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From Affinity and Beyond: A Study of Online Literacy Conversations and Communities

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Abstract

Digital technologies make possible new avenues for sharing and accessing literacy research and practices worldwide. Among the myriad of options available, web seminars have become popular online learning venues. The current investigation is part of Global Conversations in Literacy Research (GCLR), a longitudinal and qualitative study now in its fifth year. As a critical literacy project, GCLR investigates how a web seminar project uses developing technologies to disseminate innovative literacy research and present professional development that critically shapes literacy practices. With this in mind, the current study seeks to understand the following: (a) What kinds of knowledge sharing interactions (KSIs) occurred in GCLR web seminars focused on critical literacy? and (b) What types of community and social practices occur in web seminars? Data included synchronous chat transcripts from across seven web seminars, interviews with participants and speakers, and website analytics. Data analysis followed the constant comparative method and R, an open-access software that analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data. The study resulted in two findings: Three types of KSIs emerged: whole group, between individual, and smaller, nested affinity groups; and GCLR emerged as a distinct online community with unique social practices. KSIs generated and supported collaborative opportunities to exchange ideas, co-construct knowledge, offer practical classroom applications, and gain insight about important critical literacy issues. As an online networked space that brings together participants interested in critical literacy issues, GCLR represents an innovative type of situated practice with an aim to develop what we call online Networked Spaces of Praxis (oNSP).

From Affinity and Beyond:
A Study of Online Literacy Conversations and Communities
By Peggy Albers, Christi Pace, and Dennis Murphy Odo
Citation !"#$%&
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/1/--//5---
.-0"&5-..0-
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"&5-//08 
--/10100-//
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9*:%;&1/-
/-/0
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From Affinity and Beyond:
A Study of Online Literacy Conversations and Communities
By Peggy Albers, Christi Pace, and Dennis Murphy Odo
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'"#&()$
+,-"..+01&
./01--/00
?--//-//
-//-///1-
(("#&-/0
-1//1-/1/-
=-01/.0-/-0/
/5/-0"-.0
&---.00*
1-//.00
/.//0-001.0
/.//
+-4-0-
="6(#/(&".#$$%@
29//#$@0#$$:@6-!6(*9#$$A@
.9#$$;&+-//--310
.0-//00-
/1/(11-/-/
 B
1/--//*---/
0//0--/
1----
Background
+-1/#$$2
1-"2&#$$--2
/0/1
----."&-0-7
-0//.-.-20/
/42/11
/11
--/*-/1/1
=-/0-
-/-
+0/!/--20-
1)C$$$1;C$$$10%00
---2D+-#$#
"-/EE000E-E?;?C!A*/%!=A2&-1
//=:$$$10+-0
/
Context of the Current Study
>7!-#$A!/-0#$#!-#$A0
+--201/#$A
 A
+-0*/#$#/#$)11
10-4-1-
*-?*?/1-0-.
11//--//
"/@//&
/.E/43E00-/.+/
/.///
Table 1. 2012-2013 GCLR Speakers, Topics, and Dates of Seminars
 */  >1 F  !- /
*/. 2 . D1E
1

1 G0E
<<
> *-
+/ 

!


*-
/1
-

!


G-


*
!,

1

*,
7
7/


1/
7
71

!





*
>

!
5---0//1
.//-/-7
-"6.-9#$$C@2-0#$&-/
(11//-
///"5#$$%@#$$&013
-..0--0//-/--
.0+--0-03"&5-.
.0-"6*7&20
8"&5-//085
 %
.0-"6*7&10=-
."/E/1-/--
/0/&7*,"#$$;&H
I-//-0
0-/.-=/.3
//E0E//
Theoretical Framework
+-"09 :C:@2#$$@
1::&"F.#$$&*/-
--10--0-/-
(1.00-
-1-/"20
#$$:&2"#$$&-=/---"-1
0&.0/-0
/0--0!"#$#&--0-
/- -/-H-00---
//0/-1-/-0
0---0./I"/BC&+-=-
-///1/0=/-.0
"2#$$@1::@5#$$$&
/42.0-/100--
.0/-/-
+---
 ;
5-----/-
/0-13
/"9>=#$$@F.#$$$@.-9
!::)@9!:C;@*::A&F."#$$&-
0/0---
H/I"/#&--
----
E-0-E1.0
0-.01/H0
0-0I/1H-
I"F.#$$$/;;&F."#$$$&-//
0-/F.
"#$B&-HI-0
.0-0=H-1-J-,I"/&-/<-0
-/
":;$&-0.//=K
/-0K"/)%&-/
<--==-H.-0---
.I"/:$&-HI---
/0--/E+-H
--/-=/I"/:$&
G."#$$%&/-0-//110.-
--/-0--.0
 C
/--"L3<9#$$C@F.#$B@09
#$$C@*-#$)@L3<#$$B&-1-
.---
///4
7-10-/"#$B&--
--</0-///-//0
=01.-!"::)&10
--1H-/MN-
/=/1MNJ=,I"/B$:&
/42-
/-//1/
-/--/-1
Review of the Literature
!--1/0
//"&"195::@5#$$$
#$$%#$$&/"2#$$B#$$:&151/-
"&-::$H///0--
-1/1-
0-I"5#$$%/&12"#$$B#$$:&-
///11
0--HI--0-//0--/
*15-/-1
11"&/"&"9*-#$#@"&
 :
3"7&"29-#$$$@59*#$&@"&0.
/">&"09 ::&@"&.0("6&"*9
6-#$$%&5----
-70-"#$$C&0
-///0--
17-=00-/0
//0---
///1//
Description of Communities of Practice
/"&/11.(
.0--0--/".#$$@
5::%#$$$#$$%#$$@5! 9*#$$#&
-0/-,-
--//+--/-/-
--,--0---
-//"5#$$$&+--
---H-
/1//.-/I".#$$/#%B&
0--H/</-
/1/---//=//I
"5#$$#/#$&
5---1/0-/
"9-#$$:&-//"&-"&
 $
"&/"5#$$%@5#$$#&-
/1-,..0-
-/+-,-/.00--0--
-0.-.0>=--/-
-10---
-/-=/-..0
0--+-1.0-
-/0---1-
/-/-.0--E
-/+-/3=.00/11
H0-/
//---/
1/I"5#$$#/)C&-
0/--///-//0--
=/1//-///->0
-,//-0.-00-
!-/-/0
/-"1::@5::%&
5"#$$$&/--.0--<
/0--,=//
.0--0-----=/
=/0--/1/--
1/-/7-//(-/-
 
