Allen Taylor, Arriola Paul E, Breitenberger Caroline, Klyczek Karen, Marrs Kathleen A, Matzner Steven, Miller Kathryn G, Powell-Coffman Jo Anne, Thatcher Mikayla
Biology Department, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074.
Department of Biology, Elmhurst University, Elmhurst, IL 60126.
CBE Life Sci Educ. 2025 Mar 1;24(1):ar5. doi: 10.1187/cbe.24-02-0042.
A vibrant ecosystem of innovation hinges on undergraduate science programs that inclusively deepen conceptual understanding, develop scientific competencies, and spark wonder and appreciation for science. To create this ecosystem, we need to influence multiple components of the system, including faculty as well as culture (i.e., rules, goals, and beliefs giving rise to them). Here we describe and evaluate a multi-institution community of practice focused on transforming undergraduate biology programs' organizational practices, behaviors, and beliefs, as well as instilling a sense of agency in community participants. The approach drew on three change theories: Community of Practice, Participatory Organizational Change, and Organizational Justice. Via mixed methods, we found that participation in the community catalyzed the flow of tangible capital (knowledge resources), grew social capital (relationships and identity), and developed human capital (creative problem-solving and facilitative leadership skills; sense of agency). In participants' home departments, application of knowledge capital was associated with increased implementation of the principles of the Vision and Change report. Departmental change was enhanced when coupled with use of capitals developed through a community of practice centered on creative problem-solving, facilitative leadership, conflict resolution, and organizational justice.
一个充满活力的创新生态系统依赖于本科科学课程，这些课程能全面深入地加深概念理解、培养科学能力，并激发对科学的好奇与欣赏。为了创建这个生态系统，我们需要影响系统的多个组成部分，包括教师以及文化（即产生这些的规则、目标和信念）。在这里，我们描述并评估了一个多机构实践社区，该社区专注于转变本科生物学课程的组织实践、行为和信念，同时在社区参与者中灌输一种能动意识。这种方法借鉴了三种变革理论：实践社区、参与式组织变革和组织公正。通过混合方法，我们发现参与该社区促进了有形资本（知识资源）的流动，增加了社会资本（关系和身份认同），并发展了人力资本（创造性解决问题和促进性领导技能；能动意识）。在参与者所在的系里，知识资本的应用与《愿景与变革》报告原则的更多实施相关。当与通过以创造性解决问题、促进性领导、冲突解决和组织公正为中心的实践社区所发展的资本的使用相结合时，部门变革得到了加强。
