Creating a Multi-University Collaborative Professional Learning Community

Abstract

The Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA) is helping create multi-university collaborative professional learning communities through the Science Education Faculty Academy (SEFA) portion of the VISTA program. Faculty members from universities across the state of Virginia meet for one week of intensive professional development, discussion, and growth. Faculty participants determine what is core to their respective content areas and what content is vital to their respective courses, creating continuity across the state. Participants have the opportunity to share experiences, successes, and ideas related to their work. Participants continue to communicate after SEFA, allowing even those at smaller institutions the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues. While SEFA focuses on science educators across the state, it is a working model for how professional learning communities can be established in all disciplines.