/=-1-/0---0-
//"#$$:@*39F-#$$$&
Description of Affinity Spaces
/2,"#$$B#$$:&/
//0-H//0--/-1
--K"/'%;&?.-
/"7>6&-
H I---/"2#$$:/$&/
/(1=/O-0--(=/
1//H.I+-11-//
0-//-/
"#$#&-//
--/-7,
///-/--1/
-+0.---0---0-
--0.0
-///-/
2"#$$:&-0..0--
/1E1E=1/-
//-//-3!@-01
-/0."-7&
//2"#$$:&!=-
//-".-&1"1
 #
-&0--//J0.,-01
.0I"/##&*.0HI/<0-
-.0H"I"2#$$:/##&!
-/---.=-.
/0--/!=/
--//0--/--
/!10--0//0--/1//
=/@-012"#$$:&///
0-1//.
-//0+-//
0/-/<-
-/
2"#$$:&---1
-/HI/-/E
--//1//
/=3-0--//
---/<-./-1/
H7///J,1
--I"2#$$:/:&+-1//
---/
-00-//<
=//0-20!/0
------01
 )
-///1
./
Methodology
+-31//40-/1
"*-0#$$$&0--.0--1
///.0-=((
-((0---1*10*/
#$#(/#$)0@0%$-//=B%$
//0-0-//
--/./(E(1--
-
/-(/-
."& /.
100-0-/-
&-/40/---0@#&
-0/@)&/(-(
--@B&0/0"10
/-&
0-/1-"29*:%;&
1/-5
-1-/-
-->=0--
 B
-1">PA)$:&-//
--/-/0"-/EE000(
/4E&-0-3131-
--=-=//E
-//-//=(
-//
0--00-
"29*:%;&-0///
6*70--@6*7//--
/0"//(//@//(/.&5
-//-6*7"E1&"*+#&
Table 2. Coding of KSIs
56*7--//
/"9.#$$;&+--,0-0
//-./
01-/0./---
-1/--"0#$$;&-
-0<-/+--0-1
 A
<-01-.0-
//-0--/4-1-
/-
Findings
0.0-
/6*7--0--/=/.00-
---2/*2
0-3/-
Seminars Generated Three Types of KSIs
-.0-0-2---
/"&0-/"&01"&
/"+)&6*7///.
10----1"0
/&6*7//=-(.0/
//
Table 3. Characteristics of Knowledge Sharing Interactions
+/
6*7
-7 660!
*-
5-
2/
6*7
600
//
///"
&
"
1
/3&
><
//0
0

