What is a Community of Practice?

 “Groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.” – Wenger-Trayner, 2015

Cohort-based programs, where faculty come together several times during the semester, can have meaningful impacts on helping build community, networks and knowledge.

Communities of practice were first defined in 1991 by Lave & Wenger, and have grown in their popularity and application since that time.  In educational settings, CoPs have become powerful models for growth and change in higher education.  They help to build community, provide a sense of belonging, enhance cross-discipline collaboration, and promote knowledge and innovation.

The topics of exploration and discussion are driven by the interests and needs of participating faculty.

A primary value of these communities is shared knowledge. Though informal, CoPs are most effective when participants participate in sustained interactions, either face to face or virtual. 

When you register for a CoP you are registering for all events in the series – so please mark your calendars and plan accordingly! 

Spring 2021 Communities of Practice

GRADING & EQUITY Participants will focus specifically on alternative assessment strategies that support diverse learners. Alternate Mondays from 12:00-1:00pm, February - May
New Faculty Community of Practice Meeting from February to April, every three weeks through the semester on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00 pm.
WINTER Compressed Community of Practice ONLINE TEACHING & LEARNING January 5 - 22 Get prepared for teaching remote in spring by joining this virtual community of practice focused on the essentials of online teaching and learning.
TEACHING IN A DIVERSE CLASSROOM Check back for future offerings!

Spring 2021 Discussion Groups

Spring 2021 Teaching Check-Ins Looking for an informal space to talk about the changes, victories, and challenges of teaching during Spring 2021?  Our Teaching Check-Ins provide an informal and safe space to seek advice, get questions answered, and share strategies in our new teaching ecosystem.   Every third Tuesday at 3:00-4:00pm 

Spring 2021 Book Clubs

Spring 2021 Faculty Book Club – Radical Hope: A Teaching Manifesto by Kevin Gannon "Gannon translates ideals into tangible strategies and practices with the goal of reclaiming teachers’ essential role in the discourse of higher education." Alternate Thursdays from 12:00-1:00pm, February-April. Registrants will be provided a copy of the book.

Past Communities of Practice

Science of Learning

Part-time/Adjunct Faculty

Large Enrollment Courses

Fundamentals of College Teaching

Active Learning Strategies

Active Learning Strategies for Online Teaching

Teaching with Equity in Mind

International Teaching Assistants

Online Teaching and Learning

New Faculty Seminar

Department Specific Communities of Practice

Past Book Clubs

Teach Students How to Learn: Strategies You Can Incorporate Into Any Course to Improve Student Metacognition, Study Skills, and Motivation by Saundra Yancy McGuire

Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning by James M. Lang

Critical Digital Pedagogy edited by Jesse Stommel, Chris Friend, and Sean Michael Morris

What the Best College Teachers Do by Ken Bain