Communities of Practice
A Community of Practice (CoP) is a place where individuals come to collaborate, learn together or challenge ideas. It is continuous and offers opportunities to revisit ideas and grow through reflection, inquiry and practice. They offer a safe environment to build and foster organic relationships, where individuals feel they can share ideas, experiences and brainstorm in a professional manner without judgement; but rather through a lens of critical reflection. They empower individuals as they build confidence by sharing their knowledge, contributing to the learning and the collective growth, in turn creating a richer community and sector.
CoPs are different from traditional professional development in that they are not based on an expert model of delivery (the sharing of information top down), but in collaborative learning (side by side), understanding that all members bring with them existing knowledge, rich experiences and a willingness to continue to learn.
CoPs are different from traditional professional development in that they are not based on an expert model of delivery (the sharing of information top down), but in collaborative learning (side by side), understanding that all members bring with them existing knowledge, rich experiences and a willingness to continue to learn.
Communities of Practice Currently Offered through the PRC
EYE Quality Initiative Guidance and Support
Established in the Waterloo Region is the Quality Initiative Program, Early Years Engage. This program supports growth and continuous learning through reflection and critical inquiry amongst teams about quality early learning. This community of practice is designed for program teams working in Waterloo regions’ early learning and child care system. Together participants will explore and develop strategies to reflect and review practice; deepen pedagogical understandings, become acquainted with resources that support these understandings; and learn how to co-develop SMART goals that foster reflective practice and team building.
Click here to register.
Established in the Waterloo Region is the Quality Initiative Program, Early Years Engage. This program supports growth and continuous learning through reflection and critical inquiry amongst teams about quality early learning. This community of practice is designed for program teams working in Waterloo regions’ early learning and child care system. Together participants will explore and develop strategies to reflect and review practice; deepen pedagogical understandings, become acquainted with resources that support these understandings; and learn how to co-develop SMART goals that foster reflective practice and team building.
Click here to register.
Taking the Lead CoP
Anyone can be a leader. This group will meet to cultivate their skills around leadership by looking at their relationships, beliefs and practices in connection to the Early Learning Sector. What does it mean to be a leader? How do you cultivate, support, and foster ideas in those around you? This group is best intended for any individual (regardless of job title) that is interested in developing and fostering their leadership capacity in this transformative sector.
Click here to register.
Anyone can be a leader. This group will meet to cultivate their skills around leadership by looking at their relationships, beliefs and practices in connection to the Early Learning Sector. What does it mean to be a leader? How do you cultivate, support, and foster ideas in those around you? This group is best intended for any individual (regardless of job title) that is interested in developing and fostering their leadership capacity in this transformative sector.
Click here to register.
NEW! DIALOGUE DEN CONVERSATIONS
Offer a place to engage in discussion, stimulate learning, form connectivity, and support the sharing of knowledge and resources of like-minded individuals, building and strengthening our early learning community. These rich conversations are similar to communities of practice. They remain different from traditional professional development in that they are not based on an expert model of delivery (the sharing of information top down), but in collaborative learning (side by side), understanding that all members bring with them existing knowledge, rich experiences and a willingness to continue to learn. The pivotal difference is CoP's reoccur periodically, whereas Dialogue Den conversations are usually brief ONE TIME informal conversations.
Click here to register
Offer a place to engage in discussion, stimulate learning, form connectivity, and support the sharing of knowledge and resources of like-minded individuals, building and strengthening our early learning community. These rich conversations are similar to communities of practice. They remain different from traditional professional development in that they are not based on an expert model of delivery (the sharing of information top down), but in collaborative learning (side by side), understanding that all members bring with them existing knowledge, rich experiences and a willingness to continue to learn. The pivotal difference is CoP's reoccur periodically, whereas Dialogue Den conversations are usually brief ONE TIME informal conversations.
Click here to register
For more information please contact the Professional Resource Centre at 519.748.5220 x 3388 or e-mail PRCinfo@conestogac.on.ca
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Conestoga College, ECE Building
299 Doon Valley Drive Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4M4 |