G
//E
0
71

//-

E//
 %
6*7 (
(/(
////(/
//(//
/
-//,
.0/
*-E



>

2/
+0//0-.
0Q
((1-
/@0-
0-/

E//
/
-//,
.0/
*-E



5-/6*7#6*7.--/--/.
=//E.0-/
-/.//-1-A)$:-
///=R"A;)&0E/.(6*7
#$%&1-///-/
6*7=//1-<//-01
+---(6*7//-"
1//-0&2-
=/3/.3-*-/6*7
//H/I(Reio & Crim, 2006; +9!7
#$$#), and to (0--!
0-//--1">-S&
//--3.H00-
M/.,N-8I&/"&10//,
 ;
1/1//0-
-/.---(3"H03--
@M/.N0---E-.I&1-//.
/H7--/-1M*/.N-
/.70-0/<8I
!1//--
----5-//=--//-
//0-H+-.SIH71I---
=/-HM+N-10//1
-01-/-1/M-0N
-I@H+-.--MTN+-
-/0-7--0-//-
=SI@H74-7-11-
I5-3
0-=((Q-00.0--
5-0/0--H01
-/IH-IH10//1IH-/0-7-
-I0//,/
/10"F.#$$$&
%!$%&0.0(
(/."&-/0EE1
 -/.///0--//
//3-/-
 C
./.0-//---3=/H M*/.N
-111-0/1/1/
0-/-8!.7
.-1<--7-I*/.(6*7.
(6*70///-
-.0--/.-//
0-3-0-/0-0/-/.,
/
0716*7+-///=%;R
06*7//-">P)AA&5
1/"&("&(/."&(//
"&//(/."&//(//5-6*7
6*7- E--+-016*7
 E"2#$$B&=--
//1/-5-
-0-/6*70/-"-
/.&-/5--0--/
016*70/@-=///(/.6*7-
/1-=-
-16*701--/
=-0---/.E-//
!0-1--./1-
/-/."-&E/
 :
13!-./-
,00--0,<0
-///1"2#$$:&
+-6*7//(/.E/.(//
-/.1-E-/0-///3
--=-/.-E-.
HU70-1--
G-.
. -08I
5---/0/.0//(
3/1///.(//
-110//.00
/.+-0(/.//.0-@0-
/./--0/3/--
):B( K/K(/70-0
L<0/<-U
):%(* MVN70--110-
=
/.E//0(/./1
//0/.//7
/(100-0/.----/-
-/.(////--H
 #$
-0-//I*-/.(//
3-0-.0("F.#$$$&
-16*7//(//0
100/E1-/
-/E-./02.
/3.H 087,11//0
IH7-87W.00-03I5
/-0=/0-@//
=/-//-
1/.00-/
/03.-HI-

-106*7.--/(
E3//,//-//,
E3010-//./1
/"+B&
Table 4. Literacy Issues Taken Up in Seminars
*/.
7
E
*-


G*E
GE
*
+
!E
!/


-
5
* 0 7 
3
2 * * * * * * * *
. * * * * * * *
G0E
<<
* * * *
> * * * * * *
 * * * * *
 #
1 * * X X
*- * * * * X
+B=-13E<
0-13E/
0-//1
////0-//
17-0=/#-/
)B-<--1-
0--10/11
);#%( "B&-=E1
/-//8
)C);(# "&7-.-W3-/

):$;() 7-./K0.K-0
 =/-
):#(B MN70-5---
1-
 .//-
 +-..
71//(110-
1-//5-0<-/01
--/.-/-0-//--
///-1/
 ##
-/1-0/=0--
H.0-I--///-//"19
5::@9*-#$#@#$$:&016*7-
=-"=/")B&1"#&&5--
-/"/&1"G ?;;$$&-
1-/0/110/
0///.
>//-/6*7--
/0--/0-0//.
0Q((1-/"
0#$)&10-CA-
//=##R01>
0#(A00-//
.3-/.,/0--0-/
-/-=/0---
!01-0.-
0")B;&--
-0E"#A%&
--0000
..-/0-=
-001 +=E/-=E
8
 #)
#G=A0-=10-
-1/--3
-/-
)7-W--=-W.8
0-8
B--8
A"V#&-/5/-
0G-*.-/1-/-
B-KK//-8
%*--.-!!.
GW8
)D-..17//
1MN-8
)X1
;6--.==-
.7W37-.
;---.
C----
--1//-//.-
3-0--//10--

+-//0-/-//
+-//.C.0-0"H-
 #B
-UI&>///.3
--/.,.-0" +=E/-
=E8&"H--8I&/1
=/-.0"HG=AUI@HU--
UI&40."HD-..1
I@H-3-0--//1
0--I&
50-/H-/I"2#$$B&
-13/
-1- 0---"H--
-!I&01.2"#$$B&00-
0-7
G"=/-&//

1W1/
-1E-E1
G-8
#5-.KK8
)-4-//
W/1.-=.
G-/0-.G-0
0*G*-0810-/./
8
 #A
#G-3/=
-"*/-&----
---.01-1
/=-"&------
KK0-
5-0-G//0-////
-=/0"#)0-H
0-&--*/-0,HI0-
"#&-0-0-0*G*E/.
-1"&>/0
//
/0-////1--
/=/"#&-"#G-
3/=&5--00-=-
/1/-/-/-//
-1
7.0-/0-2
/-/00--+-
--/11-,/
Q10--%$(/Q-
1.0-=-/42
"#$$:&H/0.//
1I"/#)&
 #%
GCLR Emerged as an Online Community with Unique Social Practices
5-2--/013
---0"+A&1
//1-1
-15-1--0!-/!
1-****!
Table 5. Characteristics of CoPs, Affinity Spaces, and oNSs
+/
Y
 
*/
>*
 = = =
*< = = =
*
1
=
*
/
=
7 = = =
!/E/ = =
71 = = =
*/ =
/1
-
=
*- = = =
1 = = =
!// = = =
 = =
/ = = =
*-/ = = =
1
=/
= = =

E/
= = =
-/ = =
*-.0 = =
>/
/
=
* =
5.0 = =
 #;

