Academics working on online, blended and technology enhanced programmes and modules can oftentimes find themselves working in isolation from their teaching colleagues. Focused on providing the optimal student experience and with the usual demands on their time of a full teaching timetable they often don’t have the opportunity to look at emerging trends or technologies within their own discipline or indeed across disciplines. A community of practice is defined by Wegner-Trayner as "a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do, and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly" and in establishing a TEL Community of Practice within WIT it is hoped that colleagues will have a forum to discuss, debate and discover best practice in the areas of online, blended and technology-enhanced learning. The COP will meet regularly with the focus being on community led initiatives and the sharing of and exchange of experiences. This presentation will focus on the efforts that were taken within WIT on establishing a COP and document the journey taken so far. This has included a number of planning meetings, the publication of a number of staff newsletters, the holding of an end-of-semester showcase day: The Collective: Unexpected, together with a number of other events and activities aimed at building awareness and a sense of community. Accredited and non-accredited staff professional development activities and opportunities were also made available to staff across the institute. Canvassing of support from Heads of School, Heads of Department and the Institute Executive led to the establishment and support of a COP becoming a key part of the newly drafted strategic plan as one of the actions aimed at improving the quality of the student learning experience.

1. 1
A Field of Online Dreams
Build it and they will come (or will they?)
Cultivating a Technology-Enhanced Learning Community of Practice
Ken McCarthy, CTEL, Waterford Institute of Technology
Laura Widger, CTEL, Waterford Institute of Technology

2. 2
Introduction
Who we are?
What have we done?
How did we do it?

3. 3
Who We Are
Laura Widger
Head of CTEL
Ken McCarthy
Instructional Designer
Waterford Institute of Technology
• Six Schools
• Fifteen Academic Departments
• Five Campus Locations in Waterford City
• 10,000 Students
• 1,000 Staff
CTEL (Centre for Technology-Enhanced Learning)
• Moodle
• Adobe Connect
• TEL Tools
• Student and Academic Support

4. 4
What have we done and how did we do it?
Planning Meetings
Met collectively and
individually over 20 times to
define and develop COP plan.
Build Community
Met and spoke with Heads of
Department, Lecturers,
Strategic VP, President and
Institute Executive.
Raise Awareness
Developed a weekly
newsletter, ran a number of
group events including the
COP launch and The
Collective Unexpected.
CPD Opportunities
Developed a second Level 9 –
10 Credit Module on Online
and Blended Course Design.
Ran various workshops on
TEL Tools.
All activities underpinned by the desire to support and encourage input and inclusion
across schools, departments and academic disciplines.

5. 5
What, When, Where, Why,
Who and How?

6. 6
What is a Community of Practice?
“a group of people who
share a concern or a
passion for something
they do, and learn how to
do it better as they
interact regularly”
Wegner-Trayner

7. 7
What, When, Where, Why, Who and How?
What?
A forum for staff to discuss, debate and discover
tools, techniques and approaches to support the
use of technology in their teaching.
When?
Regular fortnightly meetings throughout the
academic semester supported by the use of
dedicated Moodle area and other TEL tools.
Where?
Across all of the schools, departments and
campuses of Waterford Institute of Technology..
Why?
To foster and encourage the exchange of practice
and experience of staff using technology to
enhance their teaching.
Who?
Primarily aimed at academic staff but all staff
within the institute are welcome to attend and
contribute to COP meetings and activities.
How?
By using regular meetings, practice exchange, case
studies and TEL showcase activities, supported by
the Institute management as a strategic priority.

8. 8
First Steps

9. 9
Weekly Newsletter
12 Issues per Semester
Sent to All WIT Staff
Including academic and professional and support
staff. Currently sent every Friday afternoon during
term time.
Four Suggested Links
Software, applications, newsletters, courses, blogs,
podcasts and other relevant educational technology
links.
User Management
Staff can subscribe or un-subscribe and a complete
archive of previous issues are available on the CTEL
website.

10. 10
Blended Learning Module
Level 9 – 10 Credit Module
Blended Learning Module from the Master of Arts in
Education programme.
Staff CPD Opportunity
Available to all Institute staff as a CPD Opportunity,
runs for one full semester.
Cross Disciplinary Team
Delivered by a team of five lecturers from across
three different WIT Schools and Departments.

11. 11
Community Of Practice Event
The Collective: Unexpected
One Day TEL Showcase, Practice Exchange
and Round Table Discussions utilising new
technologies with a view to stimulating
debate, discussion and discovery.

12. 12
Community Of Practice Meetings
01 Launch Event
Launched by Head of School of Education and
Lifelong Learning Dr Helen Murphy and featuring a
new online module developed by a novice online
lecturer.
02 CIT Virtual Presentation
Online presentation by Dr Gearóid Ó Súilleabháin
from Cork Institute of Technology about the COP
they have in CIT and how it works..
03 H5P Demonstration
Presentation from Conor O’Neill, CTEL about H5P
and integrating it within Moodle.
04 The Online Student Experience
Presentation from Ken McCarthy about learning
online with DCU and on various online platforms
as well as additional contributions from Colm
Dunphy and Pete Windle about the new online
Higher Diploma in Computer Science.

13. 13
Key Components
Staff Support
Staff willingness and interest
to get involved, share practice
and learn from each other.
Institutional Support
Encouragement from President,
VP Strategy and Executive
together with School and
Department support.
Relevant & On Topic
Clear focus on what the COP is
about and what the frameo of
reference is –
Technology-Enhanced Learning
Community Led
For and by the Community with
School and Department Champions
taking the lead on articulating what
is important for the community.
Each of these components and pillars work together to help ensure the success of the
COP. Each are equally important and cannot exist in isolation.

14. 14
Where do we go from here?

15. 15
Five Goals for 2018 / 19
Regular Meetings
Meet at least once every
two weeks during the
semester and have a
number of one-off
additional events.
Practice Exchange
Encourage and support
practice exchange from
users at all levels of
ability.
New Programmes
Encourage and support
the development of new
online and blended
modules and
programmes.
CPD Opportunities
Provide additional CPD
opportunities both
accredited and non-
accredited to upskill and
reskill staff.
Community Led
Both for and by the
community with the
needs and requirements
of the community
informing activities.
Embed the COP as a key driver of Technology-Enhanced Learning within WIT

16. 16
Thank you
Any Questions?