The agency of pedagogical consultants in a networked community of practice

Authors

  • Michelle Deschênes Université du Québec à Rimouski
  • Séverine Parent Université du Québec à Rimouski

Keywords:

agency, community of practice, pedagogical consultant, multiple case study, cross-order collaboration

Abstract

Pedagogical consultants (PCs) act as agents of change within their professional environments, actively pursuing their own development through engagement in communities of practice, particularly within inter-institutional networks. This article examines the exercise of agency among members of such a community, composed of PCs from various educational institutions. A qualitative analysis of interviews and community-related documents—both used and produced—reveals several commonalities across the cases. These include a collaborative dynamic grounded in both members’ professional culture and their institutional contexts, as well as a form of symmetrical proxy agency, whereby each member’s agency is supported and reinforced by the others. Instances of resistance were marginal, as the community was primarily oriented toward collaborative problem-solving and the pursuit of constructive solutions.

Author Biographies

Michelle Deschênes, Université du Québec à Rimouski

is a professor of vocational education psychopedagogy at the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR). She holds a PhD in educational technology and conducts research on the development of digital competence, teacher agency, and the professional development of educators in vocational training and adult general education. Her interests also include communities of practice and issues related to artificial intelligence. Her work aims to facilitate the transition to university studies—particularly for students with non-traditional academic backgrounds—and to contribute to reducing digital inequalities in educational settings. michelle_deschenes@uqar.ca

Séverine Parent, Université du Québec à Rimouski

is a professor of educational technology and digital literacy at the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR). She designs and delivers digital mobilization courses for future educators, both in-person and online. In her teaching practice, she explores the transformation of learning spaces, focusing on active pedagogy and hands-on activities in creative environments. Her research focuses on developing digital skills, addressing digital inequalities, and analyzing variations in engagement within innovation contexts. severine_parent@uqar.ca

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Published

2025-05-14

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Deschênes, M., & Parent, S. (2025). The agency of pedagogical consultants in a networked community of practice . McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De l’éducation De McGill. Retrieved from https://mje.mcgill.ca/article/view/10217

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Copyright (c) 202X McGill Journal of Education / Revue des sciences de l'éducation de McGill

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.