Despite being unable to meet on campus at Elon for their third summer meeting, participants from the Capstone Experiences Research Seminar are continuing their work remotely the week of June 21-26.
Despite being unable to meet on campus at Elon for their third summer meeting, participants from the Capstone Experiences Research Seminar are continuing 
their work remotely the week of June 21-June 26.
Led by Elon faculty members Professor of Exercise Science Caroline Ketcham and Associate Professor of Sport Management Tony Weaver as well as Jillian Kinzie of Indiana University, the seminar has 21 scholars representing Australian, Canadian, U.K., and U.S. institutions. These scholars are working in four multi-institutional research teams. Using mixed methods research designs, teams are studying:
- Student diversity and identity in capstone experiences (Sarah Dyer, University of Exeter, UK; Trina Jorre de St. Jorre, Deakin University, Australia; Moriah McSharry McGrath, Portland State University; Drew Pearl, University of North Georgia; and Joanna Rankin, University of Calgary, Canada);
- The landscape of required capstone experiences in the U.S., U.K., and Australia (Janet Bean, University of Akron; Christina Beaudoin, Grand Valley State University; David Lewis, University of Leeds, UK; Carol Van Zile-Tamsen, University at Buffalo; and Tania von der Heidt, Southern Cross University, Australia);
- Capstone purposes across disciplines, countries, and institutions (Jenny Hill, University of Gloucester, UK; Russell Kirkscey, Penn State Harrisburg; Julie Vale, University of Guelph, Canada; and James Weiss, Boston College); and
- Faculty experiences in capstones (Olivia Anderson, University of Michigan; Caroline Boswell, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; Morgan Gresham, University of South Florida St. Petersburg; Matt Laye, The College of Idaho; and Dawn Smith-Sherwood, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Ketcham and Weaver are navigating the change in setting by using a variety of online platforms while maintaining a schedule attentive to different time zones from the U.S. pacific coast to eastern Australia. The seminar leaders are keeping participants working and engaged by providing asynchronous activities and deadlines, as well as synchronous meetings. For example, the seminar leaders use Microsoft Teams to communicate with all four research teams, posting writing prompts, keeping deadlines and sending reminders, and providing feedback to each team along the way. In addition to their leadership work in the seminar, Ketcham and Weaver continue to conduct their own research and scholarship on Capstone Experiences.
Although the Capstone Experiences research seminar participants were not able to travel to Elon this year, many will return to campus next summer to present their research at the 2021 Conference on Engaged Learning (July 11-13, 2021).
The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) hosts multi-institutional research and practice-based initiatives, conferences, and seminars. Visit CEL’s website for resources for faculty and faculty developers on high-impact practices for engaged learning. To learn more about CEL’s research seminars, contact CEL’s director, Jessie L. Moore (jmoore28@elon.edu).