From implementation to reflection: exploring faculty experiences in a curriculum-focused FOLC through multi-case analysis

Abstract

Faculty development and support play an important role in improving undergraduate STEM education. Learning communities, including Faculty Online Learning Communities (FOLCs), can be a valuable resource for faculty seeking professional growth. This multi-case study examined how faculty gained value through participation in a curriculum-focused FOLC. Adopting a community of practice perspective, the value creation framework developed by Wenger, et al., was used to examine cycles of value creation for the five case study participants and identify key ways in which participation in the FOLC supported value creation.All five case study participants shared comprehensive stories about how they gained value through participation in FOLC activities over multiple years. All initiated their value creation stories by describing pedagogical approaches they were unhappy about. As their stories unfolded, they described how they implemented new and innovative strategies to address their concerns, leading to outcomes consistent with the original pedagogical goals of the learning community. Two faculty described how the community helped them see new leadership roles for themselves within their departments, outcomes that were not anticipated at the initiation of the FOLC. Other participants spoke of a decreased feeling of professional isolation. Several features of the FOLC emerged as crucial factors in value creation, including structural elements such as regular meetings, a shared curricular focus, and leadership and networking opportunities. Importantly, study participants identified extended participation in the community and continuing feedback from multiple perspectives as drivers of reflection and growth.These findings suggest that while short term participation in a FOLC or other faculty community may help achieve more prescribed outcomes, longer term participation supports a more emergent approach to faculty development. This research offers insights for faculty, curriculum developers, administrators, and others interested in promoting faculty development.