Join an SCTL Community of Practice 

Submitted by Francine Desnoyers, Academic Operations Coordinator, SCTL 
 
Communities of Practice (CoPs) are groups of individuals who share common goals, similar interests, and experiences. These groups work together to refine their practice by learning from one another and engaging in an open exchange of ideas or strategies. 

The primary functions of a CoP are to create and share knowledge. This knowledge is gained as practitioners participate in the activity that is the focus of the CoP. This practical experience is then enhanced through collaborative reflection by the group of practitioners. 

Common elements of CoPs include: 

1. Composed of a group of individuals who share mutual interests or passions 
2. Participants are practitioners and want to learn more 
3. They meet to discuss this interest/passion on a regular basis 

CoPs are important to fostering teaching excellence at St. Lawrence College because they create community, seek out expertise across the three campuses, and promote self-reflection on teaching practices. 

For the fall 2024 term, the SCTL invites you to join the following CoPs: 
 
Tea Time on Tuesdays (Indigenous Pedagogies and Intercultural Teaching Book Club) 

The Tea Time on Tuesdays CoP will explore Indigenous Pedagogy and Intercultural Teaching through shared readings and engaging dialogue sessions.  This community brings together anyone interested in deepening their understanding of these topics through thoughtful discussion.  

As a CoP, we will engage in a courageous journey that is meant to challenge us deeply and inspire transformative growth. While the conversations we will have together may be uncomfortable at times, this discomfort can lead to insights and self-reflection that are empowering and essential.  

Our first CoP meeting for the fall 2024 term will be on October 1. Together we will read and discuss Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. For more details and registration information, click here. 
Facilitators: Shannon Hall, Educational Developer (Indigenous Pedagogy); Clarissa de Leon, and Luyi Liang, Educational Developers (Intercultural Teaching) 

Community of Practice: Teaching with AI 

The Teaching with AI CoP is intended as a collaborative space to share, discuss, and explore the evolving landscape of AI and its potential to both enhance and disrupt various dimensions of teaching and learning. These discussions will examine various opportunities and challenges in identifying tools and specific teaching strategies that might inspire experimentation with AI tools. We also welcome staff to participate in this CoP as the introduction of AI tools will continue to impact all facets of higher education. 
Facilitator: Patrick Hymus, Educational Developer (AI & Immersive Technologies)  

Community of Practice: Digital Teaching Strategies 

This CoP will focus on digital teaching strategies where faculty members can connect with one another and share best practices/resources. Faculty will showcase and discuss new tools they are using and exchange ideas on how to facilitate effective digital learning in the classroom. The CoP will highlight using online, SLC approved tools, and Open-Education Resources that are effective, efficient, and accessible to all students and staff.  
Facilitators: Lindsay McCabe and Heather Somerville, Digital Learning Specialists  

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) at SLC 

The SoTL at SLC CoP is intended to be a supportive meeting space where educators, researchers, and staff (with diverse disciplinary backgrounds), come together to share questions and foster inquiries aiming to advance teaching and student learning. 

This CoP will promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in teaching and learning through the discussion of approaches to systematically study challenges and opportunities encountered in our educational practices. Through this CoP, we aim to create space/opportunity for educators to: (1) critically reflect on our educational practices; (2) develop research questions; (3) meet and strengthen relationships with peer inquirers, (4) explore approaches to answering our questions in systematic, credible, and ethical ways, and (5) develop plans to mobilize new knowledge with beneficiaries and interested parties. 

Whether you are new to SoTL, an experienced SoTL practitioner, or someone in between, we invite you to join us and contribute to growing our SoTL community at SLC! 
Facilitators: Jessica Rich and JJ Bosica, Educational Developers (SoTL) 

For more information on all of our CoPs and to register, please visit Teach @ SLC.