Exploring Communities of Practice in Further and Adult Education: Apprenticeship, Expertise and Belonging

Drawing on international research and professional practice, this book provides a rich, detailed, and accessible guide to Communities of Practice (CoP) theory, with information on how the theory is constructed, the research that it rests on, and the ways that it has been used in thinking about learning and teaching in the further and adult education sectors.

Exploring Communities of Practice in Further and Adult Education introduces CoP theory and the theory of learning that goes with it. It provides empirical examples of CoP research from a range of settings, including further and adult education, to illustrate how CoPs form and work within educational settings, including thinking about assessment and evaluation. It also explores how different CoPs work together and can learn from each other. With these key elements described, this book demonstrates how CoPs can be used in further and adult education settings to help understand more about how students and staff learn.

With engaging material including examples from research, prompts for professional learning, and case studies, this comprehensive and accessible title will appeal to student teachers and beginning teachers as well as more experienced teachers in the sector looking to refresh their practice.