F1 = =
// = =
=// = =
.E

=
!-/!1-?.-
(//-/01
"+&//0-"H-
02I&-0--"H+-0
1LSSSI&-1//=
?./0---/</"2#$$:&
-/4-"-1&1-<
-1-0--
/0---///
/--HU-/-
--I@H70--0
-0I@H+-010.3SI
-///-0/H7-.-
M*/.,N04/7W0-
0SI@H70/70--0--
--70.0-I@H7.WB!-
/0.-0-/SI?.
/-/H7-7-0-
+-.M*/.NSI-101-//0H-.I
-/40-H0/*1I
 #C
//.-<-2
/4-7/(10/.-/--
/4-1-/+-/.
//2-000-0
/1-.//.02HI/
-02/-H.1
0--1I-H7,-//-
1-0*-74/.-1-0.I
---10//=/
-/10/
/--H+-.//--
I@H70.
00SI@H+--.--/
-I--0-0/
-H70--UI@H7W-.070-7W1
0-I-,10
H*0-0K//K-85-0<
8I@H71----G*1T4
3-----71-I--
0//,-/-
--///.0
**1E-1**!?./
2-/0---/<
 #:
--.0+0/-0-
H+-0701/@IH7W
-W-07--I/---0-
-10-<01=/
-;$$/?*EG*+04>0Z//-=$$
0---1/?+[H74 .U@I
H-07,*I
///1-/1-
0-<-0--H7,
---,-I@H!-//M*/.N7W10.
W/-/.K/IH>M*/.N-
---0&I@H74-
1=--0----/1/
I
//0-/
-/-
**/-/.1/
#7
5-00--"**&8
*/.DW-11/0
)7-00-///.
#+-/0-0-/1<
)**-
 )$
+--//---
-H0--WK55-5K8@H7-.-
0-*-5."-*.&-W.-
=1*.W.
I@H7W1--0-1I+-
1-///1---H7W0
W10/S-.&I@H7-.-1*.
G+410-//./--0//--
1-.I
1-//
-1H0-7-1-0--I@H5
1-1-110S5I-
/10/@01HD11
-/.SI
?.//3/
-0-2/-1
$$$//0--/.01--:)%1-/.,
.5-0-21B$$$#%$$$
#$#(#$)"1;:)%1&/-
--0A;(A7#$#2./
+0D+-"//=BA$$10&5--
3/1-//+00
3.0-/-20
 )
/.-/2H7-.MN
00-0//-
41-0//-M-,N0
-.--.I
7-102//
0/=---/1/--
//-//7
0/0.E*1
/0-/21
Discussion
5--/--0
/100-/
--1//-
/-/1/" &/
/4.0---11
/1/
7::A !--/-
.0--+-&-0--.0@
-0--0@0/-0
3=5---00# 0---
1/0-
/-////"
#$A&7/G"G&-"#$&0
 )#
--/-/-0//0-
-1/.0(7-
<">+GG&"1-
6(#-&H0I"6/9#$$&G
,-05--
-/-1--0.0
-/4.2/
/=
//10- /<
---//01.0---
6*7--0-1%$
///"&-
-111-
0--/G
--HI":;$&/.0-
":;$&.2/
-.01-0--0
-.0+-H--I":;$/
:$&0/-03=" (9
!-::A&6*7-0.00--
-1---0--//3--0//
0-0/0-1"::%&--
//."
 ))
/E/1-1&//.0----
-0--0//--
+-016*7-
=---/-//
,.0-/-//
/30--=/--1E=-.0
/-,
*/-0-<
0-//=>/-/
"%$&"/E/&>/0
//<3//
---./->0
H(-(/I"2#$$B&-0
/////3-.
2"#$$B&0-//0-/0--
"//.&101.20--/
H-I"/%;&0-
/<//,3-.
/=/-G
//3G-0----
5--//-/
/-HIH1E-IHIH-IH/
IH*G*I0--
 )B
.--1.HG-
3/=-UI.
-/*G*/.
1//,/0>0
0/4/" 1\::$&0--//-.
-10--/.0/-1-
./->/-0
/0-/-0/
/"G&/10/
"&(/"/0&
"09L*"#$$#&
+-0-1/12--0-
/@-01----/
=/-//2-3
/---.1/
5---/-$$$//---1
-0%$()%$//+-/0-
0//5-#//-0
//0-0-//1/.,./0
-1/.,.+--.
1H0-/I-/0--E
/.0-71--((-
":;$&/=((70--
 )A
--/-----
/<//-0+---
//<-//-/3
---<-/-0-//1
/-/-/
-/<--+-
-0//03/
-/-/4,1/
/5-/02
--*,"#$$A&//H-.--0-
-//I"/)&-0--1--0/-0
5--0-2/--/0(
GCLR as an Online Networked Space of Praxis
5--//0--=/
800-
/-085-/
-1
0--/=
///
8"
.-9!/B&
5-/-
0-
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
2
>0.*/=
 )%
-/-00---
.0-0-.0-///1/
/3./5/2Q00-
11Q//-03/0--
/<5-0<-
/"1//0.&0/2
3---/5--02
0.//=-0.---0-
1//-/5-0-/4
-/4<1<-0
-0HI/-/
/2.,1
/0--//0--00--17
-0--# "0.-/&
1/-1"HD11-/.SI&+-
2>*/1<---/
-.0-0--/
1E1--/
-/*-F."#$$&///
-0/0/-0=-/
/.----/
//-06<,"#$$C&
/(60---H2/-0/
 );
1/1-/U"/%&5
-//0.//-0/
-/0-----
.0-2*<*1"#$&-/
/---//0-0
///-+--
1/.2>*
<--00.H-/,=//
I"/;C&+-=/-0//
-**H/.1I--/-
"--?*&
5-/0-0H-I
"-(-
//&>*/
/0-0-/
2>*1-
//-.--//-5-
1-//1/-/<"*-
#$)@*-9#$A&2>*(10
-/1/ -///
-0--/-/
//-/--/+-->*2
--/0-//-
 )C
/--"-1&-0--/
/-"//10&5-
G--1"#$B&--
///.--G-0---1
//-///100--H//I
H0I--2-//0-/
0---0----
---1-0
->*2--/-0 --/1
Limitations to Study
--0-1/-/-/
/00.0---
5-0.00-/-3-
/2///-.-
/G1--0///>*/40-
--010-2//-0/4
-0-/47
1=/-0---//
=-2
Conclusion
L--1-1///
000-0.///-0
 )#$B//=B##R-0,
 ):
//";#%B%#);:)&"-/EE0000E-&-7
-/---0,//-#$A0
"-/EE000E0E-()#CCBC%;&5-7
-0111--.1
-0--1=/-0
//--/0-0--
5-2>*010-1-10.-/--
0./--=/0-.0-1
+-//-1
--//4-1//-0
//-/4G0
01/0-=/=0-.0-
-/1

