Teaching Circles

What are Teaching Circles?

A Teaching Circle is a small group of faculty (4 – 10 maximum), who meet at least six times throughout the academic year or a semester to work together on a specific issue or concern in their teaching and their students’ learning.

Why join a Teaching Circle?

• to meet with other interested colleagues for an informal discussion of teaching and learning
• to collaborate with other faculty on a specific topic or project that will have an impact on student learning
• to learn together and share ideas around a common theme or question in teaching and learning
• to continue to develop professionally as a college teacher

What are some possible topics for a Teaching Circle?

The following Teaching Circles have been formed since the onset of this program in 2002:

• Critical Evaluation of Current Teaching Practices in Dance
• Documenting Your Teaching Journey
• Implementing the Lexical Approach
• Faculty Training in Teaching Pronunciation, Speaking and Listening Skills to ESL Students
• The Capital City Writing Institute
• Using the History of Mathematics and Physics in Teaching
• Developing an ESL Orientation
• Developing Portfolio for Office Systems Program and Electronic Office Lab Simulation
• Teaching/Learning/Managing/Leading in Ensemble and Circle
• Writing Across The Curriculum
• Online Teaching Issues
• Teaching Hybrid Classes
• Adapting PDA Technology in Healthcare Education
• Course & Syllabus Design
• Strategies for Helping Under prepared ESL Students
• Bringing Soul Back Into the Higher Education Classroom
• Intersections in Mathematics, Music and Art
• Globalization and the Flat World
• Innovative Approaches to Teaching ESL Reading and Speaking
• Foreign Language Pedagogy
• Qualitative Research in the Department of Language Skills
• Seeking Support for LCC’s ESL Program

Hear what some of the Teaching Circle participants had to say about their experience

“The time we spent together in the Teaching Circle was invaluable to us. I urge others to participate in such an experience and so reap the benefits of spending time in deep work and reflection with colleagues. Many thanks to the CTE for such a wonderful growth opportunity. It has had a direct impact on our programs and program offerings.” Scottie Putman, Business

“Our teaching circle was a wonderful opportunity to get together with colleagues and discuss the history of mathematics. Having the formal structure of a teaching circle provided the motivation to make time to read more widely in this field and the financial support to pay for books for each participant and for adjunct faculty to attend meetings. The teaching circle definitely enhanced my “quality of life” as a faculty member.” Nan Jackson, Math and Computer Science

“The CTE Teaching Circle was an excellent resource. It provided the time and money to develop a program portfolio for our Office Systems students.” Pam Miller, Information Technology and Office Systems

What are the guidelines for forming and maintaining a Teaching Circle?

• Teaching Circles can be formed July through June of any academic year and should plan to meet an average of of six times. In addition, facilitators will meet once with the CTE Faculty Director for information and planning.
• All faculty may participate in a Teaching Circle: part-time, and full-time. Others may be invited to participate in a Teaching Circle at the discretion of the Teaching Circle faculty members.
• Groups may be from the same discipline or cross-disciplinary.
• Each Teaching Circle must have a specific focal topic, issue, concern, question, project, or problem that it will spend the semester and/or year addressing.
• Each group will receive up to $500 from the Center for Teaching Excellence to support the group’s activities. This money can be used for books or materials, duplication of articles, refreshments for meetings, local travel, a guest speaker, to reimburse part-time faculty participation in meetings, or other expenses that further the project the group has undertaken.
• One person must agree to facilitate the group. This person will arrange and announce meeting times, dates, and locations; manage the group’s finances; and make any necessary arrangements for the group’s activities. The facilitator is also responsible for submitting a one-page form after each meeting that lists the members who attended and summarizes the meeting in a few sentences.
• Teaching Circles may be invited to share the results of their projects and discussions with colleagues at LCC, and are encouraged to consider developing programs, papers, or articles for dissemination beyond LCC.

How can I learn more about Teaching Circles?

Call Tracy Price, 483-1427, to request articles and information on Teaching Circles.

How can I form a Teaching Circle?

Ask colleagues in your department and/or other departments if they would like to form a Teaching Circle based on a topic in your discipline or any teaching issue you would like to pursue. Or, if you have a specific idea in mind, put out a call on the campus email system to see if anyone is interested in forming a Teaching Circle on your topic.

How can I apply for a Teaching Circle?

First, complete the application form. The total number of Teaching Circles funded is based on available funds. For further information, or to discuss a possible focus topic for your Circle, contact Tracy Price at 483-1427.

The CTE would like to acknowledge the Thompson Center of Teaching and Learning at U of M Flint for the use of their materials on Teaching Circles.