Early Bird

Facilitate an FLC next year

Faculty Learning Communities are a best practice for faculty success.

By Jeff Loats

May 21, 2019

If you’ve never participated in a Faculty Learning Community, now is a perfect time to get involved.

An FLC is a small group of faculty and staff working together to increase their knowledge and/or skills on a topic of mutual interest. FLCs provide the structure and support to discuss, share and encourage professional progress. In addition to shared learning, FLC members put into practice what they are learning — and create opportunities to share their knowledge and accomplishments with the University community.

Engaging in this collaborative work is also a best practice for faculty success. Evidence shows that FLCs increase faculty interest in teaching and learning — and provide safety and support for faculty to investigate, attempt, assess and adopt new (to them) methods.

FLCs proposed by faculty members have existed at Metropolitan State University of Denver for over a decade. As always, faculty-initiated FLCs (by topic or by cohort) are still welcome and encouraged. In addition, the Center for Teaching, Learning and Design team is seeking facilitators for four “preplanned” FLCs:

1. Teaching Observation Exchange – One semester. Faculty participants will visit one another’s classes to gain insight and solicit feedback. Facilitator will coordinate activities, including group discussion and reflection.
2. Active Learning – Observe and reflect. One semester. The facilitator will recruit a faculty member who uses active learning in a class. The FLC group will meet with this “example instructor,” observe their class and then meet to debrief. The goal would be to do this twice in a given semester.
3. Inclusive Discussions – Observe and reflect. One semester. The facilitator will recruit a faculty member who works to make classroom discussions inclusive and effective. The FLC will meet with this instructor, observe their class, then meet to debrief. The goal would be to do this twice in a given semester.
4. Universal Design for Learning – One semester or one year. Faculty will learn, apply and discuss the principles and practice of Universal Design for Learning.

Full details and a Facilitator Proposal Information document are available on the CTLD FLC website. If interested in leading a preset FLC or developing your own FLC idea with CTLD staff, complete the 2019-20 Academic Year FLC Proposal Form by June 15.

Learn more about teaching and learning, topic-based and cohort-based FLCs — or share your own ideas — on the FLC webpage.