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ASU AI Community of Practice

Communities of Practice Overview

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common interest or profession and collaborate regularly to share knowledge, solve problems, and develop new skills. CoPs foster continuous learning, innovation, and professional growth through structured and informal interactions, leveraging collective expertise and experiences to achieve shared goals. In an educational context, CoPs enable members to exchange best practices, research findings, and project plans, enhancing both individual and collective performance. 

Themes for these CoPs might include AI in education, research advancements, ethical AI, AI tools and techniques, and AI for administrative efficiency. Participants will exchange best practice guides, case studies, research findings, project plans, and collaborative tools, driving AI innovation and practical applications across ASU.

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Featured in the photo: Joanna Rivers, Amber Bouie, Holden Axtell and Ransom Campbell (L to R).
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AI Communities of Practice

AI Communities of Practice (CoP) at ASU aim to foster collaboration, partnership, and conversation among faculty and staff. This initiative will feature one centralized monthly AI CoP event, dedicated to sharing insights, tackling challenges, and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition,CoPs across the University can be established within departments, units, or interest groups. These will be led by designated liaisons who will gather and relay data, feedback, and ideas to the central CoP.

CoP or Working Group?

A working group is a temporary team of individuals who come together to achieve a specific objective or tackle a particular problem. These groups are often formed for a defined period and disband once their goals are accomplished. Working groups are task-oriented and focus on producing concrete outcomes, such as reports, recommendations, or project deliverables. They operate with clear roles, responsibilities, and deadlines, ensuring efficient progress toward their goals.

Differences Between Working Groups and CoPs

A comparison table showing the characteristics of working groups versus communities of practice

Establishing a CoP

What is needed when setting up a community of practice? Check out the sections below for information on how to set up a community practice.

Register your Community of Practice

Complete the registration form to be added to the CoP directory and receive support for your community.

Register your community

 

Community of Practice member directory

Want to see who is a member of the Community of Practice? Take a look at the CoP member directory.

Explore the directory

 

Community of Practice Toolkit

Use this toolkit to access resources and templates to help your Community of Practice thrive!

Access the Toolkit

 

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Featured in the photo:
Andrew Bellinghiere, Rylee Close and Evelyn Takyi (L to R).

Key features of a Successful CoP

  1. Strong Leadership and Facilitation
    Effective leaders and facilitators to guide discussions, encourage participation, and maintain focus on the community’s objectives. Communities of practice are a balance of discussions, presentations, and active working time.
  2. Clear Purpose and Goals
    Well-defined goals and a clear purpose to provide direction and motivation for members.
  3. Engagement and Participation
    Active engagement from members, with opportunities for everyone to contribute and participate meaningfully.
  4. Regular Communication
    Consistent and clear communication channels to keep members informed and engaged.
  5. Access to Resources
    Availability of necessary resources, including technology, tools, and informational materials to support the community’s activities.
  1. Collaboration Tools
    Platforms and tools that facilitate easy collaboration, sharing of information, and virtual meetings.
  2. Support and Recognition
    Administrative and institutional support, along with recognition and rewards for active participation and contributions.
  3. Continuous Learning Opportunities
    Opportunities for ongoing learning and professional development, such as workshops, webinars, and training sessions.
  4. Documentation and Knowledge Sharing
    Systems for documenting discussions, decisions, and outcomes to ensure knowledge is captured and shared effectively.
  5. Inclusive and Supportive Environment
    An inclusive environment where all members feel valued and supported, fostering a sense of community and belonging.

Getting Your CoP Started

Starting a Community of Practice (CoP) can be a rewarding way to bring together individuals to share knowledge, collaborate on projects, and drive innovation within a specific area of interest. Here are the key steps and considerations for getting your CoP off the ground:

Define Clear Objectives: Determine the primary goals of your CoP. What do you hope to achieve? This could include sharing best practices, developing new ideas, or solving common challenges.

Determine the Scope: Decide on the specific focus areas of your CoP. This might include AI in education, ethical AI, AI tools and techniques, or any other relevant themes.

Recruit Core Members: Identify a small group of committed individuals who are passionate about the CoP’s focus. This core team will help drive the initial setup and ongoing activities. 

Designate Roles: Assign specific roles such as a leader, facilitator, notetaker, and coordinator to manage various aspects of the CoP.

Create a Charter Document: Outline the CoP’s purpose, goals, scope, and operational guidelines. This document will serve as a foundational reference for all members.

Include Guidelines: Specify how meetings will be conducted, how decisions will be made, and what the expectations are for member participation.

Kickoff Meeting: Organize an initial meeting to introduce the CoP, discuss the charter, and start building a sense of community among members.

Icebreaker Activities: Plan activities that help members get to know each other and start building relationships.

Choose Platforms: Decide on the communication platforms that will be used (e.g., Zoom Slack, Inscribe, Email, VR, etc).

Regular Updates: Set up a schedule for regular updates and communications to keep members informed and engaged.

Set Meeting Cadence: Determine how often the CoP will meet (e.g., monthly, bimonthly) and establish a consistent schedule.

Plan Agendas: Develop detailed agendas for each meeting to ensure productive discussions and clear outcomes.

Encourage Participation: Develop strategies to actively involve members in discussions, projects, and activities. This could include rotating facilitation roles or organizing small group work.

Recognize Contributions: Acknowledge and reward members for their contributions to keep them motivated and engaged.

Curate Resources: Compile and provide access to relevant resources such as articles, case studies, and research papers for your CoP audience.

Offer Training: Organize training sessions or workshops to help members develop relevant skills and knowledge.

Meeting Summaries: Ensure that meeting minutes and key discussion points are documented and shared with all members.

Central Repository: Set up a centralized repository (e.g., a shared drive or place to find resources like Airtable) where all CoP documents and resources can be accessed.

Gather Feedback: Regularly collect feedback from members to understand what’s working well and where improvements can be made.

Adapt and Improve: Be open to evolving the CoP’s activities, focus areas, and processes based on feedback and changing needs.

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