Balancing power in communities of practice: An examination of increasing student voice through school-based youth-adult partnerships

This article examines how power imbalances influence the formation of student voice initiatives, which are defined as school-based youth-adult partnerships that consist of youth and adults contributing to decision making processes, learning from one another, and promoting change. Using the concept of community of practice as a lens, the paper examines the ways in which power influences the mutual engagement, shared repertoire, and joint enterprise of youth-adult partnerships. Specifically, the study finds that the following strategies can strengthen student voice initiatives: building meaningful roles based upon mutual responsibility and respect among all members; developing shared language and norms, and developing joint enterprises aimed at fostering voices that have previously been silenced from decision making and knowledge-building processes.

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10833-007-9061-7

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Work Title Balancing power in communities of practice: An examination of increasing student voice through school-based youth-adult partnerships
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Dana L. Mitra
Keyword
  1. Student voice
  2. Community of practice
  3. Youth–adult partnerships
  4. Power
  5. Educational change
  6. Civic engagement
  7. Professional learning community
  8. Knowledge generation
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Journal of Educational Change
Publication Date January 5, 2008
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-007-9061-7
Deposited March 01, 2024

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added JEC_pdf.pdf
  • Added Creator Dana L. Mitra
  • Published
  • Updated Keyword, Publication Date Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Student voice, Community of practice, Youth–adult partnerships, Power, Educational change, Civic engagement, Professional learning community, Knowledge generation
    Publication Date
    • 2008-09-01
    • 2008-01-05
  • Updated

Version 2
published

  • Created
  • Deleted JEC_pdf.pdf
  • Added FINAL BEFORE PUBLCIATION Communites of Practice.docx
  • Published
  • Updated