community of inquiry approach to faculty development: a case study

A Community of Inquiry Approach to Faculty Development: A Case Study

Meg GoodineEsther Tiessen

Overview• The Problem and the Opportunity• The Proposed Solution

Response to Designed Solution• Results

Response to Outcome of Project• Lessons Learned

Response to Case Study

Community of Inquiry Case Study

The Problem• need for faculty development with

respect to implementing new technologies

• extremely limited resources and support for faculty development


The Opportunity• Introduction to Learning Technologi

es— MOOC offered by U of Sask on learning technologies


http://words.usask.ca/learning-tech/

http://words.usask.ca/learning-tech/


The Plan…

The Proposed SolutionPhase 1—Community Building & Technology

Exploration

Phase 2—Planning & Preparation

Phase 3—Integration & Evaluation

Phase 4—Celebration & Dissemination


Spring

Summer

Fall

Phase 0Recruitment• invitation sent to faculty members

briefly describing project• information session to describe project

to interested faculty members and elicit participation


The Proposed SolutionPhase 1—

Community Building & Technology Exploration


Phase 3—Integration &

Evaluation



Spring

Summer

Fall

Phase 1 (spring semester)

Community Building & Technology Exploration• set up of Moodle site to support

community• online introductions • participation in MOOC• support through KPU Moodle site• monthly meetings to discuss progress

and content of MOOC






Evaluation



Spring

Summer

Fall

Phase 2 (summer semester)

Planning and Preparation• summer semester• development of implementation plan

and research plan• support through KPU Moodle site• sharing of plans on Moodle site• monthly meetings to discuss progress

and issues






Evaluation



Spring

Summer

Fall

Phase 3 (fall semester)

Integration & Evaluation• implement new technology in courses• use SOTL approach to integrating new

technology• support through KPU Moodle site• monthly meetings to discuss progress






Evaluation



Spring

Summer

Fall

Phase 4 (end of fall semester)

Celebration & Dissemination• event for sharing of results• potential for participants to become

mentors for other faculty



Audience Participation…

QuestionsWhat feedback do you have regarding

our design? What should we have done differently?

What do you thinkhappened? Howdo you think it turned out?



The Results…

Phase 0Recruitment• good turnout to information session

(about 20 instructors)• enthusiastic response


Phase 1Community Building & Technology Exploration• some people dropped out with start of

semester• many dropped out of MOOC• little participation on Moodle site• although attendance low at monthly

meetings, enthusiastic discussions


Phase 2Planning and Preparation• core group remaining• group decided to focus meetings on

particular topics• skipped meeting due to low attendance• few formalized plans for fall

implementation


Phase 3Integration & Evaluation• monthly meetings continued• participants’ plans evolved• informal approaches taken to

evaluation


Phase 4Celebration & Dissemination• few attendees due to scheduling

difficulties at end of semester• informal discussion about experiences• acknowledgement of positive

experience


QuestionsWhat could we have done better? What

should we have done differently?What would you

do to achievegreater success?



Lessons Learned…

Lessons LearnedUnaccounted for factors:• difficulties due to different campuses

• remote connection lacking

• no strategy for maintaining commitment other than monthly meetings

• difficulties due to different teaching semesters


Lessons LearnedThings we would do differently:• greater lead time to prepare instructors• elicit stronger commitment to project • less focus on completion of MOOC• add incentive/recognition for

completion


Lessons LearnedSuccesses:• desire of instructors to work with peers• continuation of community

• broader participation• informal membership


QuestionsWhat have you learned from this case

study?



Meg [email protected]

Esther [email protected]

Thank-you for your participation!

community of inquiry approach to faculty development: a case study

Education