VIDBE-Q Volume 69 Issue 4
1. To reflect on twenty years' of experience honing train-the-trainer approaches
regarding AT training with TSVIs';
2. To present a snapshot of how Wenger's community of practice (CoP)
framework (2015) can link to practical deployment of strategies that sustain
AT-oriented CoPs among TSVIs;
3. And to share a playbook of specific strategies for consideration when a train-
the-trainer approach is selected as a mode of professional development.
While the term "community of practice" (CoP) is used often with varying
definitions, the term as referenced in this article will refer to Wenger's
conceptualization that requires three characteristics to be present in order for a
group to be considered a CoP (1998):
• Domain. Members of a CoP have a shared interest and commitment towards
a topic for learning.
• Community. Relationships among members are built to support collective
expertise through joint interactions and exchanges of information
• Practice. Members develop a shared set of tools and experiences that help
with collective problem-solving and contribute to an evolving knowledge
base across the CoP
In the context of supporting TSVIs' technology proficiency, a CoP can be
the basis for ensuring the sustainability of a training effort while achieving a higher
