Faculty Learning Communities
The CTLA sponsors Faculty Learning Communities each year. As originally conceived by Milton Cox (2004), Faculty Learning Communities are designed for small, interdisciplinary groups of faculty to come together on a regular basis over a sustained period of time, with a focus on investigating and implementing new teaching and learning approaches. Faculty who participate in these communities often report a number of benefits, including developing lasting relationships with faculty in other departments, thinking deeply about their own pedagogical approaches, and developing new expertise.
How Do Faculty Learning Communities Work?
Each community will meet 4 to 6 times each semester (approximately every 3 weeks). Participants will explore their focus topic together, which will include identifying relevant material to read, preparing for meetings by reading agreed-upon material, and engaging in robust conversations during meetings. Over time, members will individually reflect on how they will incorporate what they’ve learned into their own teaching. At the end of the year, the group will share what they've learned with other faculty at Eastern.
Each Faculty Learning Community will be guided by a faculty facilitator who is responsible for coordinating meetings, facilitating shared content, communicating with the CTLA, and ensuring the group is prepared to share their learning.
Benefits of Participating
- Build relationships with faculty from other disciplines who share a similar interest.
- Explore in depth a topic of interest and make plans for addressing the topic in your future teaching.
- Get feedback from peers on your ideas for implementing what you’re learning.
- Access resources to explore your topic in depth (e.g., CTLA funding to purchase a book for each participant to help guide the group’s discussions).
- Earn a small stipend.
