Problematising practice, learning and change: Practice-theory perspectives on professional learning. Issue 6 (19th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reich, Ann; Hager, Paul
• Editors: Fenwick, Tara
• Is Part Of: Journal of workplace learning. Volume 26:Issue 6/7(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-08-19
• Subjects: Employees -- Training of -- Periodicals; Employees -- Counseling of -- Periodicals; 658.3124
• DOI: 10.1108/JWL-02-2014-0016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1366-5626

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: This paper seeks to problematise practice and contribute to new understandings of professional and workplace learning. Practice is a concept which has been largely taken for granted and under-theorised in workplace learning and education research. Practice has usually been co-located with classifiers, such as legal practice, vocational practice, teaching practice, yoga practice, with the theoretical emphasis on the domain - legal, teaching, learning. Design/methodology/approach: This is a theory driven paper which posits a framework of six prominent threads for theorizing practice. It uses examples of empirical research to illustrate each thread. Findings: A framework of six prominent threads for theorising practice in professional learning is suggested. It understands practices as patterned, embodied, networked and emergent and learning entwined with working, knowing, organizing and innovating. By conceptualising learning as occurring via and in practices, prominent understandings of learning are challenged. The paper discusses each thread with reference to empirical research that illuminates it and indicates the contributions of practice theory perspectives in richer understandings of professional learning and change. Originality/value: This paper engages with the practice turn in social sciences to reconceptualise professional and workplace learning. It contributes to research on learning at work by supplementing current thinking about learning, particularly the socio-cultural conceptions of learning, with the resources of practice theories that attend to the regularities of practice.