there’s growing recognition that communities of practice—peer-to-peer learning groups—offer an effective way to work together on a common problem, share strategies, and deepen members’ knowledge. originally envisioned as groups that worked together in the same location, technology can now overcome the challenges of time and distance and provide opportunities for interacting with peers, even if those peers are widely dispersed and in remote locations.

this issue of lessons learned shares what we’ve culled from our experience in facilitating online communities of practice. the brief includes a technology self-assessment, tips for blending face-to-face meetings with online collaboration, and a checklist of elements required for success.

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