Content from Why Communities of Practice for Open Science?
Last updated on 2025-09-26 | Edit this page
Overview
Questions
- What is a community of practice (CoP)?
- Why do open science initiatives benefit from community building?
- How can a CoP support my institution’s open science goals?
Objectives
- Define a community of practice and its core elements.
- Describe how CoPs can address barriers to open science.
- Identify two potential benefits of starting or joining a CoP.
What is a Community of Practice?
A community of practice (CoP) is a group of individuals who share a concern, set of problems, or interest in a topic and deepen their knowledge and expertise through regular interaction. In the context of open science, CoPs provide informal, inclusive spaces where researchers and support staff can learn together, build trust, and drive cultural change.
💡 Key Idea: CoPs aren’t just training programs—they are sustained, peer-driven networks that support ongoing reflection, experimentation, and problem-solving.
Why CoPs Matter for Open Science
Open science often fails to take root when approached as a one-time workshop or a compliance checkbox. Researchers face:
- Tool overload
- Unclear expectations
- Limited support from peers or mentors
CoPs address this by offering:
- Ongoing, nonjudgmental learning
- Opportunities for co-creation (not just top-down instruction)
- Community norms that make open practices feel natural
Checkpoint
What institutional challenges or goals related to open science exist at your institution?
- Write down one.
- Would a CoP help address it? Why or why not?
Activity: Mapping Benefits of a CoP
Divide learners into small groups (or breakout rooms). Each group discusses:
- What problem or friction point does open science face on your
campus?
- How might a CoP help address it?
- What would success look like in a year?
Each group shares one idea back to the full group.
“Being part of a regular open science meetup helped me stop feeling like I had to figure it all out alone.” — Library Faculty Member
- CoPs provide a structure for shared learning and trust-building.
- Open science benefits from relationship-based change, not just mandates.
- Even small gatherings can become the start of a transformative community.
Content from Identifying Needs and Stakeholders
Last updated on 2025-09-26 | Edit this page
Overview
Questions
- What are the open science needs at your institution?
- Who should be involved in starting a community of practice?
- How can you identify allies and supporters for your initiative?
Objectives
- Gather 3–5 open science needs or opportunities at your institution.
- Identify key researcher and support audiences to engage.
- Select 2–3 potential partners or allies for launching a CoP.
Why Start Here?
Launching a successful CoP begins with understanding your local context—what’s missing, what’s already working, and who’s already doing the work. This episode helps you identify pain points and map out people and groups who can help you move forward.
đź’ˇ Key Idea: Starting with known needs and existing relationships builds momentum and trust.
Exercise: Institutional Scan
Individually or in small groups, write down:
- Three current challenges researchers face with open science at your
institution
- Two existing programs or resources that support openness
- One area where your institution could grow or improve
Then share out with the group or on a shared board.
Identifying Stakeholders
A stakeholder is any person or group that can influence the project, be influenced by it, or feel connected to its outcomes.
Who should be part of your community or linked to it?
- Faculty researchers
- Graduate students or postdocs
- Librarians and data support staff
- IT staff or digital infrastructure teams
- Campus centers such as the research office, ethics board, or grants office
Activity: Stakeholder Mapping
Use a 2x2 matrix to sort stakeholders by:
- Level of interest in open science (low to high)
- Level of influence on campus (low to high)
Draw this out or use a sticky note tool. Then discuss:
- Who falls in the “high influence / high interest” quadrant?
- Who is underrepresented but still important to include?
Planning Your Core Team
Identify three to four people you could invite to help start or
co-lead the community of practice. Aim for:
- A mix of roles such as researcher, librarian, or administrator
- People with available time or interest in new opportunities
- Early adopters who can bring others along
- Link community goals to local needs.
- Involve a diverse set of stakeholders to strengthen sustainability
and reach.
- Begin with a small, committed team to build momentum.
Content from Creating Program(s) and Engagement Strategies
Last updated on 2025-09-26 | Edit this page
Overview
Questions
- What does stakeholder participation look like?
