Communities of Practice (CoPs) are groups of people who share common concerns, passions, or interests in topics, who come together to fulfill both individual and group goals. Communities of Practice focus on sharing best practices and creating new knowledge to advance professional practices. Interaction is an important part of this process.
Ensuring digital accessibility is more important than ever—not only to support student success but also to meet legal requirements under ADA Title II, which mandates equal access to programs and services provided by public institutions. The Accessibility Community of Practice will guide faculty and staff in creating inclusive and accessible materials. Whether you're new to accessibility or looking to strengthen your practices, this community of practice will ensure your materials align with accessibility best practices and federal compliance in a collaborative environment.
The series will explore what artificial intelligence is and is not, as well as its ethical and societal implications and strategies for implementing responsible use and policies in workspaces, classrooms, and institutions.
This is a CoP growing out of the 2023-24 HEIF EL&G 2.0 equity grant work. Please feel free to invite any colleagues who might be interested in discussing equity practices and supporting each other with promising practices. All meetings are virtual.
The Universal Design for Learning Community of Practice is an opportunity for STCC faculty and staff to share ideas and practical teaching strategies. Spring 2025 meetings will be conducted via Zoom, on Fridays, 11am-12noon. See the full workshop schedule calendar for details and mark your calendars.
The UDL Community of Practice meets monthly during the semester. For Spring 2025 we will be reading the book Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally as a foundation for our discussions. We will dive into hard conversations as we hear student stories and build compassion. Our meetings will be on Fridays, 11am-12noon. Details are below:
Friday, February 7, 11am-12noon, introduction and chapter 1&2
Friday, March 21, 11am-12noon, chapter 3&4
Friday, May 2, 11am-12noon, chapter 5&6 and conclusion
Remember to complete the form to receive your book if you have not done so already.
We will use individual teaching practices, web resources, and the CAST UDL guidelines as foundations for our discussion. Each meeting focuses on one topic currently being implemented in an STCC course. In participating in the Universal Design for Learning Community of Practice, you will:
Identify UDL practices being implemented in STCC courses
List resources for researching applications of UDL practices
Explain how a UDL practice could be applied to their course
Develop an individualized plan of implementing a UDL practice to any of your teaching and work with students.
Capstone projects can take many forms: e-Portfolios, presentations, multimedia presentations etc. and allow students to showcase the knowledge, skills, and competencies they have acquired during their academic program. Join the conversation and learn how to bring capstones into your teaching. Monthly meetings are virtual. Mark your calendars.
This guide, from Wenger-Traynor, is an exemplar and to support CoPs members leading in drafting a STCC CoPs Practice Guide.
Treat ourselves, each other, and our learning space with respect
Humility - each of us is only one piece of the puzzle
Share air time (listen deeply & share thoughtfully)
Resistance is part of learning, let’s use the opportunity!
Ask questions when you notice yourself making assumptions
Confidentiality (take the learning, leave the details)
Unlocking human potential, which leads to mobility and equity, relies on a combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the workforce. Like knowledge or technical abilities, fluency and mastery of Durable Skills across the workforce isn’t something that will just happen – we need intentional, strategic policies, and practices that strengthen the linkages between education and workforce.