Improving Teaching Through A Community of Practice

Four faculty members describe their collective experiences of being involved in a community of practice (CoP) designed to deconstruct individual teaching experiences through critical reflection and dialogue. The CoP began while conducting a research project to enhance the quality of a doctoral program focused on preparing graduates as agents of change in culturally diverse environments. The authors describe their experiences, present an emerging model of professional development, illustrate the process from two of their participants' perspectives, and identify implications for other learning communities.