Abstract

Antioch University’s Center for Climate Preparedness and Community Resilience developed an online Facilitated Community of Practice model (FCoP) to convene 29 end-user decision-makers, working with 25 Eastern United States coastal communities, to “road test” the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit. FCoP participants (e.g., planners, emergency preparedness and municipal administration personnel, natural resource specialists) represented communities from Norfolk, VA, to Rockland, ME. The project was designed to provide constructive feedback to federal agencies to inform the usability of the toolkit for local decision makers and planners. The project also was intended to contribute to two broader outcomes: 1. building resilience in Eastern coastal communities; and 2. piloting a replicable model for networking and building the capacity of decision-makers in all regions of the U.S. for the impacts of a changing climate. The FCoP included online exercises comprising the following: an introduction to the toolkit; research questions each participant developed regarding resilience challenges in their coastal communities; and discussions through synchronous and asynchronous forums. An exit survey measured participants’ satisfaction using the toolkit, content integrity, usability, and interactive influence with the toolkit developers. Key findings included the priority theoretical and applied climate resilience interests pertinent to coastal communities and the importance of peer-to-peer learning and networking, using an online FCoP, to strengthen capacity for climate resilience.

Keywords:

climate change resilience, climate change adaptation, coastal flood risk, capacity building, online decision support, evaluation, local government

Department

Environmental Studies & Sustainability

Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Article

Download

Share

COinS