Is Presence of Community of Practice Dimensions Sufficient for Community-Based Teacher Professional Development?

Introduction

Currently, more and more research points to the role of collaboration in teacher learning (Cutrim-Schmid, 2011; Mackey & Evans, 2011; Hadar & Brody, 2010; Parker et al., 2010; Tsai et al., 2010) as it creates a learning culture that helps build a community where learning is supported and stimulated. Professional development programmes that include collaboration can help teachers meet their professional needs and control their professional lives. They can voice their needs and expectations to peers who share similar experiences (Burbank & Kauchak, 2003). Moreover, teachers can discover new teaching roles and opportunities, develop new skills and find motivation in being a member of a group (Hawkes, 2000). Such communities offer teachers an avenue to engage in professional discussions, connect with a wider peer group and seek support.

Communities of Practice (CoPs) have undergone massive transformations with the advent of web technologies. Information and communication technologies (ICT), with features such as interactive and reflective practices have boosted the development of rich online environments that promote the sharing of professional strategies. This includes the sharing of best practices and professional development opportunities. However, in Malaysia the notion of online CoPs as a tool to assist teachers in their professional growth is still at its infancy. Most teacher professional development (TPD) programmes provide face-to-face in-service training that offers little opportunity for teachers to engage in professional discussions, connect with a wider peer group and seek support (Lee, 2007; Malakolunthu, 2007). The online continuing professional development for teachers (e-CPDelT) project aims to provide these opportunities for three cohorts of teachers (English, Mathematics and Science) from five Smart schools, through the development of online CoPs. A central conviction underlying the design of the project is that teacher collaboration in CoPs can help teachers grow professionally. This paper attempts to examine the presence of key CoP characteristics or dimensions as expounded in Wenger’s (1998) CoP framework in the English cohort. It also investigates whether the presence of these factors is sufficient for developing online community-based teacher professional development.