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Teaching & Creativity Center Announces New Faculty Inquiry Groups


Looking for a new professional development opportunity?  Join a FIG!

The Teaching & Creativity Center (TCC) is excited to announce its new Faculty Inquiry Group (FIG) program.  A FIG is a group of faculty members from different disciplines that comes together with the shared goal of professional development through the exploration of specific pedagogical issues.  During the semester, members will meet 4-5 times to discuss current research, develop new strategies and techniques, and work together to enhance their teaching.  FIGs are faculty-driven and provide a collegial environment for collaboration and innovation.

The TCC will be launching four FIGs beginning Fall 2012 and we invite all faculty (full-time, part-time, adjunct) to participate.

FIG: Online Teaching

This FIG is for ANGEL-trained faculty members who are looking for a supportive group to develop or improve their SLN course.  We will discuss issues facing online teaching such as creating an online presence, best practices for delivering course content, and encouraging meaningful discussions. In addition, members will participate in peer reviews of their online courses.

If you’re interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Neeta Primo (HYPERLINK "
mailto:nprimo@monroecc.edu"nprimo@monroecc.edu).

FIG: Critical Friends Group

Critical Friends Groups are established to improve student learning and success by supporting educators reflecting on and improving their practice.  In our CFG, we will examine each other’s practice in a supportive and non-evaluative environment in a 2-hour meeting once each month. These groups use structured protocols to look at curriculum, student work, peer observations, and pivotal moments so that participants can provide each other with usable and wanted feedback. Each CFG will be led by a trained facilitator or “coach”.  For more information about CFGs, including research on their effectiveness please visit nsrfharmony.org. If you’re interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Gena Merliss (HYPERLINK "
mailto:emerliss@monroecc.edu"emerliss@monroecc.edu).

FIG: Undergraduate Research, Scholarly Inquiry, and Creative Expression

This FIG is ideal for faculty members who (a) are currently using research, scholarly inquiry, and creative expression as part of their pedagogy, and/or (b) who are interested in developing these opportunities for students.  We will discuss best practices in employing research, scholarly inquiry, and creative expression to deepen student learning, and members of the group will work together across disciplines to introduce these pedagogies into their courses.  If you’re interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Jon Iuzzini (HYPERLINK "
mailto:jiuzzini@monroecc.edu"jiuzzini@monroecc.edu).

FIG: Service Learning

This FIG will bring together faculty members who (a) are currently using service learning as part of their pedagogy, and/or (b) who are interested in developing this opportunity for students.  We will discuss the many ways in which this pedagogy can enhance student engagement and learning.  Members of this FIG will work together in a supportive environment as they introduce this pedagogy into their courses.  If you’re interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Tracy Wyant (HYPERLINK "
mailto:twyant@monroecc.edu"twyant@monroecc.edu).

Jonathan Iuzzini
Teaching & Creativity Center
05/09/2012