Susanne Francisco

Introduction: Practice Theory and the Theory of Practice Architectures

This chapter introduces the theory of practice architectures and locates it within the theoretical terrain of practice theory. It highlights what is distinctive about the theory as a practice theory, and discusses its affordances as a theoretical, analytical, and transformational resource for practitioners and researchers. We argue that, to create new possibilities for practice in our disciplines and professions, and/or to challenge unsustainable or untoward practices in education and professional practice more broadly, our current practices must be interrogated. The theory of practice architectures can inform such interrogative work. This chapter provides a foundation for the case chapters in this book which variously illustrate the kinds of insights yielded by exploring education and professional practice through the lens of practice architectures.

Transforming Education and Professional Practice

In this chapter, we return to the notion of exploring education and professional practices, the key focus of this volume. In the opening chapter, we argued that the theory of practice architectures is simultaneously a theoretical, an analytical, and a transformative resource. Here we highlight some of the ways the chapters in this book have capitalised on the affordances of the theory of practice architectures as their authors have explored education and professional practices. We comment on how, individually and collectively, the chapters contribute to ongoing conversations about particular practices, and our understanding of practices in general.

Mentoring as Part of a Trellis of Practices that Support Learning

In a number of countries, including Australia, vocational education and training (VET) teachers often begin teaching without teaching qualifications or prior experience related to teaching. In such circumstances, mentoring is commonly identified as an appropriate strategy to support teacher learning. However, access to mentoring for new teachers can be complex. Further, even when mentoring is available, it does not always provide strong support for teacher learning.

Communicative learning spaces and learning to become a teacher

ABSTRACT This paper explores teacher learning. It focuses on access to ‘communicative learning spaces’ (a concept we coin and develop within this paper) and argues that the creation of such spaces can be a powerful enabler of teacher learning. We draw on the findings from three studies conducted in three different countries - Norway, Australia and Sweden. The studies focused on different stages of teacher learning - initial teacher education, the induction phase of teacher learning in the workplace, and the continuing professional learning of in-service teachers. The paper considers the features that characterise communicative learning spaces and their development. Using the theory of practice architectures we examine what enabled and constrained the development of these communicative learning spaces in each of the three cases.

Practice Architectures and Being Stirred into Academic Practices of a Research Group

This chapter uses the theory of practice architectures to show how particular kinds of arrangements can make particular kinds of academic practices possible. It does this by exploring the authors’ ...