|
Faculty Learning Communities
A faculty learning community (FLC) is a group of faculty and professionals from various disciplines who meet over a defined period of time. The specific purpose of each FLC varies, but they all are based on the premise that the opportunity to work together in a supportive and collaborative environment contributes to successful faculty development. FLCs can be topic or cohort based. Topic-based communities allow a group of faculty to explore their mutual interest in a specific area. Cohort-based communities focus on the unique needs of faculty at a given stage of the academic career or in certain roles such as a department chair. The advantage of the learning community approach to faculty development is that it is more structured, long-lasting, and goal-oriented than brown bag discussions, book clubs, and workshops. Learning communities also have the benefit of being small and flexible to the needs of the faculty involved. But perhaps most importantly, learning communities are grassroots in that can be established for whatever need or interest faculty come up with.
The College at Brockport is currently piloting the FLC model to investigate how they can help improve faculty professional development. Four FLCs will run during the 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 academic years. For more information about FLCs, contact the program director, Christopher Price at cprice@brockport.edu or 395-5025.
2008-2009 Faculty Learning Communities and Facilitators
“Using Research as a Teaching Tool” - Jason Dauenhauer (Social Work)
"Writing College Textbooks" - Amy Guptill (Sociology/Delta College)
“Active Learning” – Dawn Jones (Mathematics)
“Quantitative Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences” – Celia Watt (Health Science)
2009-2010 Faculty Learning Communities and Facilitators
“Conducting Qualitative Research and Analyzing Descriptive Data” – Douglas Feldman (Anthropology)
“Online Blended Learning: An FLC for Faculty of All Levels of
Experience” – Pamela Haibach (Kinesiology, Sport Studies, & Physical Education)
“Exploring Service Learning” – Dale Hartnett (Communication)
“Dialogue on Diversity” – Chris Price (CELT Director)
