Tracing Collaboration in a STEAM-PBL Community of Practice: A Longitudinal Case Study

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Uptake and Impact of Inquiry- and Project-Based Learning

Abstract

This longitudinal case study investigates the establishment and cultivation of a Community of Practice (CoP) among a cohort of K-12 teachers (N=21) at four schools over a 2-year period. The CoP centers on enhancing teachers’ facilitation of project-based learning (PBL) that integrates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) disciplines. Using social network analysis in concert with the Communities of Practice Value Creation Framework (Wenger, Trayner, & de Laat, 2011), the study draws on survey and interview data to describe collaboration patterns and teacher perspectives on CoP activities. Findings indicate that early activities established collaborative relationships among the cohort, resulting in a resilient network and the creation of significant immediate, potential, and applied value for participating teachers.

Author

• Jessica Gale, Georgia Institute of Technology