 B$
References
-*-F!9(0+0-FF*!
9+*"#$A&/21
-//1//'(
 )")&B()
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0-0
*+"#&
-/EE000-E4]B]#E4]B]#]]/]0/
L3<L!9F"#$$C&0-10+-
0*!,+-"#&)()
9F"#$$C&60/
, ./)A)()%:
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-/EE000E0E-()#CCBC%;
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-E1C(-(
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 B
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/87G."G&8!99*!
"//)%()A&?7>
+-G-
0F5"#$$;&3 : "
*
(9!-!5"::A& Policies that support professional
development in an era of reform. Phi Delta Kappan, 76(8), 597–604.
Davis, B. & Harré, R. (1990). Positioning: The discursive production of selves. Journal
for the Theory of Social Behavior, 20(1), 43-61.
 B#
G."#$$%&#9!
")G&>0D.>D
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9! ":C;&5/+
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/--*&7()C;^
$A
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( )2 ::(#A
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D.>D
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-/EE4/E
2F"#$$&*")&>0D.
>D
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:>00.+
21--/EE10/
21-D+
 B)
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2G9*<*1"#$&=#!
0!!5(.0
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2
20>!*-< --!9+
"#$$:&-0./0-
0.(8& >"&)(%
06"#$$:*/(& 
-,/1/1/
?@&* )"A&B))^BBA
75*"#$A&&*&1
-/EE0000E-
F."#$$$& 1-
( 2)"#&;A(C%
F."#$$&>0D.>D
F."#$B& >0D.>D
6-!!6(*F "#$$A&&
A!-0- G
7
6<"#$$C&6-//' 
,B +2"&A^#:
 BB
6/9"#$$&>0(/0.
1&%$ /"#&(#$
1-/EE000E7F* E7F* ;#(#$$/
F0F9!!"#$#&+0/
--(*,
B: ++BB(AC
.-9!"G&"::)&B
>D*?>D
1F"::&*/7.F!19
* +"G&,"//%)(C#&1
-/EE000EE0-EE1R#$*R#$R#$R#$
R#$R#$//
1F95G"::&%>0
D.>D?1
 9*-7"#$#&/8Q=/-
0//
B( ."B&BA;(B%$
0!9F"#$$C&B$
>0D.>D0G
0!*L*6"#$$#&+.+-4
01/-)C#^):#
.9":::&;1
-/EE000E-E.-
 BA
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5W//&% "&1
-/EE000/EEBEE
.9 "#$$;&L//-
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9! ":C;&5/+
921
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C&
D0-6+-G-*6
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-5%MN#$$%@
1G77/0-!##$B
+-/4/1-/EE000(/4E
*-0"#$$$&+-/3137/1
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( )+"E#()%
 B%
*-"#$)/B&B*BBF!0
M5N721-5**1
-/EE000E-E?;?C!A*/%!=A2
*-9F"/&+-- 
-."B&
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++"&/C)(:%
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>0D.>D
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( +>")&)^A$
L3<L"#$$B&=!-0->F0
G
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5G"::%&/+-<*
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5G"#$$$&/56 /"#&
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... Despite an abundance in multimedia resources in oTPD programs, Jimenez and colleagues (2016) (Hull & Saxon, 2009;Wang et al., 2014), and live chat or scheduled interactions (Albers, Pace, & Odo, 2016;Malanson et al., 2014). Because oTPD occurs online, active participation is essential to ensure that the program will have any benefit. ...
... In addition, almost all of the reviewed programs were reported to have spread out interactions over multiple sessions instead of one single session or even a few. This is an important distinction, as some programs were designed to spread out participants' interactions over time instead of having participants interact at only one time, such as "one-shot" programs (Albers, Pace, & Odo, 2016;Shea, Mouza, & Drewes, 2016;Unwin, 2015). immediate questions and needs related to practice could be discussed among group participants (Ostashewski et al., 2011). ...
... Indeed, many qualitative approaches that have been common in the education literature were present in the reviewed studies. However, multiple oTPD papers in this review also used quantitative learning analytics data from online environments to complement qualitative analyses to some degree (e.g., Albers, Pace, & Odo, 2016;Hou, Sung, & Chang, 2009;Renninger, Cai, Lewis, Adams, & Ernst, 2011;. This trend toward the use of both descriptive and predictive quantitative analytics in process-based studies reflects an added benefit that researchers gain from providing oTPD opportunities and the ease of collecting interaction data online. ...
Thesis
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Over the last three decades, there have been substantial advances in the literature on understanding the essential design principles and necessary features of teacher professional development (PD) programs to support implementation of new curricula and standards. However, although there is a consensus in the research community on the design principles for PD programs, the field also lacks evidence on the specific technologies, media, and strategies for implementing professional development design principles in an effective way. To address this gap in the literature, this dissertation investigated the design of an online teacher professional development (oTPD) program focused on supporting teachers’ voluntary first-time implementation of a novel curriculum called GlobalEd, and whether this program had any effect on both teachers’ implementation adherence and subsequent student achievement. The PD program was analyzed at the feature level by measuring the degree to which each design feature in the PD was used by the participating teachers (n = 41 teachers). To examine whether participation in PD features predicted teachers’ adherence to curriculum implementation tasks, OLS regression models were used to identify that more “active” PD design features that encouraged mindful participation, like message board discussions and generating written projects were found to have a positive predictive effect on curriculum adherence. Conversely, passive media features like email reading and video watching were found to not have any effect in predicting adherence. Finally, hierarchical linear models (HLM) with students nested within teachers’ classrooms were used to investigate whether teachers’ participation in PD features had a predictive effect on student achievement (n = 773 students). No significant predictive effects were observed on both PD participation or adherence on student achievement. As a result, this dissertation provides direct evidence on the efficacy of specific implementation media and technologies that map to long-standing accepted PD design principles. Commitments to design principles that emphasize active learning and relevance to practice are specifically supported. In addition, this dissertation emphasizes the necessity of researchers’ mindfulness of data grain size and the importance of conducting basic research in teacher professional development to ensure that meaningful effects of PD can be observed.
