coformation

Coformation is a term used across multiple disciplines to denote the process by which participants and their practices are formed together through mutual influence. The concept emphasizes reciprocal shaping rather than unilateral instruction and is applied in education, organizational development, and religious formation.

In education and professional development, coformation describes how learners and teachers, or trainees and mentors, influence each other's growth through collaborative learning, reflective practice, and participation in communities of practice.

In organizational and sociocultural analysis, it refers to the mutual shaping of people, roles, structures, and cultures as teams collaborate, establish norms, and develop shared routines and identities.

In religious and spiritual contexts, coformation denotes the shaping of faith, character, and values through communal practices, spiritual disciplines, and accountability within a faith community.

Because it is used in diverse fields, coformation lacks a single formal definition and functions as a flexible frame for studying reciprocal development. It often involves collaborative design, feedback, and distributed outcomes rather than a single instructor’s influence.

Related ideas include co-creation, mutual shaping, and collaborative learning; care should be taken to distinguish contexts and power dynamics when applying the concept.