Communities of Practice (CoP) are small groups of trusted colleagues who share a passion for something they know how to do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better..

The Center for Teaching and Learning is seeking participants for Communities of Practice (CoP) for the academic year 2023-2024.

Communities meet (at least) monthly and programming is determined by the group. Communities are interdisciplinary, and members support each other in implementing a targeted change in practice. Participants set individual goals as well as a goal for the group, and commit to producing a product at the end of the academic year (e.g., a revised assignment, a poster, a manuscript submission, evidence of increased effectiveness in teaching, etc.)

All CoPs are facilitated by a New York Tech staff or faculty member. Facilitators participate in an orientation meeting, coordinate meetings of the CoP (approximately every 3-4 weeks), create space for shared resources, and support CoP members in end-of-year presentations and reflections. CTL staff are available to provide support and resources, as requested.

Participants receive $500 in professional development funding that can be used to advance their own professional growth: conference attendance, membership in a professional society, participation in a webinar or short course, purchase of books or other materials, etc. Faculty members who serve as facilitators will earn a stipend of $1500 upon completion of the year's activities and submission of all deliverables. Access to these funds is contingent upon full participation in CoP meetings (1 absence per semester is permitted), completion of reflection activities, and submission of an individual “deliverable” to the CoP facilitator at the end of the academic year, before the CoP’s final meeting.

Join a Community of Practice »

The following Communities of Practice are running during the 2023-24 academic year:

Motivation & Engagement: Setting Our Students Up for Success

The relationship between a student's engagement and performance in a course has been heavily researched, and the consensus is that motivation and engagement are crucial aspects of students' overall learning experience, regardless of whether learning occurs in-person or online. Participants will share their experiences adopting engaging practices in their teaching and learning "toolkit." Instructors across all disciplines who teach courses using any modality are encouraged to join and actively contribute to this discussion, provide constructive feedback regarding existing practices, and bring their unique experiences to this Community of Practice. Takeaways will include fruitful discussions regarding implementing engaging practices in the classroom and practical tips for implementing engaging dimensions to the use of assessments, assignments, educational technologies, physical spaces, and student collaboration, among others.
Convener: Mena Youssef

Building Bridges: Faculty Advising for Student Success

Alexander Astin's Student Involvement Theory posits that the more ways in which a student can connect with the campus, the more likely they are to persist towards graduation at the institution. Faculty members, of course, play a crucial role. Faculty-student interactions foster a sense of belonging, academic engagement, mentorship, and improve student critical thinking (Astin, 1999).

Faculty advising is important to facilitating a deeper connection to campus and the student's discipline. Enhancing advising practices enhances student’s success. Like many academic disciplines, academic advising is full of constantly evolving research and student support strategies. Participants will learn from experienced professional advisors, guest speakers, and other faculty advisors. They will learn together, collaborate on advising initiatives, and provide quality support for New York Tech students.
Convener: Stephanie Wolcott

Don't Let Your Manuscripts Collect Dust: Submit Them This Academic Year!

Are you tired of your manuscripts collecting dust on your hard drive/Cloud storage? Are you ready to take the first step towards publication, but not sure where to begin? Join our community and collaborate with fellow writers to achieve your writing goals. In this structured group, participants will share their unique objectives and strategies to energize their scholarly productivity. At each meeting, members will set specific goals to accomplish before the next session, providing mutual support to ensure everyone stays on track. Whether you are working on a research paper, a grant proposal, or a book chapter, our meetings will help you stay focused and provide the support needed for success. Not only will you connect with fellow scholars from across the university, but you will also establish a network of encouragement to help you overcome any obstacles in your writing journey. Let's come together and make this academic year the one where we finally submit our manuscripts!
Convener: Nayoung Kim

Ready, Set, Publish!

The Long Island “Ready, Set, Publish!” group is a supportive, interdisciplinary community focused on advancing all aspects of scholarship production, from pre-publication research to the drafting and revising of articles, blogs, chapters, creative writing, op-eds and public scholarship, and manuscripts.

The group gives faculty opportunities to advance and finish their work, connect with colleagues, and exchange ideas; working alongside “Writing Buddies” in a structured environment facilitates academic scholarship. Our group provides a welcoming and professional space where we hold each other accountable for writing goals, read each other’s work, provide feedback, and work through obstacles to write productively. The group is open to faculty in any discipline; we function not as experts, but rather as interested readers who provide support in the form of comments, suggestions, and ideas; we meet in person at the Balding House Conference Room (a quiet and beautiful space with nature views) on a weekly basis for 90-minute sessions to provide dedicated writing time. Delectable and healthy snack options and refreshments are provided!
Convener: Sophie Christman

Reflective Teaching Circles

Taking time to reflect—as a person and as a teaching professional—is beneficial to your practice and also your overall wellbeing. Reflection is crucial to growth: taking time to assess where we are and how our actions align with our values helps us chart new pathways and regain some of the joy and fulfillment that brought us to this work in the first place. That said, it can be challenging to find time to build a regular reflective practice and stick with it long enough to see the benefits. Reflective Teaching Circles provide structured time for reflection within a trusted community of colleagues. Groups meet monthly, for 90 minutes, and provide you the time, accountability, and community to support your own reflective practice and gain insights from others. Convener: Fran Glazer

Join a Community of Practice »

If you have any questions, or if you are interested in starting a new staff- or faculty-led community of practice in an area of interest, please contact Fran Glazer to discuss your ideas.