Lifespan of a community of practice
A community of practice for educators typically has a finite life span, and moves through a series of overlapping phases:
Identifying questions or issues, Creating shared learning, Implementing changes or actions, Reflecting on and assessing impact, and Disseminating results.
![Diagram showing the phases of a community of practice: Identifying questions or issues, Creating shared learning, Implementing changes or actions, Reflecting on and assessing impact, and Disseminating results.](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/84543/images/CoP_PhasesLifespan.png)
Within each phase, different activities help participants build knowledge, achieve goals, and move into the next phase. The following list illustrates a variety of activities that communities may use to develop their practice.
- Problem solving: How can rethinking the role of ... support a more inclusive approach?
- Requests for information: Where can I find an example of ... ?
- Seeking experiences: Has anyone had a similar experience?
- Reusing assets: I have information from a similar session I facilitated. You are welcome to use these materials as a starting point.
- Coordination and synergy: Can we combine our ... to achieve ... ?
- Discussing developments: What do you think of ... ?
- Documentation projects: We have set up something like this before. Let's record the steps.
- Visits: Can we come and visit your ... ?
- Mapping knowledge and identifying gaps: Who knows what? Who knows what we are missing?