International Faculty Professional Development: Utilizing Hybrid Environments to Deepen Learning and Grow Community

This 38-page paper was presented at the 2020 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and discusses the Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education (CREATE) project. CREATE aimed to administer an Energy Storage Project with the overarching goal of advancing the renewable energy sector by facilitating integration of energy storage technology into existing two-year college programs. The goals for this project included gathering expertise, conducting job task and curriculum gap analyses, producing instructional materials, implementing pilot energy storage courses, and providing professional development for college instructors.

There were two challenges that arose out of conducting international professional development opportunities. Those challenges included: "ensuring academic rigor and of anchoring and capturing learning, especially given the additional cognitive load presented by being abroad." This paper discusses the results of the CREATE project, including the CREATE professional development model. This model and findings are not limited to the energy sector. The analysis and "the resulting set of recommended practices [could] be of interest to anyone interested in creating a meaningful educator professional development opportunity."