Our communities of practice
At CASC, Communities of Practice are a familiar model used to bring members of the network together – to ideate, collaborate and collectively have impact on their work to advance STEM learning in Canada. The following Communities of Practice are available for CASC members at all levels:
What is a community of practice?
A community of practice, or CoP, is a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic. These groups meet regularly – in person and virtually – and come together to fulfill both their individual and group goals.
Educators and Programmers CoP
Meetings: Monthly (Third Tuesday of each month), 3:00 pm EST
The Educators and Programmers CoP was established in 2020. This community is for programming and education staff across the CASC membership. The CoP is a place for sharing, collaboration, and learning. It offers best practices, guidelines, and strategies that lead to quality educational and outreach programming in our science centres, museums and outreach organizations.
GenAction CoP
Meetings: Monthly (First Thursday of each month), 12:00 pm EST
The GenAction Community of Practice is open to all CASC Members to attend, and is mandatory for GenAction program participants. During these meetings, we celebrate the ways that CASC Members are inspiring youth climate action. We share resources and best practices, and as the community grows and evolves, we welcome new professional development and learning opportunities.
Indigenous Practitioners CoP
Meetings: Monthly (Second Wednesday of each month), 2:00 pm EST
The Indigenous Practitioners CoP is facilitated by Dr. Melanie Goodchild, Anishinaabe systems and complexity thinker and Systems Changer in Residence with CASC. It is a gathering for those in the CASC network who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit and Metis. Together with Dr. Goodchild, participants explore the experience of Indigenous professionals working in the informal science engagement space. These gatherings take the form of yarning sessions, a traditional Aboriginal form of conversation from Australia, rooted in narrative storytelling.
Solar Eclipse 2024 CoP
Meetings: Monthly, October 2023 to April 2024
In anticipation of the exciting celestial event, CASC will facilitate a Community of Practice for CASC Members interested in running safe and successful eclipse programming during the total solar eclipse which takes place on April 8, 2024. Each meeting is themed around a different aspect of program planning and implementation with input from invited guests. CoP participants are expected to actively engage with the community as we prepare for this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Find Out Where You’re Situated Along The Path Of The Eclipse