Summative Evaluation: UFERN Framework Professional Learning Community

Abstract

The UFERN Framework Professional Learning Community project was funded as a supplement to the existing NSF-funded Undergraduate Field Experiences Research Network (UFERN), which sought to build a vibrant, supportive, and sustainable collaborative network that fostered effective undergraduate field experiences. The goals of the UFERN Framework Professional Learning Community (PLC) supplement were: • To support a small group of field educators in intentional design, implementation and assessment of student-centered undergraduate field experiences in a range of field learning contexts; • To develop effective strategies for supporting undergraduate field educators in using the UFERN Framework as an aid for designing, implementing, and assessing student-centered undergraduate field experience programs; • To assemble vignettes featuring applications of the UFERN Framework in a range of program contexts; and • To expand the community of field educators interested in designing, implementing, and assessing student-centered undergraduate field learning experiences. Sixteen educators participated in the PLC, which targeted participants who taught and facilitated a range of undergraduate field experiences (UFEs) that varied in terms of setting, timing, focus and student population. Due to the COVID pandemic, the originally-planned three-month intensive training took place over nine months (January to October 2021). It consisted of seven video conference sessions (via Zoom) with presentations and homework assignments. It included independent work, as well as guided group discussions with project leaders and other participants, which were supported by online collaborative tools.