Objectives

The overall objective is to increase the proportion of online teaching in each of 75-100 DSR undergraduate subjects to 40 – 60% by the end of this CoP period

PolyU has almost completed two rounds (each of a 3 years duration) of successful CoPs and as a result the general awareness of the areas covered by the themes of the CoPs as well as groups of core/active members have now been harnessed. Often, these members are passionate and generous in sharing their knowledge with colleagues who seek to know more, typically via many of the activities (including seminars, workshops, mini-conferences, or online) hosted by the CoPs. However, while the general awareness of specific themes has been raised, an array of important questions still remains. In our opinion, it is of upmost importance and value to the university, how to operationalize the respective pedagogies, their tools and their underlying systems in PolyU day to day teaching activities so as to enhance students’ learning outcomes as well as deliver a superior learning experience remain as challenges.

Based on that, we hereby propose to start a new CoP on Online Learning and Teaching which not only enables the CoP to function as a knowledge center for raising awareness and dissemination of information but also serves to nurture, groom and support an expanded group of teachers who will become exemplars leading the way how teaching and learning activities can be carried out online in professional, intuitive and innovative ways. Especially in the light of the recent developments, where many colleagues had to jump-start their online teaching experience, we see potential to keep the movement and the momentum alive through a CoP on Online Learning and Teaching.

Expected Outcomes

We expect three major outcomes for this CoP:

1. Like the fundamental characteristic of a CoP, this CoP will function as a “Help Centre” or “Centre of Excellence” in specific topics covered by the theme.
2. Knowledge is created, curated and transferred via many of the planned activities to be hosted by the CoP; there is evidence to show an expanding nucleus of core knowledge possessed by a steadily increasing number of members in the community.
3. A targeted group of teachers are being nurtured and groomed to become early/frequent adopters of pedagogies, tools and systems covered under the theme of this CoP. With experience, they will gradually become exemplars of their own practice campus-wide and ambassadors of PolyUs teaching and learning culture and philosophy.

Work plan and activities

Members of the CoP will consist of PolyU staff, selective students, graduates, alumni and invited parties from other tertiary institutions and industry in Hong Kong. Planned activities include seminars, workshops, trainings, coaching, and funded trips (application required) to targeted events. Many of these activities are either solely or co-delivered and co-created by members; experts from foreign institutions and/or consultants may also be commissioned to design and deliver specific seminar(s)/workshop(s) in-person or online.

As mentioned above, while members are, in principle, welcome from all academic/teaching colleagues, we especially value those who were active members from previous relevant CoPs, new joiners to PolyU (teaching and research tracks), Teaching and Learning grant receivers and applicants, attendees of IUT and BOLT trainings, T&L award winners, staff exemplars (external and internal awards), students (whom have shown active/persistent interest in areas covered by the CoP theme) and graduates (especially those working in the eLearning and LMS areas).

In this CoP, we shall offer three types of members (in ascending degree of participation/contributions): Guest, Member and Core Member. Guests are people who attend CoP events on an ad hoc, infrequent or occasional basis; they have no intention of becoming a CoP member. In most cases, a guest comes to a CoP event to collect/receive information. Being a member of a CoP means that this person agrees to work towards the common goal(s) and subscribes to a “shared identity” of the CoP. A member is expected to “give” and “take” from the community. Core members is a sub-set of members who take the lead on implementing the agreed CoP initiatives. The list of core members is not a static group over the lifetime of a community; its composition may change e.g. due to the nature of an initiative or shocks e.g. events that disrupt a person’s ability or willingness to contribute. Categorisation of membership will be based upon, among others, the frequency of attendance of CoP activities and respective contributions. Meetings will be held to firm up these criteria for measurement at the beginning phase of the CoP. As for the incentive in joining CoP activities, we shall link this up with the currently being developed “Cumulative Recognition System (CRS)” (exact name to be decided later) for rewarding staff’s attendance and contributions to EDC activities. Basically, members earn recognition for their attendance/contributions to relevant EDC/CoP events, their leadership and performance in the “exemplar-grooming” programs, and other approved contributions. Furthermore, only full members and core members can apply for Staff Development Funds offered by this CoP.