Terms of Reference
Statement of intent
The aim of the Community of Practice (CoP) is to bring together committed individuals who have a desire to work collaboratively to learn, share and build
the e-capability of its members.
Accepted definition of e-learning: "e-learning is the use of electronic media and devices for teaching and learning"
Accepted definition of a Community of Practice: "A Community of Practice (COP) is a group of individuals with a common area of practice, who come together to enable a process of professional self-development through collaboration and sharing of learning-related ideas, skills and experience".
We believe a Community of Practice is a forum for:
Objectives
The objectives of this community of practice are to:
Eligibility and Membership
All persons demonstrating a special interest and involvement in any capacity within the e-learning field of practice are eligible to submit an expression of
interest to join the e-Learning Community of Practice.
Methods and frequency of meetings
A variety of formats and technologies will be utilised to facilitate the meetings of the e-Learning Community of Practice
12 month schedule of meetings will be posted in the nominated forum (schedule to be discussed)
Meetings will be scheduled at different times to cater for the variety of participant availabilities.
Roles and Responsibilities (serves as a guide only)
Operations Committee
Core group of 10 members to ensure group continues to function with half of the group resigning every second year to ensure a continuum of experience of group management . Initially a temporary group until established, then nominations and election by the group.
Network Facilitator (one member)
Secretariat (one to three members)
Drivers of the Community of Practice (up to six members)
Marketing and Promotion
Minute Taker
Meeting Chairpersons
Additional COP roles
Communication Facilitators (this could be a team of 3-4)
Volunteer Mentors
New Communities of Practice
Sub specialities of e-Learning Communities of Practice will be established based upon the core areas of knowledge as identified by participants. If a
member wishes to explore the development of a new community of practice, a proposal should be submitted to the Operations Community and should include the following:
Associated Costs
Key Principles
As a volunteer based forum, drawing in participants from novice to expert in this specialised field, participants are to observe the principles of the
Community of Practice Code of Conduct during events and in email and online interactions related to this Community of Practice.
This also encompasses:
The Terms of Reference will be reviewed by members every 2 years.
Effectiveness of the forum will be assessed every 6 months in the first two (2) years of operation by the means of electronic survey, collated, analysed and
a report posted/distributed for discussion by community members.
The following will be assessed:
Statement of intent
The aim of the Community of Practice (CoP) is to bring together committed individuals who have a desire to work collaboratively to learn, share and build
the e-capability of its members.
Accepted definition of e-learning: "e-learning is the use of electronic media and devices for teaching and learning"
Accepted definition of a Community of Practice: "A Community of Practice (COP) is a group of individuals with a common area of practice, who come together to enable a process of professional self-development through collaboration and sharing of learning-related ideas, skills and experience".
We believe a Community of Practice is a forum for:
- Exchange of ideas
- Information sharing
- Peer support
- Exploration of issues
- Discussion of research and development relating to an area of practice
- Review of recent developments, products and practices
- Group training or professional development
Objectives
The objectives of this community of practice are to:
- Provide a system of support and ongoing professional development for individuals in their main area of practice (if membership grows there may be
sub-specialty CoP’s) - Support and encourage the development and extension of specialist knowledge
- Keep abreast of and participate in leading best practice
- Identifying potential areas for research and development
- Mentoring to build capability of less experienced practitioners
- Provide opportunities to demonstrate best practice employed within individual organisations
- Provide a facilitated communication channel
- Provide a mutual support network for solo practitioners
- Create a link with other networks and Communities of Practice
- Provide the opportunity for participants to have exposure and a ‘user experience’ of a variety of online technologies.
Eligibility and Membership
All persons demonstrating a special interest and involvement in any capacity within the e-learning field of practice are eligible to submit an expression of
interest to join the e-Learning Community of Practice.
Methods and frequency of meetings
A variety of formats and technologies will be utilised to facilitate the meetings of the e-Learning Community of Practice
12 month schedule of meetings will be posted in the nominated forum (schedule to be discussed)
Meetings will be scheduled at different times to cater for the variety of participant availabilities.
Roles and Responsibilities (serves as a guide only)
Operations Committee
Core group of 10 members to ensure group continues to function with half of the group resigning every second year to ensure a continuum of experience of group management . Initially a temporary group until established, then nominations and election by the group.
Network Facilitator (one member)
- Oversee communities of practice
- Ensure the practice is meeting the stated objectives
- Attend relevant communities of practice meetings
- Identify training needs arising from community of practice meetings
- Liaise with relevant stakeholders
Secretariat (one to three members)
- Manage membership
- Maintain official E-Learning CoP records
- Provide any official statements on behalf of the group
- Maintain technological licences and memberships
- Posting of session recordings on nominated site
Drivers of the Community of Practice (up to six members)
- Marketing and promotion
- Event planners and program facilitators
- Minute takers
- Meeting chairpersons
- Responsible for program development and scheduling
- Request suggested program items from participants, and any guest attendees
- Forward program to participants two weeks prior to meeting
- Facilitate meeting
- Complete an attendance list which will be forwarded to Secretariat for COP records
Marketing and Promotion
- Develop a marketing strategy for the CoP
Minute Taker
- Responsible for recording and minute taking at meetings
- Provide recording or minutes to the Secretariat within 5 days of the meeting
Meeting Chairpersons
- Chairs meetings face to face
- Moderates online meetings
Additional COP roles
Communication Facilitators (this could be a team of 3-4)
- Responsible for monitoring communication within the community
- Facilitate discussion and prompt response to questions posted within 48 hours
- Assist new participants with technological challenges in accessing online community
Volunteer Mentors
- Participants can approach individual members with an expression of interest request for another member to mentor them in a particular area of
speciality. - Arrangements as to when, where and how are to be mutually agreed between the two individuals.
- There is no obligation by the e-learning community of practice upon a potential volunteer mentor to accept a request to mentor another participant.
New Communities of Practice
Sub specialities of e-Learning Communities of Practice will be established based upon the core areas of knowledge as identified by participants. If a
member wishes to explore the development of a new community of practice, a proposal should be submitted to the Operations Community and should include the following:
- The area of practice or knowledge to which the COP relates
- Aims of the COP
- Eligibility for membership (if any)
- Rationale for its establishment
Associated Costs
- All costs associated with COP should be detailed and a budget
developed. - Sources of funding will need to be identified and discussed by the
Operations Committee.
Key Principles
As a volunteer based forum, drawing in participants from novice to expert in this specialised field, participants are to observe the principles of the
Community of Practice Code of Conduct during events and in email and online interactions related to this Community of Practice.
This also encompasses:
- privacy and confidentiality to be maintained within the community to encourage free and open discussion;
- views expressed are to be respected as those of individual practitioner members and not to be attributed to the group as a whole unless an official statement is issued by the nominated committee member.
- not using the community of practice for unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of commercial solicitation;
- not soliciting anyone to buy or sell products
- make donations of any kind.
The Terms of Reference will be reviewed by members every 2 years.
Effectiveness of the forum will be assessed every 6 months in the first two (2) years of operation by the means of electronic survey, collated, analysed and
a report posted/distributed for discussion by community members.
The following will be assessed:
- the range and number of participants;
- level of participation;
- member satisfaction with the Community and the perceived value over the stated
period.