Double Journal Entry #13

Chapter 6: Affinity Spaces 1. Give an example of a "community of practice" in which you are currently participating in. Being a future educator, my "community of practice" is the clinical work I do in the schools. I work alongside a Host teacher (a person with experience in the field), and learn from them.   2.Why is the term "community" better defined in relation to spaces rather than groups of people? Community is better defined in realtion to spaces rather than groups because people aren't always in the same group (so to speak). People have different views, goals, and thoughts. Therefore, they are not going to be affliated in the same community just because of the things they do.   3. What is a "generator"? What is it's counterpart in school? A "generator" is the what the space is about. In school it is the content.   4. What is a "content organizer"? What is it's counterpart in school? The "content organizer" is how stuff is designed/organizer. This related to the lesson plans, we as teachers create, the yearly cirrculum plans, and even the monthly/weekly plans.   5. What is a "portal"? What is it's counterpart in school? A portal is something that gives access to the content in the space. This may relate to text or trade books, the internet, or many other gateways of learning.   6. What do people have an "affinity" for in an "affinity space"? How does this inform your understanding of good teaching? "what people have an affinity with (or for) in an affinity space is not first and foremost the other people using the space, but the endeavor or interest around which the space is organized" (Gee, 2004). This informs my understanding of good teaching because it does not judge or discriminate againist race, class, ability/disability, or gender. The affinity space also does not discriminate about the skilled and unskilled either. Basically, everything in the affinity space is a different experience for each person. As the people in the space make their own decision. The common interest is what brings everyone to the affinity space. 7. How do "affinity spaces" support inclusive classrooms? Choose two characteristics below to make connections between "affinity spaces" and inclusive classrooms. Affinity spaces support inclusive classrooms because they do not discriminate about the people in it. It fosters a sense of community and everyone shares a common vision. It also gives you the ability to connect with other people and solve problems together. There are many more reasons as to why affinity spaces support inclusive classrooms, but the main part is that people in the space don't neccissarily feel judge or different than the other people.   8. How are traditional classroom different from Affinity Spaces? Traditional classrooms are different from affinity spaces because students in the traditional classrooms are often labeled and seperated based on abilities and disabilities. Where in affinity spaces everyone is basically the same.