ERIC Number: EJ1125343
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1359-866X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Can Massive Communities of Teachers Facilitate Collaborative Reflection? Fractal Design as a Possible Answer
Clarà , Marc; Kelly, Nick; Mauri, Teresa; Danaher, P. A.
Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, v45 n1 p86-98 2017
This paper explores the possibility that virtual communities of teachers with large numbers of members (referred to as "massive communities of teachers") can offer support to novice teachers by means of collaborative reflection. The paper examines and conceptualises some problems found in professional massive communities and proposes that massification can dilute what some authors have called "social presence" or "engagement." It is argued that this dilution, among other problems, very much hinders collaborative reflection among members of the community. Collaborative reflection is argued to be a crucial part of the support that novice teachers need in their first years in the profession. Therefore, a challenge is envisioned for massive communities of teachers to avoid the dilution of social presence or engagement. The authors argue that this dilution can be overcome by the use of multiple layers within a platform, referred to as "fractal design."
Descriptors: Communities of Practice, Beginning Teachers, Reflective Teaching, Barriers, Social Support Groups, Technology Uses in Education, Computer Mediated Communication, Sense of Community, Collegiality
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A