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Profiles In Practice: Stories Of Paleontology Within An Online, Scientific Community, Lisa Lundgren, Kent J. Crippen, Richard T. Bex Ii

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

The Community of Practice framework has been used theoretically and empirically to describe the diverse ways people learn from one another through social interaction in a variety of specific contexts. To date, most research of this genre has favored investigating the community and domain constructs of the theory over the authentic practice construct. Those interested in recognizing and supporting science learning in non-school contexts across a lifespan are then limited in efforts to delineate how communities engage in domain-specific practice. This is especially relevant in the study of online environments which afford more democratic forms of participation. With the goal …