Effective Approaches for Developing a Community of Practice Beth Fairchild & LeAnne Lorenzo July 2008

Welcome Supporting Inclusion through Collaborative Consultation: Facilitated Discussions

Front Facilitator Table with Materials Participant Tables – group format – slant so no person has back to screen

Agenda Welcome/Introductions Communities of Practice Discussions Group Decisions Wrap Up –Next session: May 23, 2007

Introductions Name Agency Your Role in the Consultation process

Consultation Activity Timeline 2005 Article from Young Exceptional Children Request for Overview session on the Eight Stage Consultative Process

Consultation Activity Timeline 2006 Pat Wesley and Virginia Buysse –Initial state-wide training for Preschool practitioners Juliann Woods –Initial state-wide training for Infant/Toddler practitioners

Consultation Activity Timeline 2006 Fall – Statewide Survey to determine interest in topic and structure

Consultation Activity Timeline 2007 Pat Wesley & Virginia Buysse –Advanced state-wide training Juliann Woods –Initial state-wide training

Consultation Activity Timeline 2007 Leadership Conference PDE Conference Facilitated Discussion Groups

What is a Community of Practice? (Buysse & Winton, 2007) A community of people with diverse expertise who engage in shared inquiry and learning (Palincsar, Magnusson, Marano, Ford, & Brown, 1995)

What is a Community of Practice? (Buysse & Winton, 2007) A promising approach based on collective expertise and designed to scrutinize & improve practice, policy & research

What is a Community of Practice? (Buysse & Winton, 2007) An ongoing enterprise that invites researchers, practitioners, & consumers from a variety of different backgrounds & organizations to share, build upon & transform what they know about effective practices

The Origins of CoPs (Buysse & Winton, 2007) Anthropology (Lave & Wenger, 1991) Business (Wenger & Snyder, 2000) Education (Palincsar et al., 1998)

Theoretical/Conceptual Foundations (Buysse & Winton, 2007) Situated learning theory Evidence-based practice Reflective practice

Defining Features of CoPs (Wesley & Buysse, 2006) Diverse expertise Shared purpose & goals Activities (discussion, reflection, observation) Inquiry (formulating & testing hypotheses) Linking ideas with the broader community Regeneration of membership and cycle of activities

Goals of a CoP (Buysse & Winton, 2007) Opportunities for deeper, collaborative investigation Opportunities for colleagues to share similar goals or dilemmas Opportunities for individual presentations of dilemmas, successes, observations, experiences, etc.

Goals of a CoP (Buysse & Winton, 2007) Method of refining, improving practice Method for individual and collective reflection Creation of shared knowledge of practice

DISCUSSIONS & ACTIVITIES identify what is happening with the implementation of the consultative process in the region discuss successes and challenges that have been encountered discover the supports needed to implement the consultative process decide the format of continuing sessions

Group Discussion: The Eight Stage Consultation Process What is currently happening in your STATE?

Group Discussion: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly… What successes have you experienced? What challenges have you encountered?

Group Discussion: What Supports Are Needed? What supports would help you begin or continue implementing the Eight Stages of the Consultative Process? Brainstorm Ideas

Group Decisions: Where Do We Go From Here? Determine Topics Determine How Often to Meet as CoP Determine Best Times of Day Determine When to Start in the Year

Group Decisions: Where Do We Go From Here? VOTES Three (3) votes for topics One (1) for how often to meet One (1) for times during the day to meet One (1) for when to begin in school year

Group Decisions: RESULTS Top Five (5) topics How Often to Meet: Time of Day to Meet: Begin next “round”:

WRAP UP Next Session: How Do/Did You Start? Your role: bring things to share May 21, 2007 Next Year: initial registration will include dates and topics for discussion/sharing Please complete the feedback form before you sign out to leave.

Questions??? History Planning Survey Overview for CoP

Building and Supporting Communities of Practice

Next Steps Synthesize discussion notes from initial presentation and meeting Prepare minutes and agenda for next meeting

Create a “distribution list” of participant’s addresses agenda and minutes 2-3 weeks before meeting

Ideas for CoPs Review agenda/minutes Review/Discuss what a Community of Practice is Develop “Questions to Consider” to guide discussion

Fine Tuning Facilitate discussion so members can prioritize their needs to provide a focus for their CoP Provide current information/resources about consultation

Encourage the CoP to become self-supporting and rotate facilitators for meeting sessions Decide how often to meet and schedule ahead

What We Learned… Early Intervention, EHS and HS, Child Care managers were eager to learn more to improve collaboration with other entities to better serve all children!

More… They learned so much about each other’s programs and began building strong interpersonal relationships to support future collaboration

And, more… Provided an opportunity twice a year to share in an organized, but comfortable environment… Participants were removed from their “daily responsibilities and given the chance to share with peers This time was theirs!

Group Decisions: Where Do We Go From Here? Determine Topics Determine How Often to Meet as CoP Determine Best Times of Day Determine When to Start in the Year

THANKS for attending! Have a safe trip back!

Early Intervention Technical Assistance Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network Edward G. Rendell, Governor Gerald L. Zahorchak, D.Ed. Estelle Richman Education Secretary Public Welfare Secretary Harriet Dichter, Deputy Secretary Office of Child Development and Early Learning Maureen Cronin, Director Bureau of Early Intervention Services