Creating an engineering education community of practice within an institutional setting: barriers and enablers for success in practice

This paper reports on our journey to form a community of practice (CoP) for education research (or the scholarship of learning and teaching) within an Engineering Faculty and describes some of the enablers and potential barriers to success. Using adult learning principles, the authors introduced CoP activities including a program of weekly, scaffolded developmental activities, and additional supports such as periodic retreats and individual consultations. These activities and supports are described in detailfor those who may seek to introduce a similar intervention. The use and strengths of an action research method is also described as a means to support both the action in practice and the generation of learning and knowledge through the research study.