Professional Learning in Cooperative Extension: Understanding Opportunities for Social Learning and the use of Computer Mediated Technologies

Social Learning in the workplace can encompass many things. In social environments, adults are constantly communicating with their colleagues and actually participating in an exchange of shared knowledge. As virtual learning continues to become more prominent in the workplace in an effort to help adults work and collaborate, learners will need to continually generate a network of communities to engage in practice. This study utilized the theoretical framework of Wenger's social theory of learning as a lens for identifying experiences contributing to social learning in the workplace and to what extent technological tools contributes to those collaborative learning opportunities. Qualitative methods were utilized for this study which generated themes central to "learning through collaboration", and "learning through system processes". There were also findings that related to the use of technological tools and specifically related to how they contribute to opportunities for learning. Extension Professionals including Extension Agents and State Specialists were recruited for participation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education

Department dc:contributor.department

Agricultural and Extension Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Wiley, Shannon

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Scherer, Hannah H.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Niewolny, Kimberly L.
• Anderson, James C.
• Alston, Antoine J.

• Community of Practice
• Social Learning
• Computer Mediated Tools
• Adult Learning
• Cooperative Extension

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:17325

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/85862