Learning as Identity Construction in a Community of Practice: An Ethnographic Study

Abstract

Professional preparation for work environments in constant transformation represents a significant challenge for current educational systems. This study focuses on the use of Communities of Practice (CoP) as an alternative to addressing this challenge. To deepen our understanding of the learning process within a CoP, we conducted an ethnographic study at the Centro de Tecnologia Academica (CTA), a laboratory dedicated to the creation of open technologies at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. The core of this work investigates the process of identity construction within this environment, emphasizing the importance of understanding the CTA's culture to shape it. We highlight the relevance of value creation in communities of practice as a fundamental element. The observations, interviews, and other qualitative methods employed in the study allowed us to reconstruct the learning trajectory of a CTA collaborator by narrating their participation story. We identified crucial moments that significantly contributed to his identity construction. Additionally, the study underscores the informal nature of social learning in these environments and emphasizes that understanding this process can help promote social structures that provide more authentic learning in school settings.

Keywords

• comunidades de prática
• identidade
• aprendizagem social
• ensino de ciências