Countering a ‘Back-to-Basics’ Approach to Teacher Education: Multiliteracies and On-Line Discussions in a Community of Practice

Abstract

Aiming to extend sociocultural theory about literacy education in teacher programs, this article reports on results from a qualitative study conducted in a Western Australian university. The project tracked a group of initial teacher and graduate education students collaborating in on-line discussion embedded in a literacy course. The article focuses on how one pre-service teacher constructed situated identities and understandings about literacy as she interacted on-line with peers and the course instructor in a community of practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991). Suggestions are provided for designing on-line CoPs that consider power and an expanded definition of literacies.