Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book. This book guides educational leaders within an organization to facilitate experiences with colleagues to engage in ongoing learning about their practice. Management in the organization offers time, resources, and freedom needed for professionals to learn, while individual participants remain open-minded and willing to scrutinize their practice and change as they learn. The goal of Reflecting on Practice is to advance the informal science education field by cultivating communities of learners among its professionals. Few would disagree that workforce learning is a necessity for organizations to stay competitive, especially in knowledge-based work like education. Education, whether in formal or informal environments, exists within the sociopolitical context. It’s part of society’s system, which means it affects and is affected by what happens in society.