Faculty Learning Communities

A Faculty Learning Community (FLC) is a multidisciplinary group of 8-12 faculty and staff who come together with the purpose of engaging in active, collaborative and self-guided exploration of a topic or issue in teaching and learning. Occurring over the course of a semester or two, participants are able to immerse themselves in the topic. Results include

• a more in-depth understanding of the issue;
• a modification of teaching, and student learning, based on the faculty’s investigation;
• a dissemination and promotion of the understanding of teaching and learning across the university and higher education community.

Participation is open to faculty members holding tenure track or contractual appointments in any academic unit of the university including Burris Laboratory School and the Indiana Academy teaching staff.

FACULTY LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR 2013

Faculty Learning Community on Learner Centered Teaching

“It is the one who does the work who does the learning.”
from Helping Students Learn in a Learner Centered Environment by Terry Doyle

The Office of Educational Excellence is sponsoring a Faculty Learning Community on Learner Centered Teaching beginning spring semester 2013 and concluding fall semester 2013. Participants will first investigate various instructional techniques that focus on actively engaging the learner and then select a technique/s to implement in one of their classes during fall 2013.

Participation is open to faculty members holding tenure track or contractual appointments in any academic unit of the university including Burris Laboratory School and the Indiana Academy teaching staff. 

Faculty Learning Community on Learner Centered Teaching Applications are due Tuesday, January 29, 2013.  Please complete and submit to the Office of Educational Excellence (TC 415).  

TIMELINE

Spring 2013 – Participants will

• Meet face-to-face every three weeks beginning in February. Discussions will include, but not limited to, topics from books and additional resources.

Summer 2013 – Participants will

• Create a document describing how their teaching in the coming semester will reflect their participation in the FLC.
• Maintain electronic contact with members.
• Attend 2 get-togethers.

Fall 2013 – Participants will

• Beginning of Term: Gather to share summer writing and plans for teaching in fall.
• End of Term: Gather to reflect on semester’s results and plan for dissemination of gained knowledge.

RESOURCES - An example of resources available to the participants:

Learner-Centered Teaching: Five Key Changes to Practice (Weimer)
The Learner-Centered Curriculum: Design and Implementation (Cullen, Harris, & Hill)
Learner Centered Teaching: Putting the Research on Learning into Practice (Doyle)
Helping Students Learn in a Learner Centered Environment (Doyle)
Facilitating Seven Ways of Learning: A Resource for More Purposeful, Effective, and Enjoyable College Teaching (Davis & Arend)
Idea-Based Learning: A Course Design Process to Promote Conceptual Understanding (Hansen)
The Power of Problem-Based Learning (Duch, Groh, & Allen, Ed.)
Lesson Study: Using Classroom Inquiry to Improve Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Cerbin)