With a combined 8 years of experience on the developing end of six multidisciplinary CoPs we share our experience, trials and errors. In this interactive workshop that covered the success strategies we’ve used to (1) Develop an infrastructure that supports syndication and mobile interaction; (2) Assess the expertise in membership; (3) Identify/close gaps in knowledge/skills (MediaWiki/Drupal); (4) Organize CoP members into workable teams; (5) Share, update, and foster connectivity; (6) Create a “call to action” that supports and motivates members; and (7) Engage the membership. So bring your questions, concerns and real world experience and together with these strategies, becoming a principal source of information in the development of knowledge and innovation in your area of expertise is only a Community of Practice away.

1. 7 Critical Success Factors for Developing Your eXtension Community of Practice Presented by Marissa Stone, Auburn University marissa.stone@gmail.com Jerri Caldwell, Auburn University caldwjl@auburn.edu ACE/NETC Ver. 2.011, Denver Colorado

2. Coming together is a beginning.Keeping together is progress.Working together is success. - Henry Ford

3. What is a Community of Practice? According to Etienne Wenger [www.ewenger.com]: Communities of practice (CoPs) are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do. Through the CoP they interact regularly learning how to do it better. Three Crucial Characteristics of CoPs: The Domain (subject): an identity defined by a shared domain of interest. Membership implies a commitment to this domain. The Community (people): In pursuing their interest in their domain, members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information. The Practice (action): Members of a community of practice are practitioners. They develop a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems—in short a shared practice. This takes time and sustained interaction.

4. Supporting Syndication and Mobile Interaction

6. Assessing the Expertise in Membership

8. Observations

9. Committee/subcommittee positions

10. Member surveys

11. Conference calls

12. Webinars/trainings

13. Internal database

15. Identifying Knowledge and Skills

17. Community of Practice Challenge Please choose a jelly bean that represents your favorite color (NOT YOUR FAVORITE FLAVOR).

18. Community of Practice Colors

20. Study the results from the CoP skills evaluations conducted

21. Actively participate in CoP meetings- maintain contact by scheduling regular CoP teleconferences- talk to members- ask for referrals

22. Attend CoP F2F meetings at national conferences

23. Help develop and support CoP committees and subcommittees

24. Respond to/solicit invitations to provide feedback on tasks

25. When things work celebrate!-make sure that everyone knows!

26. Volunteer to help other CoP members often

28. Use social networking opportunities to facilitate communication, networking and collaboration among users outside the workings of the CoP

30. Connectors know LOTS of people.

31. Connectors develop networks regularly and often unconsciously, and use their connections to put people together, to touch lives, so to speak.

32. Connectors are important because they bring new ideas into the group.

34. Create a CoP listserv in eXtension- send monthly updates on progress, goals, projects, celebrate accomplishments, share CoP news.

35. Social media applications such as blogs, wikis, photo, audio and video files, digital storytelling, podcasts, and 3D virtual worlds support collaborative online/ social spaces where members can connect.

37. Approach all actions as a mediated whole- each action builds on others- this helps people feel part of something- responsible for their part

38. Establish an expectation for accomplishment- hold people accountable- ask how things are coming along or if they need help

39. Encourage members- ask for their assistance and/or offer feedback

40. Be relentless about the timeline/schedule

41. Promote interaction/working w/other CoPmembers

44. Welcome new members personally

45. Provide mentors

46. Choose a membership “go-to” guru

47. Offer support and assistance

49. Trust- built through continued interaction developing common values and shared understanding

50. A sense of belonging among members

51. Paying attention to cross-national and cross-cultural dimensions of the CoP

52. Shared understandings

53. A common sense of purpose

55. Questions? Interaction Syndication Challenge Communication Survey Assessment Call to Action Identify Membership Participation Your Community Domain Engaging Community