Whether we realize it or not, we all participate in Communities of Practice. What are they? Communities of Practice (CoP), also known as learning networks, are groups of people who share a concern, commitment, and passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly (Communities of Practice, Etienne Wenger). Virtually, synchronously, asynchronously, or face to face, CoP participants problem solving, share information, discuss developments, and document projects. In fact, Communities of Practice are often the first step in filling an information need.
Today’s PHavorites article defines Blogs and Wikis, Internet tools that are often used by CoP participants.
Blogs: or “web logs” are personal websites consisting of regularly updated entries displayed in reverse chronological order. Collaborative Blogs are often open to a select group of individuals and can be used to address specific topics, projects, educational, or business oriented concerns. Google offers a free Blogger tool called Blogger.com to help you set up your own Blog, but many others exist. Effect Measure is an example of a public health oriented Blog.
Wikis: a Wiki is a type of collaborative software and the most well know version of it is Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. A Wiki allows a group of individuals to contribute to, co-edit, or co-author a website using simple markup language, a web browser, and hyperlinking. While Wiki software can get pricey, many corporations are adding it to their list of technology resources. Fluwikie.com is an interesting and controversial example of a public health oriented Wiki.
As with any source of information on the Web, it is important to evaluate the authority and reliability of the author’s statements. Blogs and Wikis are more prone to the bias of their creators than other forms of web resources, but they also fill an important role in establishing online CoPs.
