Introduction

This chapter examines the dimensions and dynamics of online ‘communities of practice’ (CoP) and ‘communities of interest’ (CoP) and their characteristics and relevance to social work and social care practice and education. After a brief introduction highlighting the changes in mobility and technology and their impact and the emergence of online communities, to ground the discussion in practice, the chapter presents as an example the first social work ‘Twitter chat’ and community of practice. Reflecting on the formation and development of @SWSCmedia community, the first author (Claudia Megele) draws some of the learnings from that experience to distinguish between online networks and communities and to examine the dynamics and use of communities of practice as a source of learning and knowledge generation as well as professional formation and identity development for both individuals and professions. Thinking about communities of practice as a multilogue conversation, the authors examine the impact and ramifications of communities of practice for professional identity and considers some of the challenges and opportunities associated with communities of practice and communities of interest. The chapter concludes with some reflections and general considerations in relation to creation, development and coordination of communities of practice and interest.

The ‘traditional’ concept of community was based on spatial proximity (that is physical closeness, such as a neighbourhood) and a common cause or obligation or values, combined with trust, reciprocity, and a sense of belonging. However, the ‘traditional’ concept and dynamics of community have been greatly impacted and substantially transformed by increased mobility among populations, aided more recently by mobile technologies. Indeed, as modern technologies offered increased mobility they also introduced many distances into everyday living, impacting and supplanting the spatial proximity of communities and threatening their very survival. In the same manner, the ease and increase in overall mobility impacted individuals’ social networks, including family and close relationships. Today, families and friends are often scattered around the globe, and home and work may be in different localities, cities, or even countries. Such distances, combined with the increasing pace and demands of everyday living, make it difficult for face-to-face communities to be the predominant social ‘reality’ in contemporary society (Gergen, 1991).