National Community of Practice on Transition Expanding Effective Practices

What is a Community of Practice? “Communities of practice are groups of people who share a passion for something that they know how to do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better” (Wenger & Snyder, 2000) 2

The Spirit of Community: We Are All In This Together! A way of working oInvolving those who do shared work oInvolving those that share issues oAlways asking “who isn’t here?” A way of learning oCreate new knowledge grounded in ‘doing the work’ oInvolve those who can advocate for and make change 3

The IDEA Partnership: OSEP’s Investment in Stakeholder Expertise The Unified Partnership NASDSE as the Partnership sponsor National organizations as members SEAs and partners that create ‘laboratories for change’ Federal investments as resources A new vision: states and stakeholders as allies in tackling persistent problems and achieving outcomes 4

National Community of Practice on Transition States oPennsylvania oNew Hampshire oCalifornia oAlabama oArizona oVirginia oDelaware oWisconsin oNorth Dakota oD.C. oMinnesota oNew York Federal Agencies National Organizations (e.g., VECAP, DCDT, CSAVR, AOTA, NASSP, NEA) RCEP Consortium National Technical Assistance Centers 5

We Need A New Way of Working We have a ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’ gap. We need to move promising strategies ‘to scale’. Problems are complex and interrelated. There are no simple solutions. Practitioner and consumers have a need for security during change. Top down change will not get us where we need to go. 6

Absolute and rigid constraints Substantial constraints Flexible constraints Illusory constraints Source: CA Office of Special Education 7

Two-Way Learning Communicating to Learn What Works 8

Communities of Practice: The Evolution of Knowledge Management Knowledge resides with those that do the work To achieve results, leaders need to partner with and support those that are closest to the work. Real change requires that leaders and workers build a shared sense of purpose around the change 9

What Do Communities Do? – Seek and invite others doing shared work – Share learnings within organizations, agencies and roles – Share learnings across organizations, agencies and roles – Decide to go things together that will address a shared concern – Create new knowledge grounded in ‘doing’ the work 10

Why Are Communities of Value? Provide the support that individuals need Respect the ‘expertise’ that individuals bring Recognize the differences in the settings where people do their work Seek commonality within differing viewpoints Unite individuals in action Focus on ‘learning’ Use ‘learning’ to transform practice 11

How Do Communities Make a Difference? Use the natural bonds between people that do common work Maintain communication that strengthen natural bonds Keep community members focused on outcomes Use the ‘community status’ to bring attention to issues Use the ‘community status’ to engage the people that can help move the issues Move change to the ‘Tipping Point’ 12

How Can Separate Work Become Shared Work? Be intentional about collaboration Invite others into core work Invest in collaborative strategies Plan together Share training Make it ‘the way you work’, not an ‘add on’ 13

How Can Separate Work Become Shared Work?  Invent new ways to connect Forums Routine Learning Calls Issue Focused Practice Groups/Learning Communities Involve Practice Groups in advising and decision making Build a vehicle for building ‘the community’. Consider whether meets your needs? 14

A New Way of Sharing our Knowledge, Resources and Tools Building a Year-Round Strategy through

How do we Grow Innovative and Effective Assessment and Transition Practices? 16

Knowledge Management (KM): The New Focus on Information and Experience “Knowledge is an asset to be managed like other assets” Etienne Wenger “In Special Education, managing knowledge means finding out what all the stakeholders know and are willing to do.” NASDSE,

The SharedWork.org website is designed to support and facilitate the shared work that occurs among individuals, organizations and agencies at the local, district, state, and national levels. For each community of practice, state, or practice group, you will find the following sections: What’s New, Repository, and Discussion. Let’s take a tour of the website! 18

Connect to the National Community of Practice on Transition  To connect to this work, participate in the interactive website.  Visit  Register to use the site (answer a few questions).  Click on the National Community of Practice on Transition.  In the left column, click on the state to connect to their work.  Visit the national page regularly! 19

Virginia: Excellent Example of a State’s Work in the Community The Virginia Departments of Education and Rehabilitative Services announces ASK AN EXPERT! round tables on Transition Let’s visit the site! 20

There is No Need to Start Over Build on previous knowledge. Definitions for the field. Certification standards & credentials (CVE). Underlying values and principles (Interdisciplinary Council on Vocational Assessment and Evaluation). Cost effective (responsible) service structure. Facilitate on-going transition planning.

Career and Transition Assessment Practice Group Go to Log in with your and password. Scroll down to Community of Practice on Transition. On left hand side bar, click Pennsylvania. Next, click on Career and Transition Assessment. Use the resources. Add to the resources! Join in the Dialogue. In the near future, the page will be located on the National CoP page. 22

Transition & Career Assessment Practice Group: Let’s Visit the Site! ORGANIZATION OF THE PAGE: 1.Fundamentals of Career Assessment 2.Functional Assessments: Informal 3.Functional Assessments: Formal 4.Community Based Assessments 5.Job Analysis as the First Step of Community Based Assessments 6.Developing and Utilizing Portfolios in Planning 7.Occupational and Labor Market Resources 23

Feel Free to Contact Us Pamela J. Leconte, Ed.D. George Washington University Department of Teacher Preparation and Special Education Collaborative Vocational Evaluation Training 2134 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C Joan E. Kester, M.A., CRC Human Resource Development Specialist Mid-Atlantic Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program The George Washington University 2011 Eye Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC