Teaching Circles
Teaching Circles
What is a Teaching Circle?
At UCCS, Teaching Circles are groups of 4-8 faculty members who meet at least two times during the semester to discuss readings and activities related to their teaching.
Would you like to join a Teaching Circle?
- A copy of the book is provided.
- Mark your calendar and be available for sessions.
- Prepare for meetings by reading the chapters selected by the Team Lead.
- During each meeting, the Teaching Circles will discuss the readings and share strategies and activities to integrate into courses.
- You can choose to join us in the Faculty Resource Center’s Web Conference Room, Columbine Hall 203B or attend virtually through a Zoom meeting link.
Spring 2023 Teaching Circle Schedule
Small Teaching | Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning
Thursdays, February 2, 16 and March 2, 16, 12:30-1:30 pm
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (HyFlex format option)
Lynnane George, Ph.D., Senior Instructor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Angie Dodson, M.Ed., Faculty Development Coordinator, Faculty Resource Center
James M. Lang’s Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning provides the what and how for cultivating an engaging and meaningful teaching and learning environment in small, effective ways. In this Teaching Circle, we will explore how to expand students’ knowledge and understanding of content and inspire student academic motivation, growth, and effective practice of cognitive skills.
Circle Schedule
- February 2 – Introductions, Small Teaching Overview, Chapter 1: Predicting | Recording | Handout
- February 16 - Chapters 2-4: Retrieving, Interleaving, Connecting | Register by February 10
- March 2 – Chapters 5-7: Practicing, Explaining, Belonging | Register by February 24
- March 16 – Chapters 9-10: Motivating, Learning, Conclusions and Path Forward | Register by March 10
Anti-Racist Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom
Thursdays, February 9, 23, and March 9, 23, 2:00–3:00 pm
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (HyFlex format option)
Carole Woodall, PhD, Associate Professor, History
Ann Amicucci, PhD, Associate Professor, English
The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop is a call to create healthy, sustainable, and empowering classroom communities. Award-winning educator Felicia Rose Chavez exposes the invisible politics of power and privilege that have silenced writers of color for far too long. Together, we will address how to:
- Deconstruct our biases to achieve a cultural shift in perspective.
- Design a democratic teaching model to create safe spaces for creative concentration.
- Recruit, nourish, and fortify students of color to best empower them to exercise voice.
- Embolden our students to self-advocate as responsible citizens in a globalized community.
Circle Schedule
- February 9 – Chapter 1 & 2 | Register by February 3
- February 23 – Chapter 3 & 4 | Register by February 17
- March 9 – Chapter 5 & 6 | Register by March 3
- March 23 – Chapters 7 & 8 | Register by March 17
UNgrading | Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead)
Wednesdays, March 8, 22 and April 5, 19, 12:30-1:30 pm
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (HyFlex format option)
Kacey Ross, Senior Instructor, English
Explore the idea of alternative grading through Susan D. Blum’s Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead).
Circle Schedule
- March 8 - Ungrading Session 1 – Part 1: Foundations and Models | Register by March 3
- March 22 - Ungrading Session 2 – Part 2: Practices | Register by March 17
- April 5 - Ungrading Session 3 – Part 3: Reflections | Register by March 31
- April 19 - Ungrading Session 4 – Conclusions | Register by April 14
Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Mondays, April 3, 10, 17, and 24, 9:45-10:45 am
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (HyFlex format option)
Larry Eames, Instruction Librarian, Kraemer Family Library
Join Larry in a discussion about what Paulo Freire offers in Pedagogy of the Oppressed based on our contemporary context and our individual approaches to teaching. Plan to gain a deeper understanding of how we practice instruction and hopefully enhance that practice through this study.
Circle Schedule
Last updated February 4, 2023
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