- What kind of roles might be needed?
- What kind of programming might meet the needs of community practice? (e.g. workshop series, conferences)
Objectives
- Create program format and schedule
- Choose a content format (e.g. discussion group, workshops, project incubator)
- Choose an engagement strategy
Sample Programs and Topics
-
Open Meet Ups —
regular discussions and event series
-
Open Incubator
— hands-on workshop program
- Open Networks — network of open communities
Engagement Strategies for Communities
Don’t rely only on one-off events. Focus on strategies that build lasting engagement and create regular opportunities for the community to connect and learn.
For example, many institutions run events during Open Access Week or Love Your Data Week once a year. These can raise awareness, but ongoing programs like Open Meet Ups give people a chance to return, build relationships, and keep learning over time.
See also examples of stakeholder engagement strategies.
Exercise: Create a Program
Individually or in small groups, design a sample program:
- Set a schedule (semester, quarter, monthly, biweekly, weekly, or
asynchronous)
- Choose a format (in-person, virtual, or hybrid)
- Select three to four open science topics to feature
Use the table below to outline your program:
| Topic | Schedule | Format | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Topic Example | 3 pm | Virtual | Video Conference | Speaker |
Afterward, share your program with the group or post it on a shared board.
Exercise: Engagement Strategies
Identify one or two ways to foster connection in your community:
- Pick one asynchronous strategy (for example, a
listserv or online forum)
- Pick one synchronous strategy (for example, a social gathering or discussion meeting)
Record your ideas in the table below:
| Program Example | Stakeholders | Team Members | Partners | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Science Meet-Up | Graduate students | Library staff | Research Office | Monthly check-in |
- Focus on ongoing engagement, not one-off outreach.
- Plan programs with a clear audience in mind.
- Choose formats and strategies that support connection and
growth.
Content from Assessing Engagement in a Community of Practice
Last updated on 2025-09-26 | Edit this page
Overview
Questions
- How might you assess community engagement?
- How is this different from assessing other outreach or event
practices?
- Which stakeholders need to know about the program’s
performance?
Objectives
- Review common assessment methods
- Select methods for evaluating engagement strategies
- Choose methods for evaluating the overall program
Sample Program: Symposium or Conference
Case Study: Symposium
A community of practice hosted a participant-driven symposium with sessions on open access publishing, open data, open science, and open education. The event featured invited speakers, in-person attendance, and online streaming.
How engagement was assessed: attendance counts, surveys, and observations.
What worked well:
- Virtual and hybrid options increased access
- In-person attendees were engaged
- Programming was well received
- Team collaboration during planning
Areas to improve:
- Clearer communication, especially for proposals
- Stronger promotion
- Many registrations but lower in-person turnout
- More cross-department collaboration
- Targeted promotion to centers and institutes
Sample Program: Training
Case Study: Training Program
A community of practice hosted a training program to prepare researchers for new policy requirements. The sessions provided hands-on support with data management, data sharing, and related research materials.
How engagement was assessed: pre- and post-tests, surveys, and participant testimonials.
What participants reported:
- Increased confidence in open access publishing and data
management
- Moderate gains in knowledge of grant compliance resources
- Strong confidence in finding public access and data sharing resources
at their home institution (FSU)
- Some confidence in finding resources at external institutions
- Most respondents said the training probably prepared them for upcoming
public access requirements
Assessment Methods
Explore these articles for strategies and ideas:
-
Considering
outreach assessment strategies: sample scenarios and a call to
action
- Crafting effective community surveys
Exercise: Create 1–3 Assessments
Individually or in small groups, design one to three ways to assess engagement in your program.
- List the assessment method(s) you selected
- Note which program or strategies you would evaluate
- Identify which stakeholders should receive the results
Afterward, share your ideas with the group or on a shared board.
- Use different methods to measure engagement.
- Assess goals before, during, and after programs.
- Apply feedback to strengthen the community of practice.