... Likewise, the portals as described by the participants, foster a sense of belonging within a community where foreign languages like English prevail. Whether through native or non-native speakers, this affiliation enables active communication and knowledge sharing, thus aligning with the assertions of Albers et al. (2016). The reported portals unveil a spectrum of expertise and involvement among participants, spanning from seasoned experts to novices, and encompassing full participants to "lurkers" (Albers et al., 2016). ...
... Whether through native or non-native speakers, this affiliation enables active communication and knowledge sharing, thus aligning with the assertions of Albers et al. (2016). The reported portals unveil a spectrum of expertise and involvement among participants, spanning from seasoned experts to novices, and encompassing full participants to "lurkers" (Albers et al., 2016). Within these spaces, they interact with diverse content that aligns with their interests, often generating new knowledge for personal growth and pedagogical enhancement. ...
Article
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Este estudio de caso cualitativo exploró la dinámica de participación en espacios afines (EA) de tres profesores de inglés para vivir y aprender. Para obtener una visión completa, la investigación empleó entrevistas a profundidad y observaciones video grabadas de interacciones en estos espacios. Los datos recopilados se analizaron utilizando el software Nvivo, codificando y categorizando la información. Los hallazgos de este estudio revelan la participación activa de los participantes en varios espacios afines, siendo las redes sociales y los videojuegos los más predominantes, donde las pasiones individuales, así como los intereses profesionales de los profesores influyeron significativamente en la naturaleza de sus contribuciones. Dentro de estos espacios afines, los profesores se involucraron usando nuevas literacidades, las cuales les permitieron fomentar interacciones sociales sobre temas de interés personal o profesional, facilitando la comunicación y la colaboración, e incluso asumiendo diferentes roles. En conclusión, los hallazgos resaltan un compromiso constante y entusiasta de los profesores dentro de los EA, enfatizando el potencial que estos tienen para la naturaleza en evolución de la educación en la era digital, donde los intereses personales, el crecimiento profesional y la adquisición de idiomas convergen dentro de comunidades digitales dinámicas. A medida que los educadores y los estudiantes continúan navegando en este panorama, los resultados ofrecen un valioso mapa para aprovechar el poder de los EA para fomentar experiencias de aprendizaje significativas, la comunicación auténtica y las prácticas innovadoras de enseñanza entre los profesores de inglés.
... Given that Reddit's tagging system contributed to categorizing and curating posts (Potts et al., 2019), these differences imply that a nested affinity space was generated within the broader affinity space as users participated and interacted around the needs and interests of early career teachers. This finding aligns with prior research that a single online platform can hold many affinity spaces for educators (Albers et al., 2016;Rosenberg et al., 2016), and a nested affinity space can be generated inside a bigger one (Gee, 2017). Also, it makes sense that a group in need of very specific professional learning, early career teachers, would appreciate and use a tagging system that allows them to post and search for very specific questions. ...
... " For instance, in the present study, the "New Teacher" tag in r/Teachers offers early career teachers an immediate and direct portal into a subspace marked by a more niche affinity of being new to the profession. In addition, our findings may demonstrate that there is a more narrowly defined pre-service or in-service teacher affinity space nested within the "New Teacher" affinity space, which in turn is nested within a broader affinity space, the r/Teachers subreddit (Albers et al., 2016). ...
Article
Early career teachers experience numerous challenges during their transition into the profession. Reddit is a social media platform that allows users to gather around shared affinity while remaining anonymous. This study explores how early career teachers participate in the r/Teachers subreddit through posts tagged as “New Teacher” content. Hand-coding of 2,445 posts created in 2021 showed that early career teachers primarily seek information and advice but also share personal stories. Early career teachers’ reasons for posting varied according to their background characteristics. This research has implications for using an anonymous online affinity space for early career teachers’ preparation and professional development.
... Therefore, the aims of this study are (1) to describe the development of literacy assessment in School Literacy Movement; (2) to describe the development of assessment tools used for literacy achievement in School Literacy Movement; and (3) to examine the validity and reliability aspect of literacy achievement in School Literacy Movement. ...
