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Leanne Urasaki Post 1

• 2 June 2018, 6:50 PM

CoI vs. CoP

Hi Everyone,

After reading though the today's materials, and especially the Wikipedia article, I have come to realize that I'm much more involved in CoIs (Community of Interest) than CoPs.  The main difference between the two, being that in a CoI, Members are not necessarily experts – they need only be interested in the subject.  In CoPs, membership is dependent on expertise.

In this respect, I'm involved in several CoIs including a district OER group, and am on several OER-related listservs including the CCCOER (Community College Consortium for OER), a public discussion list intended for community college faculty, librarians, instructional designers, administrators, and other educators who are interested in open education policy, practices, and resources.

I guess a this point, I feel little uneasy about starting or joining a CoP on Open Education because I know I'm not an expert.  As stated as an in example in the Wikipedia article, "Someone who is interested in photography and has some background/training in it finds an online CoP for working photojournalists, who use it to discuss various aspects of their work. Since this community is focused on working photojournalists, it would not be appropriate for an amateur photographer to contribute to the CoP discussions there."  And I am definitely an amateur in this field.

But that's why I'm here, to add to my knowledge, and to provide me with more that I can use and share with the faculty at my college..to be less of an amateur and more of a practitioner.

Marvin Patton Post 2 in reply to 1

• 2 June 2018, 9:05 PM • Edited by the author on 2 June 2018, 9:09 PM

Great distinction to point out, Leanne!  At this early phase of the game, in all honesty, I'm probably more "interested" than expert myself!  I guess I'm closer to being an "expert" within my teaching discipline than in Open Education per se.

And BTW: Thank you for posting the link to CCCOER.  I had stumbled across it before but forgot all about that organization!  I'm sure they're a valuable resource.


Carol White Post 3 in reply to 1

• 2 June 2018, 10:57 PM

I'm not sure if I belong in CoI or CoP.  I am an expert at teaching Community College Mathematics.  I am one of four Fulltime Mathematics faculty at my school, but the only on at a regional site two hour from the main campus.  Because I felt like a loner out here in rural Kansas, I continue to network where I received my instruction on teaching through the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges (AMATYC) and my state organization Kansas Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges (KAMATYC).  From the definition I guess that would be a CoP. 

At the present time I am more interested in seeing what OER there are in Mathematics and convincing my school to perhaps use them. 

I don't know if I really have OERs or if I do how to share them.  I do collaborate and share resources with the 5 - 7 Adjunct Instructors at my site and  others when I get the chance.

I am hoping to share the course outline with others at my school and/or perhaps know enough to do a small presentation at the Fall In-service.

P.S.

I heard about this course from my AMATYC network.

Jenni Hayman Post 4 in reply to 3

• 3 June 2018, 12:47 AM

Hi Carol,

There are some really great OER in Mathematics (is my understanding), for example MyOpenMath developed by David Lippman in Washington State  https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k7RagN54Rb0/hqdefault.jpg

There are the OpenStax math textbooks as well with lots of ancillary resources https://cc.openstax.org/subjects/math as a start. You can mix and match chapters, link and go with what you need. I'm very certain that Saylor.org will also have some fully designed online courses (courseware) that you can use. 

These resources are well curated, and of good quality. There are many more out there but maybe too many is too many for a start. 



Laura Killam Post 5 in reply to 1

• 3 June 2018, 1:43 AM

Hello, 

I don't think I will ever truly embrace the term "expert." Really there is a continuum of knowledge. In everything there is more to learn. However, I like the term practice because we put what we learn into practice. We all have something to share that others may perceive as "expertise" but that does not mean I know everything. 

Laura 

Claire King Post 6 in reply to 5

• 7 June 2018, 7:02 PM

I'm with you on that, Laura. I still feel like a novice rather than expert after 38 years as an educator! The "open-ness" of OER appeals to me from an equity and access standpoint. I also am not really interested in being part of a community of practice categorization unless there is purpose (need to know) or circumstance that warrants it. I also am interested only if participation and membership is fluid. Certainly a pretty clear example of Putnam's Bowling Alone folk!

Jennifer Nohai-Seaman Post 7 in reply to 1

• 8 June 2018, 3:46 PM

You don't have to be an expert in all things OER to be in a CoP.