32 - Merete Schmidt

Title

Peripherality, place and possibilities

Author(s)

Merete Schmidt*, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts
Melissa Finnen*, Pre-degree/Learning Support
Peter Brett, School of Education, Faculty of Education
Sharon Dennis, Centre for Rural Health

Subtheme

Breadth Units and Inter-disciplinerity

Presentation Type

Spotlight on Practice

Room

Meeting Room

Time

11.30-12.30

Abstract

Staff on satellite campuses, such as the University of Tasmania’s Cradle Coast Campus, tend to have fewer opportunities  to learn formally and informally through daily interactions with colleagues. The geographical isolation of rural campuses and the social isolation of staff from colleagues in their fields can contribute to a lack of opportunity to develop research and professional networks. In turn this may impact on opportunities for professional development for academics working on small campuses (Eversole 2016: 92-93).

This disadvantage can also be a source of strength as academics on peripheral campuses may build networks across disciplinary boundaries and generate cross-boundary innovations from their position of liminality. The Cradle Coast Academic Community of Practice (CCACoP) emerged out of a Peer Learning Circle (PLC) activity, which identified a need to establish a space for staff to share information and experiences. Drawing on Wenger’s theory of Communities of Practice (1998, 2016), which emphasises knowledge sharing and working collaboratively, the CCACoP was formed early this year to strengthen cross-disciplinary networks among academics. To date it consists of 31 members and is growing.

The key objective of the CoP is to strengthen the teaching and research skills of its members through the exchange of ideas. The sharing of experiences have culminated in the group writing a book which identifies key themes in relation to the challenges and opportunities of teaching and working at a rural campus. To support this process CoP members have participated in various activities including a writers’ retreat, a weekly writers’ group and have shared research methodologies, writing and publishing strategies. The first book draft is due in December. Currently the group is communicating with publishers looking at a late 2017 publication.
We would like to share our journey from PLC to CoP, highlighting how we have built relationships and intellectual bridges to strengthen individual and campus aspirations.

References

Eversole, R. 2016. Regional development in Australia: being regional. Abingdon, Oxon New York, NY Routledge.

Wenger, E. 1998. Communities of practice: learning, meaning and identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Wenger- Trayner, E. and Wenger- Trayner, B. 2016. Introduction to communities of practice: A brief overview of the concept and its uses. http://wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-practice/ Accessed 1 November 2016.

Resource

Download presentation (requires University of Tasmania login) (PDF)