Published

20-1-2026

Type of Work

Article

Abstract

Wenger’s (1998) Communities of Practice theory proposes that knowledge is constructed socially, within communities which share knowledge domains and mutual goals. These communities act as common spaces where knowledge is negotiated and professional identities are formed. While a sense of belonging is pivotal to learner success and engagement, learners in online spaces can experience scarcity of informative social interactions. In this reflective essay, I examine the implementation of a pilot project to facilitate informal communities of practice within an online design course, and utilise observations and informal student feedback to interrogate the effectiveness of the pilot and enable future refinements.

Notes

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Citation

Stephens, C. (2026). Hive Minds and communities of practice. Cathydesigns.com.au. https://cathydesigns.com.au/index.php/2026/01/23/hive-minds-and-communities-of-practice/

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