When: Monday 11 May 2015, 12.30-2.00pm
(lunch will be available from 12.15),
Where: Room JP/003 seminar room, James teaching block P
Who: Ros Brownlow, Health Sciences

Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems or a passion about a subject & who deepen their knowledge & expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis (Wenger et al 2002).

This workshop explores the key principles underpinning communities of practice drawing on the experience of designing and delivering a co-operative learning curriculum in the Department of Health Sciences.

It provides opportunity for workshop participants to examine the drivers, barriers, opportunities and challenges of delivering a co-operative learning curriculum in their department.

It considers key challenges of operationalizing a co-operative learning curriculum from staff and student perspective.

• Co-operation and participation are the key elements of communities of practice and buzzwords in modern higher education. This workshop will therefore begin with a group discussion exploring the reasons for adopting a co-operative learning curriculum.
• Health and social care is an immensely complex sector and learners need considerable social, cultural and emotional capital to navigate the landscape of practice successfully. This workshop will therefore provide an overview of the elements of the co-operative learning curriculum, drawing on communities of practice theory in the Department of Health Sciences BSc Nursing Programme.
• Co-operative learning offers opportunities for tutors and learners to shape the learning experience, develop and grow. Group work will explore these with the workshop participants.
• Adopting co-operative approaches within a curriculum can be challenging in a higher education context. Group work will explore the challenges with the workshop participants.
• Like all groups, co-operative learning groups need regular monitoring to stay healthy. An overview of the stages of development of co-operative learning groups will be offered and group work and discussion will explore setting the direction and managing changes. The similarities and differences between staff and student groups will be considered.
• Finally the workshop will conclude with a summary of learning from the experiences of Department of Health Sciences BSc Nursing Programme.
• Participants will be invited to consider implications for their practice and offer their concluding thoughts.

If you wish to attend an event, please use our booking form or email learning-and-teaching-forum@york.ac.uk. If you are unable to attend an event but would like a copy of the materials, please contact janet.barton@york.ac.uk