Inclusive Practices: Double Entry Journal #13

1. Give an example of a "community of practice" in which you are currently participating in.

An example of a "community of practice" that I am currently participating in is my part-time job at Autozone. When I first began working at Autozone, I knew next to nothing about cars, but after working around helpful and knowledgeable managers and coworkers, I have rapidly learned about cars. I have also gotten to be much better at physically working on cars thanks to the help of my team of coworkers.

2.Why is the term "community" better defined in relation to spaces rather than groups of people?

The term "community" has a connotation that insinuates "membership" or some type of intimate "belonging" which are not always applicable to learning environments and can be interepreted in a lot of different ways. The word "space" allows us to talk about behaviors of specific individuals within a larger scope.

3. What is a "generator"? What is it's counterpart in school?

A generator is what gives a space content; In a school, this could be the textbook or curriculum designed by the instructor.

4. What is a "content organizer"? What is it's counterpart in school?

Content organization refers to how content is organized within an activity. In school, this could be thought of as the lesson plan, which structures how the content will be presented.

5. What is a "portal"? What is it's counterpart in school?

"A portal is anything that gives access to the content..."; A portal could be a textbook or study guide, or a computer.

6. What do people have an "affinity" for in an "affinity space"? How does this inform your understanding of good teaching?

People in an affinity space have an affinity for "the endeavor or interest around which the space is organized." This emphasizes equality, and collaboration towards a common goal - two important components of a positive learning environment.

7. How do "affinity spaces" support inclusive classrooms? Choose two characteristics below to make connections between "affinity spaces" and inclusive classrooms.

1. A Sense of Community - An inclusive school is a school where every child is respected as part of the school community, and where each child is encouraged to learn and achieve as much as possible. In order to achieve that sense of belonging for each child, many schools have found that fostering a sense of community is of primary importance.

In an affinity space, everyone is working towards a common objective regardless of skill level, which creates a sort of reliance and respect for other members of the learning community.

2. A Common Vision - A shared vision that sees each child as a respected member of the community brings a common goal and connectedness to every participant—parent, administrator, school staff, or student. Sharing a common vision produces a strong community sense and interconnectedness.

This ties in closely with the first connection. Each member of an "affinity space" has a common goal. The emphasis isn't on competition as much as it is on collaboration. This type of "space" creates a connected community of learners.

8. How are traditional classroom different from Affinity Spaces?

In traditional school settings, the "common endeavor" is often unclear, and physical characteristics like gender and race are "more foregrounded than they are in an affinity space." Classrooms also ten to reward internal individual knowledge stored in the head, not "distributed throughout the classroom."

8. How are traditional classroom different from Affinity Spaces?