The complex environment of medical education requires academic and clinical teaching staff to be proficient and up-to-date with their educational skills and expertise, applying established pedagogical theory and, at the same time, strive for innovation. Medical educators need to be able to manage curriculum related activities such as teaching activity design, assessment, feedback and scholarship; while maintaining a balance with their clinical duties.The Community of Practice (CoP) theory, focusing on the social aspects of learning, is influencing teaching and learning practice in various organisations and has many benefits in medical education. This workshop will give an overview of the basic principles of this theory and examine how medical educators can use CoP to work collaboratively with others to address the requirements of the medical curriculum their academic practice.

We will identify and discuss the features and practical applications of this theory, including: 

• strategical management of knowledge
• improved educational problem solving,
• definition of educational needs in the development of new projects,
• enhanced personal educational expertise,
• maintenance of professional satisfaction and improved collegiality and collaboration,
• positive influence within and outside the Institution

 

  

 

• Become familiar with Wenger’s Communities of Practice theory
• Integrate CoP theory with educational practice
• Use CoP theory in own academic practice, to inform management of professional group dynamics in
•  collaborative curriculum delivery
• Facilitate reflection about social learning/group dynamics in the medical education workplace
• Identify and reflect on the dialogical aspects of learning and knowledge construction