Introduction/Background: As the subject coordinator for all the Workplace Learning subjects in the School of Information and Communication Studies, I guide students in planning their professional placements and seizing work-integrated learning opportunities within the GLAMR sector (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums and Record Management). During their placements in these information institutes, I oversee their progress in collaboration with an information professional. Upon completion of their placement, I evaluate and mark their reports to ensure they had successful experiences of putting theory into practice.
Aims/Objectives of the presentation: In this paper, I explain how the concept of locality in Wenger’s theory of communities of practice informs my teaching practice in work-integrated learning at a regional university. Among the five aspects of practice in the theory, I focus on the concept of locality and how it manifests regionality.
Methods: I embed Wenger’s theory of Communities of Practice in various parts of my teaching practice, such as my online classes, tutorial sessions, attending discussion forums and providing feedback on my students’ assessments. I used the theory to advise my students when they develop their professional goals and explore various placement options. Moreover, I encourage them to explain in their report how they managed to put theory into practice and how they can be more reflective about their learning experiences.
Results: My reflection on my students’ assessments shows most of them managed to implement the fundamental principles of Wenger’s theory of Communities of Practice during their professional placement. The findings indicate that the GLAMR sector is a productive platform for implementing the concept of locality into practice. Some students engage in various local projects as part of their professional placement, ranging from developing local studies collection and conservation of local arts to oral history projects and local artists showcases. They were also involved in community engagement programs, such as story times for children, book clubs for adults and teens, and author talks, which are a few examples of many community events. Some of them also engaged in cultural events organised by the GLAMR sector, such as festivals, film screenings and joint exhibitions with other cultural institutions.
Discussion: The concept of locality in Wenger’s theory of Communities of Practice refers to the specific context in which a community operates. It includes its geographic, cultural, social, and institutional environment. Locality impacts on how a community forms, interacts, and evolves. Paying attention to locality allows for the contextualisation of learning and makes it more relevant and meaningful to community members.
Conclusion: Locality provides a framework for building resilience among members of communities by using local strengths and addressing local challenges in a collaborative manner. Locality influences the specific knowledge and practices that are relevant to the community and valued by their members. Moreover, locality contributes to the community’s identity and the sense of belonging among its members. The shared experiences of members strengthen their connection to the community and to each other.
