Humanizing Online STEM Community of Practice
Fall 2023 Cohorts are full.
Overview
STEM faculty alumni of the Humanizing Online STEM Academy are invited to participate in a Humanizing Online STEM Community of Practice (CoP). The CoP is designed to advance your professional development and growth through interactions with your colleagues, while contributing to the advancement of culturally responsive pedagogy and psychologically inclusive course design in STEM disciplines. Each cohort will be led by a peer “guide” and will be anchored by seven Zoom meetings throughout the semester. The next cohorts begin in February 2024.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the CoP, you must have complete the Humanizing Online STEM Academy prior to the first CoP gathering.
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:
- Attend seven pre-scheduled Zoom meetings during the semester term.
- Share your questions, successes, and struggles about humanized online teaching.
- Be engaged and mindfully present during live sessions so you can listen, take in new ideas, and be an active contributor.
- Make space for all voices and ideas.
Fall 2023 CoP Guides
Jennifer Garner
Biology, Ventura College
Cohort 1 Guide
Donna Smith
Math, Sierra College
Cohort 2 Guide
Cohort Dates
In your application, you will be asked to select one of the cohorts below. Please check your schedule to ensure your availability for the meeting dates/times.
Cohort 1 is full!
- Wed, August 23 – 1:00-2:15pm
- Wed, September 6 – 1:00-2:15pm
- Wed, September 20 – 1:00-2:15pm
- Wed, October 4 – 1:00-2:15pm
- Wed, October 18 – 1:00-2:15pm
- Wed, November 1 – 1:00-2:15pm
- Wed, November 15 – 1:00-2:15pm
Cohort 2 is full!
- Friday, August 25 – 11:30am-12:45pm
- Friday, September 8 – 11:30am-12:45pm
- Friday, September 22 – 11:30am-12:45pm
- Friday, October 6 – 11:30am-12:45pm
- Friday, October 20 – 11:30am-12:45pm
- Friday, November 3 – 11:30am-12:45pm
- Friday, December 8 – 11:30am-12:45pm
Join the Interest List for Spring 2024!
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.
