Faculty Learning Communities
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. Since Fall 2013, members of the VU faculty have been involved in multiple FLCs each year.
Engaging the Third Side: Responding to Controversy with Classroom Strategies
Natalie Krivas (English)
For so many educators, teaching challenging topics can seem daunting given the complexity and potential for conflict. This FLC will offer participants hands-on strategies for teaching conflict resolution, active listening,…
Read more »Green Light: Teaching our Students to Use Generative AI
Sedefka Beck (Economics)
The introduction of ChatGPT has sparked debates about its role in education, particularly regarding whether schools should incorporate generative AI into the classroom or prohibit its use. Initially, some schools…
Read more »Empowering Scholarship: Generating Research & Writing from our Courses
Margarita Rayzberg (Sociology & Criminology)
Participants in this FLC will learn about and experiment with strategies for how to use the work we are already doing in the classroom to strengthen our research and publishing….
Read more »Teaching Underprepared Students and The Hidden Curriculum
Tiffany Kolba, Jenna Van Sickle
This FLC will focus on teaching underprepared students. Most of us have been increasingly encountering underprepared students in our courses. We will focus on addressing some of the main challenges,…
Read more »Fostering Community and Student Engagement
Stacy Hoult, Natalie Krivas
Participants in this FLC will experience the solutionary process of thinking and doing, while learning how to create spaces for students to become more actively involved in community. This solutions-oriented…
Read more »Unconventional Grading Methods
Zsuzsanna Szaniszlo and Jenna Vansickle
This FLC will address some of the pressing questions arising from the ongoing environmental crisis. We will explore the role of college education to raise awareness of climate change and…
Read more »Teaching to Your Strengths
Sara Gundersen and Lori Miltenberger
When we structure our classes around things we are good at, we believe the classes go much smoother. For example, someone might excel at leading impromptu class discussions, so a…
Read more »Helping At-Risk Students
Thomas E. Goyne, Ph.D. and Jennifer Easthope
This group would work together to learn strategies, find tactics, and develop programming to engage and better meet the needs of our at-risk students for academic success once they enroll…
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