A Faculty Learning Community (FLC) is a small group of faculty and staff members working together to increase their knowledge and/or skills on a topic of mutual interest.

An FLC provides the structure and support for this group to discuss, share, and encourage one another to reach their full professional potential. In addition to shared learning, FLC members work on personal projects that put into practice what they are learning. Finally, the community is expected to share their knowledge and accomplishments with the wider university community.

Interested in Facilitating a FLC?

Current FLCs

The Benefits and Logistics of an Interdisciplinary Disabilities Studies Minor at MSU Denver: An Exploratory FLC

Fall 2022 and Fall 2023

MSU Denver lists “accessibility” as one of its core values and the CTLD has developed the Accessibility Competency Certification Program to help faculty and staff make classes and materials accessible. This FLC will build on that work, exploring models for an interdisciplinary disabilities studies minor that would give students and faculty the opportunity to study disability through the lenses of different disciplines. The FLC will examine different models for an interdisciplinary disabilities studies minor and explore the feasibility of building such a program at MSU Denver.

We will meet 3-4 times in fall, with meeting days/times determined by participants. Remote participation will be possible. Meetings will last about two hours.

If you are interested in joining this FLC, please contact:

Elizabeth Kleinfeld

[email protected]

A Brain-based Teaching Approach to Culturally Responsive Instruction

Fall 2023 – Spring2024

Students of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds experience an achievement gap. Neuroscience research offers innovative approaches to designing and implementing brain-compatible culturally responsive instruction.

In this yearlong FLC, after an introductory session participants will complete 9 chapter summaries/analyses of the book Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain, by Zaretta Hammond. They will end will a ‘report-out’ session where intended changes can be discussed with their peers.

Key Take-Aways: deepened understanding of how one’s culture programs the brain to process data and how it affects learning relationships; ‘key moves’ to build students’ learner operating systems and prepare them to become independent learners; as well as, prompts for action and valuable self reflection.

If you are interested in joining this FLC, please contact:

Darcy Beery

[email protected]

Integrating trauma-informed educational practices (TIEP) in the university classroom

Beginning in Spring 2024

This FLC will provide theory and practical ideas related to trauma-informed educational practices in the university classroom. Each week will focus on part of the curriculum (online or in-person) and/or on the syllabus and have participants implement specific ideas into their classes as we move through the year.

If you are interested in joining this FLC, please contact:

Perri Corvino or Kathryn Young

[email protected]

[email protected]

What communicative resources count for learning in MSU Denver courses?: Exploring translanguaging possibilities

Spring 2023 – Fall 2023

Translanguaging is the communicative norm of multilingual communities, where named languages, dialects, and non-linguistic resources are used dynamically and interchangeably to facilitate meaning-making (Otheguy, García & Reid, 2015). Within education research, translanguaging has been described as a theory, as a pedagogy, and as an ideological stance (García & Wei, 2014). Translanguaging as a pedagogy has historically been studied within K-12 bilingual education contexts (Martin Corredor, 2021). It is just now gaining momentum across K-12 contexts and within higher-education institutions (Fine, 2022).

As an Hispanic-serving institution with a focus on teaching and learning, MSU Denver’s faculty and students are uniquely poised to contribute to this international conversation. In this Faculty Learning Community, we will explore the tripartite nature of translanguaging through readings and discussions during Spring 2023. We will support each other to modify course syllabi and gather as a learning community to reflect on opportunities and challenges related to enacting those modifications during Fall 2023. We will share key take-aways from this collaborative work with the MSU Denver community as well as with the national higher-ed research community through collaborative conference presentations and peer-reviewed manuscripts.

If you are interested in joining this FLC, please contact:

Caitlin Fine or Lina Martin Corredor

[email protected]

[email protected]

Looking for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) FLCs?

Visit the CTLD S0TL page for information.

Looking for the Open Educational Resources (OER) FLC?

Visit the OER Faculty Resources Page for information.

Past FLCs