Beyond the individual, time, and space: exploring the LD Health COP (Learning Developers for Health Students Community of Practice), an online asynchronous community of practice.

The document titled “Beyond the individual, time and space” explores the LD Health COP (Learning Developers for Health Students Community of Practice), an online asynchronous community of practice. The LD Health COP, was founded to bring together Learning Developers working in different institutions but in the same area, thus providing alternative perspectives.

The community operates asynchronously, allowing members to participate at their convenience. This format is particularly beneficial for busy Learning Developers. The LD Health COP is currently in the coalescing phase of its development, with members beginning to build bonds of trust and negotiate ways of working.

The document also discusses the concept of space in the context of the LD Health COP. Despite existing online with no physical destination, the community creates a “personal reflexive space” for members to engage in self-dialogue with input from other perspectives.

In conclusion, the article suggests that the LD Health COP needs to create more varied ways for members to interact to maintain and sustain relationships. This includes working on an annual project over a longer period and creating spaces for one-to-one discussions. The ultimate aim is to ensure that individuals continue to join together beyond time and space for interaction and learning.

The document references several works, including those by Wenger et al. (2002), who discuss the concept of communities of practice, and Yarris et al. (2019), who identify time constraints as a barrier to research and development for medical educators. The document also cites the LD Health COP Charter and the Association for Learning Developers in Higher Education (ALDinHE).