NGP FOLC

Online Learning Community

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The NGP Faculty Online Learning Community (FOLC) project has the goals of improved student outcomes in physical science courses for pre-service elementary teachers, through faculty development and course transformation, and contributing to the knowledge base on dissemination and educational transformation.

Considering starting a FOLC? Check out our FOLC Implementation Guide and supporting resources.

The NGP FOLC community of faculty is engaged in course transformation and continued professional development through the implementation of Next Gen PET and classroom research in the context of those courses. NGP FOLC consists of 50 faculty, structured in clusters that meet regularly via videoconference, communicate and collaborate using online tools, and meet in person at conferences and workshops. This community approach to faculty development and course transformation is an innovative alternative to typical dissemination approaches.
 

Recent publications

Lau, A.C., Martin, M., Corrales, A., Turpen, C., Goldberg, F., & Price, E.
The Taxonomy of Opportunities to Learn (TxOTL): a tool for understanding the learning potential and substance of interactions in faculty (online) learning community meetings. International Journal of STEM Education 8, 45 (2021). link

Edward Price, Alexandra C. Lau, Fred Goldberg, Chandra Turpen, Sean Smith, Melissa Dancy, Steve Robinson.
Analyzing a faculty online learning community as a mechanism for supporting faculty implementation of a guided-inquiry curriculum.
International Journal of STEM Education 8, 17 (2021). link

Adriana Corrales, Fred Goldberg, Edward Price and Chandra Turpen.
Faculty persistence with research-based instructional strategies: a case study of participation in a faculty online learning community.
International Journal of STEM Education 7, 21 (2020). link

The project team has extensive experience with teaching PET/PSET, curriculum and professional development, instructional technology, assessment, research on teaching and learning, and dissemination / faculty change, and includes:

Edward Price, Cal State San Marcos

Fred Goldberg, San Diego State University

Steve Robinson, Tennessee Tech

Chandra Turpen, University of Maryland, College Park

Paula Engelhardt, Tennessee Tech

Melissa Dancy, University of Colorado, Boulder

Sean Smith, Horizon Research, Inc.

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