The International Dialogue for Excellence in Academia (IDEA)
The IDEA Community of Practice (CoP) is an international group of higher education instructors and instructional experts representing several institutions across the globe.
The IDEA learning community’s goal is to establish an open and respectful international exchange about effective teaching practices. More specifically, we aim to:
- Share and collect innovative practices from around the world to enhance teaching and learning in higher education
- Network with faculty and faculty professional development partners outside of own institutions and cultural contexts
- Support the professional growth of all members by expanding global awareness and knowledge of current higher education trends
This year's theme explores engagement and motivation for students affected by a global pandemic and the rise of artificial intelligence. Monthly topics include self-determination theory (SDT), addressing disengagement and burnout, and strategies for increasing motivation through autonomy, belonging, competence, and purpose.
Between sessions, participants are invited to conduct action research, gather data,
or explore new strategies to share with the group. Please feel free to share our flyer (PDF, 
) with your global colleagues.
We will meet virtually on the second Thursday of each month. All times listed below reflect the Montgomery College time zone. Please use a time zone converter such as Dateful to determine the correct times in your time zone.
Note that there is a change in time in March due to daylight savings. Depending on your location, your time may remain the same.
- November 14, 8:30-10:00 AM, Washington, DC (EST)
- December 12, 8:30-10:00 AM
- January 9, 8:30-10:00 AM
- February 13, 8:30-10:00 AM
- March 13, 9:30-11:00 AM, Washington, DC (EDT)
- April 10, 9:30-11:00 AM
- May 8, 9:30-11:00 AM
We are happy you are interested! Please complete and submit the application formnew window no later than October 27, 2024.
Reach out to the community leader: Megan Calvert.
The IDEA community of practice is open to all those who teach in higher education or who provide instructional professional development.
We expect all participants will be able to speak and write in English at an advanced level.
Yes, joining is free! There is no charge for membership for individuals or institutions.
Members and group leaders are expected to:
- Regularly attend and actively participate in live sessions
- Approach others with the goal of listening, learning, and creating shared knowledge
- Speak from your own experience and perspective, which may be different from others in your institution or country
- Communicate and approach points of conflict with compassion and respect
- Support each other in the goal of personal and professional development
- Join and participate in the group communication channels (strongly encouraged but not required)
In the past, we have had members from institutions in Russia, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain, Turkey, France, Costa Rica, and the United States. We welcome diversity and encourage all to apply.
The first half of the first session will be devoted to building community, networking, and establishing norms.
In the second half of the first session (and each following session), the community leaders at Montgomery College will introduce a specific topic related to the year’s theme and provide background context. They will then offer practice-oriented suggestions for group members to experiment, gather information, conduct action research, and/or create a short informal presentation between sessions.
The first half or more of the next session will provide time for community members to share their findings and experiences related to the topic.
There will also be time for group members to ask each other questions, suggest collaborative projects, and provide input on the meeting content.
Montgomery College is a community-based higher education institution located just outside of Washington, DC. It offers two-year degrees for students who have completed high school. Additionally, it offers career and technical classes and other adult education. For more information, visit the College's website.
Absolutely! Networking with colleagues around the world is one of the goals of the program.
Yes! Please complete the application formnew window and we will contact you with more information.
With all the different time zones and countries involved, it can be challenging to find a time that works for everyone. However, the times and dates were chosen to accommodate as many potential members as possible, and members are expected to commit to attending the sessions that are listed. If you are interested but unavailable this year, please reach out to us and let us know what times you would prefer in the future. We can include you on our contact list.
Dr. Angela Lanier is an Instructional Designer at Montgomery College. She has a doctorate in Instructional Leadership and has 25 years of experience teaching and facilitating professional development. She is from Washington, DC and is an avid quilter.
Megan Calvert is an Instructional Designer at Montgomery College. She holds a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and has over 20 years of experience working in education. She is from the greater Washington, DC area but has previously lived and worked in France, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey.
The sessions will not be recorded unless the community members agree to do so. We believe this will allow for better discussion and protect the privacy of the members.
It is not required, but it is preferable that participants will be teaching or facilitating professional development in some form while the program is running. This will enable them to experiment with ideas and techniques that emerge from the program sessions.
Updated 9/18/2024.