McLaughlan, Toni. "Facilitating factors in cultivating diverse online communities of practice: A case of international teaching assistants during the COVID-19 crisis." The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology 38.2 (2021): 177-195.

This research explores the development and impact of a linguistically and culturally diverse virtual Community of Practice (CoP) aimed at supporting international graduate teaching assistants (ITAs) at a US university. The study examines how participation in the CoP affects ITAs' social connectedness, confidence in teaching in English, pedagogical support, and self-efficacy in teaching. Utilizing a mixed-methods case study approach, including qualitative analysis of open-ended responses and interviews, along with quantitative analysis through the Kruskal–Wallis test, the study finds no statistically significant differences among ITAs' perceptions based on their involvement level in the CoP. However, qualitative findings underline the importance of the CoP, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to online teaching, by identifying shared challenges that fostered community engagement, irrespective of cultural and linguistic diversity. This research has broad implications for the support of ITAs and the development of undergraduate programs, highlighting the value of CoPs in enhancing teaching and learning experiences, particularly during crises.