Faculty Development

Faculty Learning Communities

A Faculty Learning Community (FLC) offers a cross-disciplinary group of 10 to 12 participants the opportunity to meet regularly to study pedagogical topics of shared interest in an in-depth, ongoing, scholarly, and systematic manner. FLC participants meet at least twice a month for two hours, delve into existing research on their common area of inquiry, then design and pursue individual projects that require them to apply and test new ideas and information about student learning. FLCs offer a more structured, intensive, and outcome-driven approach to faculty development than do more traditional methods, such as one-time workshops or ongoing but informal brown bag conversations. For a more in-depth explanation of FLCs and the theory and research that drive them, click here.

Generating Student Engagement in Large Classes

In this FLC, participants will share experiences and generate ideas for addressing challenges and encouraging student engagement in large classes. The focus will be on implementation and evaluation of new strategies in the classroom and developing a toolkit of techniques that participants can take back to their areas. Christine Moser, Assistant Professor of Economics and Carol Weideman, Faculty Specialist II in Exercise Science will be facilitating this FLC Tuesday from 1pm-3pm on a bi-weekly basis in the Student Recreation Center.

Mid-Career and Senior Faculty

Do you ever feel like the students in your classroom have changed? They have! This is an FLC focused on effectively teaching our newest, youngest students. Our goal is to maximize student learning. Student learning styles, needs, attitudes, and expectations change with each generation. It is imperative that as educators, we continually hone our craft, consider new teaching innovations, explore our attitudes and philosophy, and increase our awareness and understanding of contemporary challenges in the classroom. This is a co-constructed professional development experience; participants will have considerable influence in shaping topics and methodologies.

Robert Wertkin and Jan Gabel-Goes will facilitate this FLC bi-wee kly for two hours and a time to be determined by the group. Robert Wertkin has been at WMU since 1981. He is a professor in the School of Social Work and founding chair of the 21 st Century Student Initiative (formerly called the Millennial Project.) Jan Gabel-Goes has been teaching business communication and writing courses at WMU for 17 years, and has co-taught Cool Tool sessions on Team Work in the Classroom.

If you are interested in any of the 2010-2011 Faculty Learning Communities contact the Office of Faculty Development.

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