This qualitative case study investigates how Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) influence teacher self-efficacy and collaboration in a rural school district. Using a qualitative case study approach, researchers will collect qualitative data through focus groups and interviews. Themes drawn from this study include trust and relationships as…

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) provide the best setting for building collective teacher efficacy (CTE). CTE has been identified as having the highest positive effect on student achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions of teachers and administrators regarding the effectiveness of PLCs for building…

As centers for teaching and learning increasingly offer support and leadership for the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) at their institutions, educational developers need better tools to plan their SoTL programming. This article shares the work of a regional network of educational developers across six institutions in Virginia, who…

Drawing on research and practice, this key text provides a rich, detailed, and accessible guide to Communities of Practice (CoPs) theory and how to implement it within higher education. It takes a detailed look at how the theory is constructed, the research that it rests on, and the ways that it has been used and can be used in the future.…

Creating sustained, transformative change within and across organizations is challenging, particularly when those undertaking change act as individuals. COMmunities of Practice (CoPs) are organically created collaborations among like-minded participants, working toward a common set of goals (Lave & Wenger, 1991; Wenger-Trayner &…

In this paper, we present a qualitative case study on an online graduate program for practicing teachers and educators that explores contemporary mathematics and its integration into K to 12 education. Data for the study comprised students' work in the courses, student feedback, and notes from instructor debriefings for two cohorts of the program.…

State postsecondary education data systems are vital assets for policymakers, researchers, and the public. The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association's (SHEEO) Communities of Practice project builds upon SHEEO's efforts to measure the capacity and effective use of state postsecondary data systems and provides states with…

Advocates of Invitational Education theory and practice believe consistent application of an ICORT mindset upon an institution's people, places, policies, programs, and processes (5Ps) can optimize and sustain success for all stakeholders. Given a professional learning community (PLC) is impacted by and also influences all of an institution's 5Ps,…

This article traces the journey and outcomes of research undertaken by evaluating theoretical wellbeing models and practice research. The findings have culminated in the new Universal Wellbeing Model (UWM). Emerging from this UWM are innovative ways to support and inform higher and wellbeing education and social learning in praxis. The innovations…

Centers for teaching and learning (CTLs) address external and internal factors that influence teaching and learning. To accomplish this, often without additional resources, CTLs need an efficient and effective solution. By combining evidence-based practices in faculty development and a distillation of effective practices at three different…

Utilizing an appreciative model of assessment can help foster a consistent and purposeful approach to assessment while creating a more holistic community of practice by using a collaborative and positive-focused framework. This article will delve into practical applications of how to incorporate appreciative assessment into Student Affairs.

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is a fast-maturing field of study within many research-intensive universities. SoTL improves the quality of teaching, the professional development of teachers, and the recognition and appreciation of education. To encourage SoTL, it is important to know how to support teachers. This study describes two…

This paper focuses on investigating the effectiveness of the professional learning community (PLC) on student teachers' curriculum development skills, as well as the effectiveness of the professional learning community (PLC) on Thai L1 young students' reading comprehension. The instruments utilized for the study include the following: a…

College staff performing recruiting tasks without collaboration or shared knowledge formation creates redundancies and knowledge gaps. This study sought to investigate causes and find solutions to recruitment gaps and redundancies. Participants and data collected in Cycle 1 consisted of interviews with college staff and recent high school…

This qualitative dissertation explores the use of an original table-top role-playing game as a framework for community-building among independent community educators who lack a central geographic nexus. The study utilized an action research approach, involving the creation and development of the game in collaboration with participants for a period…