WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED: • • • • • Adopt communication tools to establish support information with others working to reform IT education Continually build the relationship between educators and the business partners to heighten the support for educational reform Develop a system of CSS projects as a guide path for future partnerships Pursue the creation of on-line forums for CSS story-sharing and brainstorming Enlist learning researchers to enhance evaluation efforts, information gathering, and focus for the community of practice

BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

Sustaining the CSS partnerships and efforts to reform how IT students are taught with a focus on adaptive expertise will require collective commitment and energy. The synergy of embarking on reform will need to be nurtured and supported across the partners participating already and expanded to those willing to be a part of the change. Innovative ways of communicating and sharing stories and resources will continue to be important. Additional opportunities for workshops and professional development activities will also serve to build the community.

The use of learning researchers is a valuable resource to a community of practice. Their distinct perception and learning expertise will contribute to the documentation of changes, the investigation and sharing of periphery outcomes affected by the CSS learning environment, and will serve to focus community of practice efforts.

As the community of practice expands, the development of a system of CSS project experiences will provide guidance for future CSS partnerships. Additional communication tools will help grow the community base for continuing support of IT educational reform and industry partnerships.

Offered as an example of periphery benefits of adaptive expertise,
CSS Workshop, November 2003