Learning to Make a Difference: Value Creation in Social Learning Spaces

Etienne Wenger-Trayner · Beverly Wenger-Trayner

Oct 2020 · Cambridge University Press

About this ebook

Today, more people want to know how to make a meaningful difference to what they care about. But for that, traditional approaches to learning often fall short. In this book, we offer a theoretical and practical way forward. We introduce the concept of social learning spaces for developing both new capabilities and a sense of agency. We provide a rich framework for focusing on the value of social learning spaces: how to generate this value, monitor it, and learn iteratively through the process. The book is a useful extension and refinement of 'communities of practice' for those familiar with the theory. For those who are not, the chapters will lay out a new way to approach learning. This volume is written to serve the needs of readers across fields, including researchers, educators, and leaders in business, government, healthcare, and international development.

About the author

Etienne Wenger-Trayner is a social learning theorist and consultant. He is known for his seminal work on communities of practice, which has influenced both practice and theory across disciplines. One of the most cited authors in the social sciences, he is a visiting 'professorial fellow' at the University of Brighton, UK.

Beverly Wenger-Trayner, still an activist at heart for equitable development, is a social learning theorist and consultant known for her work with international organizations. Her expertise encompasses cross-boundary processes, the use of new technologies, designing and facilitating social learning strategies, and coaching social learning leaders in complex situations.