Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice give members with common interests a way to collaborate virtually or in person, ask questions, learn from peers, and share your experience on a regional level.

NERCOMP will create pathways for the creation of new Communities of Practice, as well as support Communities of Practice that already exist in the NERCOMP territory in new and exciting ways.

There are currently opportunities for NERCOMP members to join many different Communities of Practice (CoP’s) around a wide portfolio of interest areas:

Accessibility & Inclusion
Canvas
Digital Libraries
Emerging Technology
Games in Teaching & Learning
Help Desk
Information Security
Instructional Design
Knowledge Management
Networks
Northeast Lab Managers
Open Educational Resources in Teaching and Learning
Project Management
Service Management
Student Employees
Teaching with Mobile Devices
User Experience Research & Design
Women in IT

Our Communities

1 of 18

Accessibility & Inclusion

Led By Aaron Flint of Southern New Hampshire University, Justin Lauzon of Tufts University, Corrine Schoeb of Swarthmore College and Rebecca Taub of Brown University

This CoP will be a forum for sharing ideas, asking questions, and providing support for anyone interested in exploring accessible/inclusive educational practices.

Canvas

Led By Heather Richards of Nichols College and Lindsey Van Gieson of Worcester Polytechnic Institute

This CoP provides all types of Canvas users in the region an opportunity to connect with their Canvas colleagues. In addition to bei ng a valuable networking tool, group members have the opportunity to share ideas and strategies to take full advantage of Canvas LMS.

Digital Libraries

Led By Mary Moser of University of Massachusetts - Boston

This CoP is for digital library practitioners in the region to share knowledge, ideas, get help on issues relating to digitization, storage, digital preservation, security and access, use, and promotion.

Emerging Technology

Led By David Bass-Clark of Unity College and Maureen Giacobbe of Quinsigamond Community College

This CoP will bring together thought leaders to discuss models for how to support cutting edge technologies in higher education. We will discuss use cases and workflows that accelerate the adoption and adaptation of new tools and service models that have the power to change the game by hacking higher ed.

Games in Teaching & Learning

Led By Erica Lucci of Rutgers University

This CoP explores how games and gaming of all flavors can be used within and outside the classroom. We will discuss the fundamentals of game design and development, provide resources for implementing games, and champion the use of games in teaching and learning environments.

Help Desk

Led By Jacob Edward Boucher of Boston University

This CoP is focused on IT help desks and service desks from a technician perspective. Desktop Support Specialists and other IT technicians can share ideas and questions about workflow, projects, and problems related to tier 1 technical support.

Information Security

Led By Joseph Bazeley of Wesleyan University

This CoP focuses on sharing Information Security related trends and best practices within higher educational organizations. Topics to include Information Security Awareness Education, Emerging trends and threats and privacy/security related legislation. Information Security is everyone’s responsibility and as such this group is open to anyone with a responsibility or interest in the topic.

Instructional Design

Led By Jessica Egan of Baypath University, Justin Lauzon of Tufts University, Ricardo Poza of University of Massachusetts Medical School, AJ Scognamiglio of Johnson and Wales University and Domenic Screnci Jr. of Boston University

This CoP covers discussions related to instructional design best practices, faculty partnerships, professional development, team building and institutional online strategy. We will also consider how instructional design plays a role in traditional lecture-based, hybrid, online and active learning contexts.

Knowledge Management

Led By Stacy Cohen of Framingham State University

The goal of this CoP is to provide IT professionals with opportunities to connect with contacts, find resources, and give and receive guidance and recommendations to deliver a reliable knowledge base to constituents. Through virtual and face-to-face discussion we will discuss strategy and planning of a knowledge management solution.

Networks

Led By Christopher Butler of Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This CoP will focus on sharing wired network, wireless network, and infrastructure related information and best practices that impact higher educational organizations. Topics to include LAN/WLAN/WAN connectivity, operational management, architecture and design, physical plant, emerging trends, and threats.

Northeast Lab Managers

Led By Dean Abanilla of Rhode Island School of Design and Mary Coombs of Emerson College

This CoP will allow Managers of Academic Computer Labs who often face common challenges to share their experiences at meeting those challenges.

Open Educational Resources in Teaching and Learning

Led By Aaron Flint of Southern New Hampshire University & Robert Alan Harris of William Paterson University

This CoP will explore how Open Educational Resources are being implemented into the teaching and learning environment. We will discuss how faculty are using open educational resources and open textbooks in their courses, how open pedagogy can transform assignments so students can contribute to OER development, and how institutions are developing open degree programs.

Project Management

Led By Jennifer Smith of The New School

Managing projects in higher ed can be challenging due to the unique cultural and political environments in colleges and universities. This CoP provides a forum where project managers in higher ed can ask questions, share ideas and provide information about their project management practices, methods, tools and experiences, to help project managers successfully lead their projects.

Service Management

Led By Deborah McDaniel of Rutgers

This CoP brings together practitioners, professionals, and subject matter experts at all levels to discuss IT service management. We provide a forum to celebrate successes, ask questions, share ideas, and provide information about service management practices, methods, tools and experiences unique to delivering IT and technology-enabled services within higher education.

Student Employees

Led By Diana Voss of Stony Brook University

This CoP is for all members, regardless of where you fall in your organization. Through both virtual and face-to-face networking opportunities we will share ideas and best practices in all facets of management of Student Employees.

Teaching with Mobile Devices

Led By Jason Jones of Trinity College

This CoP will focus on the innovations and opportunities presented by the use of smartphones and tablets in higher education.This community will focus on the integration of phones and tablets into the classroom (and the virtual classroom), and participants will be encouraged to share newly discovered apps and their possible uses for faculty as well as students.

User Experience Research & Design

Led By Veronica Armour of Rutgers University & Melissa Paciulli of Holyoke Community College

This CoP will discuss the application and practice of UX research and design in higher education, including libraries. We will discuss the challenges and successes of UX projects, the role of UX in higher ed, and emerging trends in the field. All UX practitioners from beginners to seasoned experts are encouraged to join us, and to ask questions and share ideas.

Women in IT

Led By Rachel Schnepper of Wesleyan University

This CoP is for all members, regardless of where you fall in your organization. Through both virtual and face-to-face networking opportunities we are re-launching this group to share best practices and discuss issues that impact women in higher education IT. Join us and have your voice heard.

Our Committees