Philosophies, strategies, and technologies involved in teaching & learning can all evolve over time. We love to share well-established findings through workshops, but sometimes a space to discuss and interrogate ideas without the pressure of needing to already have the answers can provide a fresh perspective on the challenges of teaching. Instructor learning communities provide an avenue to explore and discuss these timely topics.
The Center for Transformative Teaching's learning communities can take a variety of forms. Some may be spaced throughout a semester while others meet consistently for a short duration. The scheduling and structure of the learning community is largely dependent on the topic or material covered. Check the learning communities listed below for more information.
Advance your teaching with upcoming learning communities.
Fall 2024
Teaching with AI
In this learning community, participants will read and discuss Bowen and Watson's book, "Teaching with AI." The text is structured in three parts: "Thinking with AI," "Teaching with AI," and "Learning with AI." The emphasis will be on the practical implications for instructors and students with the aim of developing instructional strategies that work in participants' courses - online and face-to-face. Dates and times will be determined based on the availability of registrants. Sign up now to indicate your interest in participation. Typically, learning communities meet in person or online once or twice each month.
Lecturer LC
This learning community is designed to give lecturers at UNL the opportunity to build community with one another while improving their teaching. There will be 6 sessions throughout the semester. Each will begin with a short presentation on best practices regarding a specific teaching topic followed by ample time for discussion, questions, and sharing of strategies that have been successful in the past. All lecturers are welcome to join us whether you’re just teaching a single course for one semester, have been teaching full time for years, or are anywhere in between! Anyone interested should sign up by Friday, August 30th. We will then send a poll to all registrants to find a time to meet that works with everyone’s schedule. We’ll also decide whether the group would prefer to meet in person or via Zoom.
#NCLUDE
The CTT will be co-sponsoring three #NCLUDE learning communities this fall: "Birding While Indian: A Mixed-Blood Memoir," “Exploring Dignity” and “Inclusive Learning for All: Embracing Universal Design and Disability in Higher Education.” For more information about these and other #NCLUDE learning groups, as well as to register, please go to: https://diversity.unl.edu/join-nclude-learning-group
Note: Registration ends August 30, 2024.
Past learning communities:
Summer 2024
TOLC
Teaching Online Learning Community (TOLC)
The four-week Teaching Online Learning Community (TOLC) is designed to guide new and novice online instructors to explore the unique opportunities and challenges of the online learning environment. Even instructors with some online teaching experience will find it valuable. Summer-TOLC will begin July 8, 2024, and will be conducted online.
Registration is closed.
For more information about this program, visit the TOLC page.