A Field of Online Dreams – Build it and they will come (or will they?) - Cultivating a Technology-Enhanced Learning Community of Practice

Academics working on online, blended and technology enhanced programmes and modules can oftentimes find themselves working in isolation from their teaching colleagues. Focused on providing the optimal student experience and... [ view full abstract ]

Academics working on online, blended and technology enhanced programmes and modules can oftentimes find themselves working in isolation from their teaching colleagues. Focused on providing the optimal student experience and with the usual demands on their time of a full teaching timetable they often don’t have the opportunity to look at emerging trends or technologies within their own discipline or indeed across disciplines.

A community of practice is defined by Wegner-Trayner  as "a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do, and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly" and in establishing a TEL Community of Practice within WIT it is hoped that colleagues will have a forum to discuss, debate and discover best practice in the areas of online, blended and technology-enhanced learning.  The COP will meet regularly with the focus being on community led initiatives and the sharing of and exchange of experiences.

This presentation will focus on the efforts that were taken within WIT on establishing a COP and document the journey taken so far.  This has included a number of planning meetings, the publication of a number of staff newsletters, the holding of an end-of-semester showcase day: The Collective: Unexpected, together with a number of other events and activities aimed at building awareness and a sense of community.  Accredited and non-accredited staff professional development activities and opportunities were also made available to staff across the institute.

Canvassing of support from Heads of School, Heads of Department and the Institute Executive led to the establishment and support of a COP becoming a key part of the newly drafted strategic plan as one of the actions aimed at improving the quality of the student learning experience.