... However, the teacher of Junior High School in Malang City does not have enough understanding of scientific literacy (Pantiwati & Husamah, 2015). Therefore, teacher's ability is a crucial factor in literacy learning process (Albers et al., 2016). Teachers' assessment literacy is arguably fundamental to their ability to successfully engage with multiple expectations of assessment and to facilitate assessment as a process that continually supports learning. ...
... Social media platforms are popular sites for informal learning (Carpenter et al., 2022) providing learners with flexibility in when, where, and from whom to learn (Albers et al., 2016). These spaces have also been characterized as supporting collaborative knowledge construction where groups of individuals take up and build on each other's ideas to contribute to shared knowledge (Kimmerle et al., 2015). ...
Conference Paper
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This research explores the patterns and structures of sequenced interactions in the Weekend Help and Victory Thread (WHVT) of the r/personalfinance subreddit on Reddit. Utilizing descriptive and qualitative analysis, we investigated the roles of participants and their interaction patterns. Preliminary findings reveal limited collective knowledge construction, focusing on individual learning. Noteworthy patterns include a high dependence on top contributors to generate productive conversations and a predominance of cyclical interactions. Ongoing analysis aims to uncover additional insights and patterns, contributing to our understanding of learning dynamics in online communities.
... Rather than emphasizing participants' membership and inherent hierarchies among participants, affinity spaces assume that people of various backgrounds can freely join and interact. Different education-related subreddits can also be viewed as nested affinity spaces on Reddit, reflecting unique and distinct interests among participants (Albers et al., 2016;Na & Staudt Willet, 2022). With this affinity-space lens, ChatGPT discussions in various education-related subreddits reflect the perspectives of a broad spectrum of participants interested in education, offering valuable insights into the integration of GenAI into education. ...
Article
Generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, have ignited global discussions and debates about potential educational impacts. By examining initial reactions to ChatGPT shared in online spaces, this study aims to deepen understanding of opportunities and concerns related to integrating such tools into education. With the keyword “chatgpt,” we searched 25 education-related subreddits on Reddit and conducted a content analysis of 7,009 posts and comments, identifying 4,397 containing reactions to the tool. Findings showed that initial ChatGPT discussions predominantly focused on perceived threats and educational applications, much less on strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities—although the discussions were multifaceted, nuanced, and contextualized.
... Digital literacy can be studied in terms of what kind of digital resource people use and how they use it, thus entailing why they use it (e.g. Albers et al., 2016;Barton and Potts, 2013;Cassany, 2016;Jones and Lea, 2008;Lea andJones, 2011, Liege et al., 2016). An important area of study is the nature of contexts in which users engage in DL, that is to say, whether it is within a personal or an academic sphere (Jones and Lea, 2008). ...
Thesis
Online learning environments have been acknowledged as a promising option in higher education (Altbach, Reisberg and Rumbley, 2010; Kim and Bonk, 2006; Simpson, 2018). However, a major drawback in virtual communties is dropping out (Kim et al., 2017; Wladis, Conway and Hachey, 2017). The pressure of writing a dissertation in L2 to obtain a degree may increase this possibility of dropout. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to investigate the experiences of online students navigating academic writing practices in L2, especially when these determine if they complete their Higher Education studies or not. The present qualitative case study explores the academic digital literacy (ADL) trajectories of a group of three students of an online BA in English Language Teaching (ELT) as they write a research paper in L2 to obtain their degree in one major Mexican state university. The study approaches students’ writing from an Academic Literacies Framework (Lea and Street, 1998; Lillis et al., 2015), which involves understanding literacy as a social practice (Barton and Hamilton, 2000), digital literacies also as a social practice (Mutta et al., 2014), and, to some extent, the concept of multiliteracies as embracing new challenges and affordances in reading and writing due to the virtual environment (Cope and Kalantzis, 2000; Street, 2000). By drawing on a virtual literacy ethnography and narrative inquiry in order to construct the students’ stories of their experiences in their research writing journey, the study brings together data from a wide variety of sources, such as digital academic records, informal talks with BA facilitators, online activity in the institutional platform, interaction with their Research seminar facilitator, supervisors and the researcher, artefacts (drafts and final versions), written feedback from facilitator, supervisors and examiners, and interviews. Findings challenge the celebratory discourses around e-learning by shedding light on the complexities of the ADL practices that the students engage in while writing a dissertation in L2 and on how they experience them, validating their choices. Emotions emerged as more significant dimension in the pedagogical field than it already is. The study also demonstrates that, despite the great challenge they pose, dissertation writing practices remain highly significant in online undergraduate programmes. Empirically, the study highlights the value of narrative inquiry and reflexivity in linguistic ethnographic research.
