The ToP Network
Partners In Participation associates were founding members of the national Technology of Participation Network (TN). The TN is a membership based association that connects and supports practitioners and trainers in order to improve and expand the use of Technology of Participation methods in facilitation. Membership opens the door to the Netwroks’s extensive features and benefits.
Features and Benefits
- Connects Practitioners for support, innovation, cooperation, and professional development
- Provides Resources tools and technical help
- Offers learning opportunities through online sessions, certification, professional development, and an annual gathering
- Supports research and evaluation of ToP facilitation methods
- Advocates for the use of ToP methods and ToP-trained facilitators
Consider joining the ToP Network to access their resources and events. Follow the ToP Network LinkedIn Page or Join the ToP Network Facebook Group to join the conversation.
Both national and Arizona based communities of practice meet regularly online and occasionally in person. They support recent and long-term graduates in keeping their skills fresh besides learning from peers.
The Arizona ToP Community of Practice
What is a “Community of Practice?”
“Communities of Practice are groups of people who share concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis. While these communities may organize naturally, the challenge of ‘stewarding’ or cultivating such communities – making their ‘practice’ more proactive and systematic… may be the keystone to leveraging the benefits of participation in all levels of society.”
Quoted from Cultivating Communities of Practice
by Etienne Wenger, Richard McDermott, William M. Synder
Cambridge University Press 1998
The Arizona ToP Community of Practice co-hosted by Partners in Participation was founded as a Learning Community of ToP® course graduates and facilitation practitioners intent on:
- Practicing, peer coaching and creating opportunities to apply the ToP facilitation methods
- Sharing best practices, complimentary tools & techniques, and emergent topics
- Finding ‘practice field situations’ that might be shared with the group
- Earnestly exploring the ‘community of practice’ concept
This is a learning cohort rather than a ‘training’ environment. We intend to create a structure that allows for planned facilitation practice as well as ‘as needed’ facilitation design coaching,. That gives space for impromptu conversation and for disciplined ‘best practices’ in facilitation. We rotate roles, review our successes and challenges, and share in ‘facilitating’ learning cohorts. Join us in this adventure! Participation in the Community of Practice is included in the Mastering the Technology of Participation program year-long program (‘MToP’). It is recommended for those interested in becoming a Certified ToP Facilitator.
For more information on how to get involved in the National (virtual) or Arizona (virtual and in-person) ToP Community of Practice
Join the Az ToP Community of Practice Facebook Group
Join the Az ToP Community of Practice LinkedIn Group
Or Email: AlisaOyler@gmail.com
Phone: 602-312-8229