of Delaware.
Our state professional development money was significantly cut this
year. I would love to suggest/help design some technology enhanced
(COP-like) alternatives to my adult education colleagues in Delaware,
but I do not know that they are receptive to this idea.   As Janet
Isserlis wrote (earlier today).....I am also  " mindful that for many
this is a more challenging form of communication - because of lack of
time, because of a preference for face-to-face interaction, because of
problems gaining access to the internet."  I would love to help break
down the barriers that challenge my colleagues and encourage their
participation in list and other forms of online PD.

 

o        I contribute to the Adult Ed Wiki (although I have been
delinquent lately) and I have made an effort to report here and to the
Wiki after I have led or participated in national conferences.  I
sincerely appreciate the feedback from others who attend the conferences
- as my travel budget is limited! :-)

 

Gina Lobaccaro

 

"Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are
moving.  We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it -
but sail we must and not drift nor lie at anchor." Author appreciated,
but unknown.

 


Sussex Correctional Institution
Prison Education Department
PO Box 500
Georgetown, DE 19947
Office (302) 856-5282 x 6204
Fax (302) 856-5642
gina.lobaccaro at state.de.us

 

 

________________________________

From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Taylor,
Jackie
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:48 AM
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2462] from Janet, Re: How You Benefit

 

Good day or evening, all,

 

The following is posted on behalf of Janet Isserlis...Please read on ~
Jackie Taylor

 

 

From: Janet Isserlis [mailto:Janet_Isserlis at brown.edu]
<mailto:Janet_Isserlis at brown.edu%5d>  
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:47 AM
To: Taylor, Jackie
Subject: Re: How You Benefit

Jackie and all

A few very useful things about NIFL lists, generally, and about this one
(and Diversity) in particular.  Of the lists to which I'm subscribed,
I'm aware of you and Daphne modeling useful facilitation (hard to do in
an on-line world) - gently encouraging, supporting input without making
people feel badly for not wanting or not choosing to post.  (This is in
no way to diminish skills of other moderators - I'm speaking of the two
lists to which I pay most attention and which I read most closely.  I
suspect that other moderators are also working hard to support their
lists and subscribers).

Having said that by way of preface, I use the lists for my own learning
for the most part.  Occasionally I post to push back against an opinion
with which I disagree, and/or to try to learn more about why it is I
disagree or what it is the other person or people are saying.  So
there's something of a group dialogue going on, with the mediation of
time away from the screen for us to (try to) think through what we want
to say in order to try to say it clearly.

There are also moments when we can take advantage of the (relatively)
informal medium - while trying to think and write clearly, we can also
write with an immediacy that isn't always possible through other media
(journals, even blogs..)

As someone working with other practitioners, I also refer people to
archives of past discussions and/or to particular threads that are being
offered at various times.  I'll sometimes forward a post or a URL to a
string of posts to other non-NIFL lists and/or to colleagues with a
particular interest in a particular topic.

other important elements:

networks that don't involve facebook (although, there are some things to
be said for that) - but for our purposes, being able to send out a
question and find responses that may be helpful to lesser or greater
extents, but that tend to engage those who post (and, one hopes, those
who read) in ways that an information-out only medium couldn't support.
As well, the speed with which we often respond to one another is really
a help - especially at those times when we need to know something or
really want to puzzle something out.

The archives are great - and the work that people go through to further
highlight particular threads through the adult ed wiki are also very
useful for future reference.  

I do try to encourage others to subscribe but am mindful that for many
this is a more challenging form of communication - because of lack of
time, because of a preference for face-to-face interaction, because of
problems gaining access to the internet.

Having said that, I would argue that the lists are among the NIFL's long
time outstanding achievements  - even as some of us have questioned its
focus on adult learning.  These lists do enable us to seek out our own
learning, to support one another and to challenge, encourage, sometimes
gently goad, but almost always with a respect that makes these screens
relatively safe spaces for us in the range of work we do in adult
education.

Janet Isserlis

 

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