Abstract:

This paper discusses the effectiveness of a community of Associate Lecturers (ALs) within the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics faculty (STEM) at The Open University (OU), through the use of a prototype Inclusive Curriculum Tool (ICT): to review and reflect on the extent to which existing curriculum presents a colonial narrative. Through my experiences as a reviewer of two design modules in the Design and Innovation curriculum, it considers how ALs facilitated the development of inclusive teaching and learning across a range of STEM modules at Higher Education, in online learning. The project demonstrates the need for strong leadership in such initiatives and highlights the importance of removing hierarchical structures when establishing a Community of Practice (CoP).

Keywords:

Communities of Practice, STEM, Higher Education, Online learning, Curriculum, Design, Technology, Innovation, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Inclusive teaching.