LSTM’s strategy is to expand student numbers four-fold over the next 10 years; and to become more flexible and digital. Hence this digital Community of Practice has been created to help facilitate the transition to digital / distance delivery – enabling colleagues to share their ‘good practice’, and to ask peers for help and support.
Previous organisation reviews have found LSTM needs to share practice amongst colleagues. The loose structure, low demand to engage from users, and community ‘ownership’ of this system may align well with academic values.
The ‘owners’ of the system will be all the stakeholders – TEL taking a significant facilitating role in the early weeks.
This is a staff facing system – although students may find it useful / interesting to visit and (longer term*) we encourage this – such visibility helps market the school – give prospective students an insight into how we teach.
To see what others are doing in the creation and delivery of their courses. To see if they can get help / inspiration from colleagues; to share their ‘good practice’ amongst those new to teaching, and especially those new to teaching ‘online’.
To enhance the student experience by colleagues being more prepared to use new / novel / innovative approaches to teaching and learning, especially those know to be more effective for online learning. To have a pool of resources and individuals that can be searched for useful contacts / information. For colleagues to have a showcase for their good practice – something that will become a permanent record of their contribution at the School.
… and perhaps some unanticipated benefits too – such as reinforcing to teaching staff the effectiveness of learning in a community – an approach they may be more willing or better prepared to try with their students.
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