Title of Grant: Facilitating a Community of Practice for Biology Instructions
F2011-413P-PF
Date of Funding: Fall 2011
Name: Lucinda Miller
College: Northern Virginia Community College
Email: [email protected]
Abstract: This project proposes to develop a community of practice for biology instructors at the college
and to expand this activity to the VCCS system. Meetings will be facilitated, which entail a common
book reading, an online journal subscription, refreshments, and supplies for members of the biology
community of learners who will focus on best practices for teaching and learning biology. As the lead, I
will administer the community, and maintain the community’s Blackboard site (the BIO Pavilion). All
VCCS faculty who offer BIO courses will be invited to participate online and to meet face to face as they
are able.
Actual Outcomes:
Instructor Benefits
1)
The ready availability of professional materials such as texts and journals.
Actual Outcome: The tests and journals were not funded, so this didn't occur. The Bb site did allow the
sharing of some materials, online sources, teacher made materials, etc.
2)
The synergistic strengthening of teaching techniques, including technology advances.
Actual Outcome: This was realized through faculty sharing.
3)
Mentoring among faculty (both full-time and adjunct) who offer best pedagogy and practical
Actual Outcome: This was realized through faculty sharing, especially in terms of best teaching
practices.
Department Benefits:
1) A more unified, strengthened faculty who are familiar with one another and are willing to share
best practices.
Actual Outcomes: This was realized, but not measured objectively.
2) Specific and peer reviewed laboratory activities and techniques. In the past year, BCOP has
produced lab activities for Anatomy and Phsyiology (Laboratory problems in neurology), Botony (The
Wiinogradski Column), Biology and Genetics (C. elegans, the perfect teaching animal), and Evolution and
comparative biology (Cladistics lab). As more instructors join the community and current instructors
develop new techniques, this set of resources can only grow.
Actual Outcomes: This discussion, as is appropriate in a community of practice, was concentrated
around lab assessments and the beginning of biology learning outcomes writing. The actual expansion
of a collection of lab teaching techniques did not significantly improve.
3) A centralized resource set of learning objects for all areas of biology, some of which can be posted
on MERLOT. All will be housed on Google Docs for VCCS faculty to discuss.
Actual Outcomes: See above: Instructor Benefits 1.
Actual Outcome: A MERLOT ELIXR Case Story is under production. All the video taping is complete and
final submission to MERLOT ELIXR is expected by late Summer, 2012. This is the primary work of the
developer of the Math Community of Practice leadership in conjunction with the Biology Community of
Practice. The dissemination of information and the modeling for other communities of practice is
apparent by this practice. See College benefits, actual outcomes #3.
College benefits:
1)
Strengthened biology (and science) faculty.
Actual Outcome: Preliminary plans are underway to offer a team-taught, problem based learning course
in Anatomy and Physiology.
2)
Presentations for faculty development events at the college.
Actual Benefit: This model of a community of practice was incorporated into NVCC's Center for
Excellence in Teaching and Learning and served as a model for other departments, campuses and
college's to follow.
The Community of Practice was presented at NVCC's Power up your Pedagogy Conference.
3)
Model for other departments and disciplines to collaborate with one another.
Actual Outcomes: Two similar Communities of Practice were developed based on the Biology
Community of Practice Model -- A Math Community of Practice and a Communication Community of
Practice. A third one, that services the college-wide Developmental Math Program Instructors is forming
this summer.
System benefits:
1)
Presentation of community of practice outcomes at VCCS-sponsored peer meetings.
Actual Outcome: The Science Peer Group Meeting will be in November, 2012.
2)
Model for other disciplines and other colleges.
Actual Outcome: The Communities of Practice (Biology and Math) were the basis of a session at New
Horizons. The reviews were excellent.
Wenger, 2007, states that communities of practice are 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. Instructors thus
benefit by developing relationships and being better teachers. The department benefits from its
strengthened faculty. The college benefits from an improvement in collaboration among its faculty
members. VCCS benefits from the sharing of this strength. Students in all biology fields will be the
ultimate beneficiaries.
Instructor Benefits:
1) The ready availability of professional materials such as texts and journals.
2) The synergistic strengthening of teaching techniques, including technology advances.
3) Mentoring among faculty (both full-time and adjunct) who offer best pedagogy and practical
applications in workplace settings.
Department Benefits:
1) A more unified, strengthened faculty who are familiar with one another and are willing to share
best practices.
2) Specific and peer reviewed laboratory activities and techniques. In the past year, BCOP has
produced lab activities for Anatomy and Phsyiology (Laboratory problems in neurology), Botony (The
Wiinogradski Column), Biology and Genetics (C. elegans, the perfect teaching animal), and Evolution and
comparative biology (Cladistics lab). As more instructors join the community and current instructors
develop new techniques, this set of resources can only grow.
3) A centralized resource set of learning objects for all areas of biology, some of which can be posted
on MERLOT. All will be housed on Google Docs for VCCS faculty to discuss.
College benefits:
1) Strengthened biology (and science) faculty.
2) Presentations for faculty development events at the college.
3) Model for other departments and disciplines to collaborate with one another.
System benefits:
1) Presentation of community of practice outcomes at VCCS-sponsored peer meetings.
2) Model for other disciplines and other colleges.
Other Colleges:
Discussion and Critique:
This was not a research project.
Nonetheless, the implications of this work are improved student success through faculty collaboration
and the synergistic exchange of ideas that lead to better and best teaching practices.
Evaluation:
A qualitative evaluation was done via whole group discussion. The results indicate that the Biology
Community of Practice will continue on the college-wide level in the 2012-13 year. While specific
emphasis will continue to be placed on specific biology teaching techniques, additional emphasis will be
placed on best teaching practices and ways to implement them more fully in biology courses.
Dissemination:
By meetings of the Biology Community of Practice via email and Blackboard and by word of mouth.
By presentations at college wide events--such as NVCC's Power Up Your Pedagogy, attended by about
500 people.
By presentations at VCCS-wide New Horizon's Conference.
By the MERLOT ELIXR project, expected to be completed by late summer, 2012.
By Inclusion of template information about how to organize and run a departmental community of
practice within NVCC's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning so that it can be disseminated to
faculty requesting such information.