What were your expectations for the Faculty Learning Circle?
I was hoping to gather with people who have varying degrees of experience teaching DL classes. I envisioned a seminar type atmosphere were discussions led to ideas and specific ways to improve my course.
I was mainly looking for some renewal in my teaching and for getting, as you said today, “out of my comfort zone.”
My expectations for the faculty learning circle were finding new ideas about student learning, how this learning could be fulfilling but not boring.
I expected that we’d get to share and learn ideas about some subject of mutual interest.
Did we meet your expectations? How or why not?
Yes, everything I hoped for was achieved, and more.
Yes. It was nice to be in a seminar setting with colleagues, discussing things we cared about.
Yes, I feel somewhat renewed. It’s nice to swap ideas with other teachers, and participating in the circle prompted some new ideas for assignments and a new goal for my sophomore literature classes.
What did you learn about teaching?
The question, “What do you want students to remember in two years?” is one that resonated with me...How problem-based learning and team-based learning might accomplish that retention interested me.
I think I am more conscious now about the ways that my teaching foreshortens or inhibits the freedom of my students.
What did you learn about distance / online teaching and learning?
I learned that I need to provide even more guidance to my students from the very beginning. I also learned that some things I require of them don’t serve the purpose that I wanted it to serve.
One of the experiences I gained, as a participant in the learning circle was the importance of making the class balanced for all students especially in group projects.