One significant concept in collaborative intelligence is the idea of Communities of Practice (CoP), first introduced by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger (1991). A CoP refers to a group of individuals who share a common interest, passion, or professional practice and who learn from each other through ongoing interaction. The key characteristics of a CoP are: (1) a shared domain of knowledge, (2) a community that fosters relationships and collaboration, and (3) a shared practice, which includes tools, methods, stories, and experiences.

In the context of e-learning, Communities of Practice enable learners to move beyond passive content consumption toward active knowledge construction. Members of a CoP not only access resources but also co-create meaning by sharing experiences, asking questions, and mentoring one another. This type of collaborative learning builds collective expertise that no single individual could achieve alone.

An example of a CoP in practice is the online teaching and learning community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators across the globe turned to platforms such as Facebook Groups, Coursera forums, and Google Classroom communities to share strategies for online pedagogy, troubleshooting technical issues, and co-developing lesson plans. For instance, the “Educators using Zoom” Facebook group grew rapidly, with thousands of teachers worldwide exchanging advice and supporting one another in real time. This demonstrates how collaborative intelligence is amplified when practitioners openly share practices and insights.

Another concrete case is Wikipedia, which functions as a global CoP where contributors collectively build a knowledge base. Although not everyone may directly know one another, they are united by their shared domain (knowledge creation), their collaborative practices (writing, editing, citing), and their collective commitment to maintaining accuracy and openness.

By participating in CoPs, learners and professionals develop deeper expertise while contributing to the growth of shared knowledge. In today’s interconnected world, this concept shows the transformative power of collaboration, where learning becomes social, dynamic, and continuous.

Reference: Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity. Cambridge University Press.