Translation starts in one language, and converts to a second. But it doesn't change the languages or the people who "speak" them. We propose -instead of translation -the joint development of theory and practice that becomes a common language, a common language of a community of scholar-practitioners. This paper describes the work of two scholar-practitioners committed to addressing a pressing problem of practice: the educational attainment and skills required for positive outcomes in the 21st

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... ntury workplace. This paper examines the original design and implementation of an innovative, theory-based workplace learning initiative called Books@Work, and, arising from this work, proposes a research methodology that integrates theory and practice in a complex, emergent form of engaged scholarship. The authors propose the use of a single lens to join theory and practice in a seamless partnership between scholars and practitioners -and program participants themselves -engaged in a joint effort to solve practice problems and to shape a more integrated, reformulated, view of scholar-practice.