ENGAGING IN COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A PERSONAL JOURNEY

Clarifying ones own development as a teacher within educational institutions can be a complicated journey of self-discovery, but the good news is that this does not need to be a solitary pursuit. Within higher educational institutions, communities of practice have consistently formed to allow for the transition of novice instructors toward more enlightened ones. How this process occurs, how it is defined, and the implications of such practice are the focus of this paper. By examining these aspects, one can perhaps find a more solid footing upon which to continue upon the path of professional development within such institutions. The author will show his own journey of discovery via early graduate school events, culminating in a pathway toward yearly academic publishing requirements. The author ends with some helpful suggestions for improving ones development in this area