ERIC Number: EJ1464247
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1931-7913
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Building Communities of Practice among Undergraduate STEM Departments to Foster Emergent Transformation: A Report on the Impact of Multiple-Year Engagement within the PULSE Midwest and Great Plains Regional Network
Taylor Allen; Paul E. Arriola; Caroline Breitenberger; Karen Klyczek; Kathleen A. Marrs; Steven Matzner; Kathryn G. Miller; Jo Anne Powell-Coffman; Mikayla Thatcher
CBE - Life Sciences Education, v24 n1 Article 5 2025
A vibrant ecosystem of innovation hinges on undergraduate science programs that inclusively deepen conceptual understanding, develop scientific competencies, and spark wonder and appreciation for science. To create this ecosystem, we need to influence multiple components of the system, including faculty as well as culture (i.e., rules, goals, and beliefs giving rise to them). Here we describe and evaluate a multi-institution community of practice focused on transforming undergraduate biology programs' organizational practices, behaviors, and beliefs, as well as instilling a sense of agency in community participants. The approach drew on three change theories: Community of Practice, Participatory Organizational Change, and Organizational Justice. Via mixed methods, we found that participation in the community catalyzed the flow of tangible capital (knowledge resources), grew social capital (relationships and identity), and developed human capital (creative problem-solving and facilitative leadership skills; sense of agency). In participants' home departments, application of knowledge capital was associated with increased implementation of the principles of the Vision and Change report. Departmental change was enhanced when coupled with use of capitals developed through a community of practice centered on creative problem-solving, facilitative leadership, conflict resolution, and organizational justice.
Descriptors: Communities of Practice, Undergraduate Students, STEM Education, Biology, Science Education, College Science, Educational Practices, Personal Autonomy, Educational Change, Capital (Sociology), Social Capital, Human Capital, Program Evaluation, Conferences (Gatherings)
American Society for Cell Biology. 8120 Woodmont Avenue Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20814-2762. Tel: 301-347-9300; Fax: 301-347-9310; e-mail: ascbinfo@ascb.org; Website: https://www.lifescied.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1355894; 1730553
Author Affiliations: N/A