Humanized Online Teaching

Moving higher education from a “weed out” culture to a culture of care

A red heart with a fingerprint pattern inside, representing humanizing.

Humanizing Online STEM Community of Practice

Overview

During the grant project period, STEM faculty who completed the Humanizing Online STEM Academy were invited to participate in a free Community of Practice (CoP). The CoP was designed to leverage peer relationships and knowledge sharing to further teaching practice by advancing culturally responsive teaching and psychologically inclusive course design in STEM disciplines. Each cohort was be led by a facilitator and will meet seven times in Zoom throughout the semester.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the CoP, you must have complete the Humanizing Online STEM Academy prior to the first CoP gathering.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my participation in the Humanizing CoP. The discussions and insights shared by my STEM peers were invaluable.”
Albert Cruz
Information Systems Faculty, San Diego Mesa College

What is a Community of Practice?

Derived from the research of Lave and Wenger (1991), a Community of Practice (CoP) is 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” (Wenger-Trayner & Wenger-Trayner, 2015). A CoP requires the combination of three essential elements:  the domain, the community, and the practice.

Domain

A Community of Practice is not merely a network of connections between people. It requires a commitment to a domain or shared interest. The domain gives the collective group an identity.

Our domain is our commitment to eliminating equity gaps through humanizing online undergraduate STEM courses. By coming together in this CoP, our shared interest and interactions will provide a valuable opportunity to further advance humanizing in online STEM.

Community

The community is comprised of the members who commit to participating in discussions, helping each other, and sharing information. They care about supporting one another.

Our community is comprised of CCC and CSU faculty who are alumni of the Humanizing Online STEM Academy, individuals who have demonstrated a foundational commitment to and understanding of equity and the principles of humanizing.

Practice

Through interactions, community members develop a shared repertoire of resources: examples, experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing problems that advance the domain.

Through monthly convenings during the 2021-22 academic year, members will further the advancement of humanizing by sharing examples of teaching resources, recommendations for peers, student feedback, and evidence of impact on student belonging/learning.

Commitment

Community of Practice Participants Agree to:

  1. Attend seven pre-scheduled Zoom meetings during the semester term.
  2. Share your questions, successes, and struggles about humanized online teaching.
  3. Be engaged and mindfully present during live sessions so you can listen, take in new ideas, and be an active contributor.
  4. Make space for all voices and ideas.

Spring 2024 CoP Guides

Renee Garcia smiling at you.

Renee Garcia
Saddleback College
Cohort 3 Facilitator

AJ Edmonds
Saddleback College
Cohort 4 Facilitator

Session Dates/Times

There are no CoPs currently available for registration.

As a faculty member at a community college, what I really appreciated about the Humanizing CoP is the opportunity to discuss with faculty outside of my own institution. Unlike research institutions that regularly practice inter-institutional collaboration and and discussions (e.g. conferences), community colleges don’t have too many opportunities to do so. Both the Academy and this CoP have been great at giving those inter-institutional opportunities!
Adriel Cruz
Sierra College

Funded by the California Education Learning Lab. Administered by Foothill-DeAnza Community College District. If you have any questions about this project, please contact the Lead PI, Michelle Pacansky-Brock.

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