Social Learning Systems and Communities of Practice

Social Learning Systems and Communities of Practice is a collection of classical and contemporary writing associated with learning and systemic change in contexts ranging from cities, to rural development, education, nursing, water management and public policy. This book will be of interest to anyone trying to understand how to think systemically and to act and interact effectively in situations experienced as complex, messy and changing. While mainly concerned with professional praxis, where theory and practice inform each other, there is much here that can apply at a personal level. Social Learnig Systems and Communities of Practice offers conceptual tools and suggestions for new ways of being and acting in the world in relation to each other, that arise from both old and new understandings of communities, learning and systems. Starting with twentieth century insights into social learning, learning systems and appreciative systems from Donald Schon and Sir Geoffrey Vickers, the book goes on to consider the contemporary traditions of critical social learning systems and communities of practice, pioneered by Richard Bawden and Etienne Wenger and their colleagues. A synthesis of the ideas raised, written by the editor, concludes this reader. The theory and practice of social learning systems and communities of practice have much to offer in influencing and managing systemic change for a better world.

Chris Blackmore is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental and Development Systems at the Open University, where she has worked since 1986. She develops open learning courses in systems and in environmental decision making, for undergraduates and postgraduates. Her research is in learning systems and communities of practice for environmental decision making, mainlly in UK and Europe. Social learning, systems thinking, systemic change, sustainability, environmental decision making and responsibility are the main focuses of her many publications.