Etienne Wenger: A Social Learning Theorist

Go anywhere in education and chances are one will hear the term “community of practice” (CoP). The concept, coined by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger, was built from the foundation of social learning theory and has had significant endurance as a way to leverage adult learning landscapes. Wenger has continued to research CoPs as they have grown in popularity across all major sectors (educational, organizational, business, politics, etc.) to shape new findings that help researchers, practitioners, and scholars. This excerpt chronicles Wenger’s early influences through his key contributions and new insights, examining how the utilization of his research has helped shape adult learning, professional growth, and collaborative progress.