The community of practice (CoP) represents a distinctive element of the COSMOS approach as it unites school and community stakeholders (e.g., students, teachers, families, scientists, companies, NGOs, science centres). CoP members share a common concern or a passion and learn how to improve their knowledge and behaviour as they interact collaboratively.
The aim of CoP in COSMOS is to address Socio-Scientific Issues using different types of inquiry, that are consequential to all stakeholders in the community, thus fostering networking, sharing of expertise and knowledge, and establishing best practices among CoP partners, including small and large enterprises that share and exchange knowledge through SSIBL. The CoPs can be developed locally, but also nationally or even internationally (connecting groups from different places with a common interest on a specific SSI). In COSMOS, the CoP is limited in time for the duration of the SSIBL design and implementation. However, if interest exists, the CoP can be prolonged in time, resulting in a sustainable process. The Community of Practice (CoP), as implemented in the COSMOS project, demonstrates significant potential to foster educational reform and enhance science education by creating structured collaboration between schools and their surrounding communities.
