How might Wenger's notions on practice communities relate to Prensky's on education?

"Communities of practice are formed by people who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain of human endeavour"
OR
"Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly" (Wenger circa 2007)
http://www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm


Wenger suggests that Communities of practise (COP's) are bound together by their shared interests and their shared learning. They are also tied together in their need of development and progression.

Prensky thought heavily on education and it was his thoughts and beliefs on how we should be looking at a way of making education so it suits Digital Natives. He spoke about how we as individuals interact with technologies & how these may aid or hinder our education. To a native (quite likely a young student) anything is possible on the inet, to an immigrant (a teacher in schools) getting to grips & the pace of looking up information for our on means maybe a little more difficult.

Both Wenger and Prensky's theories relate in such a way that perhaps by using Wenger's COP's people of simular interests can come together and those that are digital natives (In prenskys theory) could learn and extend their own capabilites but at the same time teach that of the digital immgrants. Tieing together, as Wenger once said development and progression in a shared learning enviroment.

It is important ot realise that there may be issues concerning hierarcy. Using Prenskys idea of education it is possible a system like this may work in a school. Therefore in this COP's the usual hierarchy is reversed. Where normally we see the teacher sharing their knowledge with a student, the student will now be teaching the teacher. This may have a negative effect as the students will feel they are more powerful than the teachers in terms of technology and its usage.

This brings in the notion of 'If young people are more able to digitally 'connect' how can co-operation be included into 'education'?' Unfortuanly i think it will be a matter of teachers accepting and working alongside students in order to both further themselves and of course the student. There needs to be a level of co-operation.
It also suggests that perhaps there needs to be a balance for both the students and the teachers. Bringing digital aspects into their course but also using traditional methods such as books.

Is your Dad, Mum, elder sibling, boy/girlfriend part of your CofP?
I suppose nearly everyone is part of a COP. My brother is quite simular to myself. He attends Manchester University, and does a joint honours course. Therefore he moves between to sets of COP's in order to help him learn. In return he helps me when it comes to University subjects, he's either been there done that or getting ready to do it. Therefore its helpful, that on this particular area of our lives we are able to work together are learn new things.

Should education 'stretch a person do you think?

I have always been taught to do things to the best of my abilty, push myself to strive for more and never accept second place as a consolation prize. In todays world of work, people are faced with a very competitive, cut-throat style approach to progression. Therefore in order surrive out there 'in the jungle' its important we are equiped with the right skills.
So before reaching the big Bad world, its important that throughout out school lives we have been pushed to the limit to achieve our best. (This refers to stretching people)

The introduction of new media in schools is a great idea. Often you see supermarkets promoting some sort of scheme which'll help give so many computers to schools. It's important that children learn from a young age how to use these technological advancements as they seem to be part of our everyday lives. However its important that children do learn not to rely on digital workings as a means of getting by. For example the idea that people will reach for a calculator before using there brain. This shows the negitives of new technoligies whilst many encourage simulation quite often their a means of taking the lazy way out.
The best way to 'stretch' children in education is not to make the work seem like so much work. Interactivity and making things fun play a vital part in the learning process. Prensky, himself goes as far as to say that children would learn algebra quicker and easier through a game format.

However there is a obvious counter-arguement to this. It's important that teachers and school systems don't push students over the edge. I know (whilst now comparing them my work now were far easier) that durning my GCSE's, i felt under pressure to do well, whether it was from my parents or the fact that teachers bombare you with practice-tests and then stick a pridected grade on your fore-head!! So now you have something to live up to.!!

Overall thought if a relaxed approach is taken towards education, its only going to encourage the couch potato phenomena.

Abstract on journal 5

This journal faces the argument of educators being the digital immigrants having to learn and adapt to the new generation of the 21st century (the natives). The author specifically focuses on digital programmes and their use to digital immigrants. Such as the programme Advanced Placement Language and Composition, he discusses what this incorporates and furthermore addressed the gap between students and teachers. Suggesting that if this technology is successful it can help the digital immigrants on the world thrive in this new environment.