Three New Faculty Learning Communities To Begin this September

By Cynthia Rutz, Director of Faculty Development

Last spring, faculty voted to launch three new faculty learning communities at Valpo to begin this fall.  A faculty learning community (FLC) meets regularly to explore a teaching topic that interests them.  This interdisciplinary group researches the topic, reads together, and supports each other in making positive changes in the classroom.

 

Here are the three FLCs that got the most votes last spring:

  1. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Have you ever wondered whether a change you made to your course actually improved student learning?  Are you interested in conducting a systematic examination to find out, and then sharing the results? This is the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), an effective way to both improve your teaching and create publishable scholarship. This FLC will provide support and feedback to faculty who are either considering, planning, or currently involved in a SoTL project. No project is necessary, but some knowledge of SoTL would be helpful.

Facilitated by: Kieth Carlson (Psychology) and Melissa Desjarlais (Math)

 

  1. Supporting Teaching of International Students

If you have international students in your class, you will want to take part in this opportunity to learn more about how to work successfully with these students.  You and your colleagues will share techniques and strategies that not only maximize learning for your international students but help your other students succeed as well.   This group also plans to prepare a handbook for VU faculty who are teaching international students.

Facilitated by: Karen Berrier (Foreign Languages & Literatures) and Christina Cavinder (Nursing)

 

  1. Blended Learning: Using Technology to Improve Student Learning

Would you like to learn how to seamlessly blend technology into your regular classroom?  Here is your chance to meet with colleagues who are using technology such as WebEx, clickers, and self-authored YouTube videos to improve student learning.  This will be a safe space to experiment with the best technologies to achieve your own student learning objectives.

Facilitated by:  Nancy Davis (Education) and Tom Goyne (Chemistry)

Consultant: Allison Hunt (CITAL)

 

In early September we will send out further information about these FLCs and there will information sessions so that you can sign up for the one that best fits your own learning objectives.