E-CORE/CIEL Communities of Practice (CoPs)

The E-CORE/CIEL Communities of Practice (CoPs) started in June 2020 as part of the project’s work to generate and coordinate supports as engineering educators shifted online. The aim of the CoPs is to provide an accessible space for instructors, staff, teaching assistants, and other engineering educators across Canada to connect and share ideas, discuss challenges, and celebrate successes.

The CoPs can be roughly divided into groups that focus on a certain community of educators (e.g. First-Year Instructors), and groups that focus on a certain topic within engineering education (e.g. Supporting Student Mental Health & Wellness). There is no limit to how many CoPs an individual can join, and each group provides unique opportunities for discussion and connecting with peers across the country.

Community of Practice	Example Discussion Topics	Meeting Times
Assessments	using quizzes in class low-stakes assessments competency-based assessment	TBD
Supporting Student Mental Health & Wellness	course design to support mental health responding to students in distress supporting wellness in online classrooms	TBD
Teaching Assistants	engaging with students in online classes managing workload TA-specific concerns in online teaching	TBD
Design Educators	assessing teamwork managing student expectations design projects in a online environment	Biweekly on Thursdays at 12PM EST
First-Year Instructors	assessment innovation community building academic integrity in first-year courses	TBD
Lab Instructors	logistics for lab kits using TAs in remote labs engaging students in remote labs	TBD
Non-Technical Course Instructors	grading writing assessments in large classes finding inspiration for non-design projects aligning formative feedback with TAs	TBD

To sign up for any of the above Communities of Practice, free of cost, join our mailing lists using the CoP Signup Form. Once you have filled out that form, you will begin receiving emails and meeting invites for the CoP(s) you sign up for. We look forward to seeing you at the meetings!

Please note that the above Communities of Practice are currently conducted in English. Our CIEL working group currently provides a regular meeting space for individuals seeking to find and contribute to francophone supports and can be joined by contacting [email protected].

Any questions can be directed to our team at [email protected].