What is a community of practice?

A community of practice refers to a group of individuals who share a common interest or profession and engage in collective learning through regular interaction. This definition emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships and knowledge sharing among members who are involved in similar work or disciplines.

The primary focus of a community of practice is to promote growth and development through collaboration, allowing members to exchange experiences, solve problems together, and develop new practices. This collaborative nature fosters an environment where informal learning can occur naturally as individuals learn from each other's insights and experiences.

While governance strategies for knowledge management, formal training programs, or online resource databases may serve as tools or methods to support learning or knowledge sharing in a broader context, they do not represent the core concept of a community of practice. A community specifically revolves around the social interactions and shared learning experiences among its members, highlighting its distinctive nature in fostering ongoing professional development and community engagement.