Building communities of practice: Pre-service teachers as content architects. (1st September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shields, Sara Scott; Jesup, Cindy
• Is Part Of: International journal of education through art. Volume 13:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 385
• Page End: 394
• Publication Date: 2017-09-01
• Subjects: Art -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Education -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 707.1
• DOI: 10.1386/eta.13.3.385_1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-5234

Abstract

In this visual essay we map a pedagogical exploration from conception to realization. Informed by scholarship in collaborative learning and inspired by the work of contemporary artist, Annalise Rees, we asked pre-service educators to visualize their instructional strengths and weaknesses through the construction of buildings. We asked our students to act as educational content architects, tasked with building a structure physically and conceptually reliant on collaboration and connection. This visual essay first explores collaborative learning in pre-service education through the lens of communities of practice. Next, the essay introduces the parameters of the assignment, before closing with an overview of student outcomes.