Project Investigator(s): Antoine Coulombe, Instructor, School of Social Work
Project Description
In this project, I will explore how the Community of Practice (CoP) pedagogy can be applied in learning Social Work (SW), how it can create a discussion space for challenging subjects; evaluate its principle applications; and determine the limits of this pedagogy. To date, CoP applications to teaching SW in higher education have been limited to Virtual CoPs. I will employ qualitative research techniques (e.g. focus groups and questionnaires) with students in the course SOWK335, Social Work Analysis for Practice. This project will contribute to understanding the applications and limits of CoP pedagogy and learning SW in a higher education classroom setting.
Research Questions
- In what ways can SW students engage in CoP pedagogy?
- How can CoP pedagogy enhance the student learning experience of SW?
- What are the necessary conditions for implementing a CoP in a classroom setting?
- How does one create a safe environment to discuss challenging topics in a CoP?
- What are the constraints of this pedagogy for SW instruction?
Impact on teaching and learning at UBC
Students in SW can have trouble connecting theory to their work in field sites, and also struggle to view themselves as contributing to a larger research community. CoPs can help with this by altering “the linear relationships where information is handed down from those who ‘discover’ professional knowledge to those who provide and receive educational services” (Moore, 2008). Students must become aware of how their practice in the field draws on and contributes to the construction of new knowledge. In this way, and more ways, building practical knowledge on CoP pedagogy can contribute to training SW and other professions.