Article
Purpose The growth of online social network sites and their conceptualization as affinity spaces makes them well suited for exploring how individuals share knowledge and practices around specific interests or affinities. The purpose of this study is to extend what is known about highly active/key actors in online affinity spaces, especially the ways in which they sustain and contribute to knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzed 514 discussion posts gathered from an online affinity space on disease management. This study used a variety of methods to answer the research questions: the authors used discourse analyses to examine the conversations in the online affinity space, social network analyses to identify the structure of participation in the space and association rule mining and sentiment analysis to identify co-occurrence of discourse codes and sentiment of the discussions. Findings The results indicate that the quality and type of discourse varies considerably between key and other actors. Key actors’ discourse in the network serves to elaborate on and explain ideas and concepts, whereas other actors provide a more supportive role and engage primarily in storytelling. Originality/value This work extends what is known about informal mentoring and the role of key actors within affinity spaces by identifying specific discourse types and types of knowledge sharing that are characteristic of key actors. Also, this study provides an example of the use of a combination of rule mining association and sentiment analysis to characterize the nature of the affinity space.
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The authors discuss why ELA teachers need to be knowledgeable about the tools of multiple media and how such knowledge can encourage a different mindset in the classroom.
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Mitzi Lewison, Amy Seely Flint, and Katie Van Sluys identify four dimensions that define critical literacy and then use these as a framework for examining the beliefs and practices of a specific group of teachers beginning to implement a critical literacy curriculum.
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Prepared for an ANU Humanities Research Centre Symposium in early August 2003, these notes may be considered as a comment on Brian Massumi’s proposition that ‘a political ecology would be a social technology of belonging, assuming coexistence and co-becoming as the habitat of practices’.
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To cite this article: Lee, D.H.L. and Shaari, I. (2012). Professional Identity Or Best Practices?: An Exploration Of The Synergies Between Professional Learning Communities And Communities Of Practice. Creative Education, 3(4), 457-460.
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In this column, the editors of Language Arts talk with Joanne Larson and Patrick Shannon, scholars who spoke to the themed issue, Common Core, Rotten Core: Part II. These researchers highlight the role that the Common Core has served in informing the practices of teachers and the subsequent effects on student learning. They also discuss the importance of teacher decision-making as critical to positioning students to act democratically in the world.
Article
Vivian Vasquez draws on her own classroom experience to demonstrate how issues raised from everyday conversations with pre-kindergarten children can be used to create an integrated critical literacy curriculum over the course of one school year. The strategies she presents are solidly grounded in relevant theory and research. In this innovative and engaging text, Vasquez: describes how she and her students negotiated a critical literacy curriculum; shows how they dealt with particular social and cultural issues and themes; and shares the insights she gained as she attempted to understand what it means to frame one's teaching from a critical literacy perspective. Negotiating Critical Literacies With Young Children is specifically useful for early elementary (K-3) teachers as a demonstration of classroom applications of critical literacy that they can try in their own classrooms. It is equally relevant to all concerned with issues of social justice and equity in school settings and the political nature of education, and to educators at all levels who are interested in finding ways to make their curriculum critical. For preservice teachers, this book offers a model for envisioning their future practice and for recognizing the important relationship between theory and practice. Teacher educators and consultants will find this book valuable as an example of how to put a critical edge on teaching. It is intended for use as a text in reading, language arts, literacy, social justice, critical literacy, and early childhood education courses. © 2004 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.
Article
The purpose of this study was to examine reasons for teacher participation in online communities of K–12 teachers. The authors interviewed 23 teachers from three self generated online communities and analyzed more than 2,000 postings in those communities. The findings indicated five reasons for participation: (a) sharing emotions, (b) utilizing the advantages of online environments, (c) combating teacher isolation, (d) exploring ideas, and (e) experiencing a sense of camaraderie. In conclusion, the findings imply that when designing teacher professional development programs, more emphasis needs to be placed on teachers’ emotional sharing and promotion of self-esteem.