Re: institutions, collaborations

Kathryn Crawford (k.crawford who-is-at edfac.usyd.edu.au)
Mon, 8 Jul 1996 17:38:15 +1000

Intitutionalising fluidity seems to involve consciously valuing, supporting
and making opportunities for learning, emerging changes, lateral solutions
etc. in a community of practice. This seems to be in contrast to many
social structures in communities in which experience and expert behaviour
are most highly valued and known solutions are most often used under
pressure of time.

One incidence of varying practices is two emerging approaches to the
construction of websites at our university. Many groups employ someone
with technological expertise to construct a public statement of their
purpose activities etc. and there it is - a set statement, like a brochure,
until someone else decides to employ another technician to change it.
Others are using their website as a more plastic constantly changing
statement of their ideas and insights ...this means constructing it
themselves and editing it often.. the latter approach is becoming more
possible as the technology becomes more user friendly. In our group
however, it means making conscious efforts to make sure that all develop
sufficient skill to participate in the emerging process.

Dr. Kathryn Crawford,
director, NOVAE Research Group
Faculty of Education, A35 and Australian Photonics

The University of Sydney NSW 2006 Cooperative Research
Centre
AUSTRALIA. Australian Technology Park
ph 61 2 351-6393 fax 61 2 351-2606 Everleigh, NSW, Australia
email k.crawford who-is-at edfac.usyd.edu.au phone 61 2 3511903