FLCs@NMC–This semester CIE and EMT are kicking off a new initiative: faculty learning communities. FLCs are a chance for colleagues to come together to investigate a topic or question. So far, eight FLCs have been proposed and are open to new members. A brief description of each is given below. If you see one you would like to join, email the facilitator. FLCs are limited to ten members, however, so act fast!

• Active Learning  Facilitator:  Keith Weber

This FLC would feature hands-on class demonstrations once or twice a month hosted by fellow faculty members. Each class demonstration would allow faculty to do hands-on work in various areas that we might not experience otherwise and, hopefully, open up dialog about possible cross-departmental class collaborations.

• Alliance for Accessibility  Facilitators:  Michelle Schneider & Sherry Trier

This FLC will focus on understanding the principles of online accessibility for course materials, why it is important to all students, and how faculty can apply these principles to improve access to their materials.

• Iconoclastic Educators (IE)  Facilitators:  Karen Ruedinger & Steve Rice

This FLC will boldly and collectively consider and respond to the implications of change in education, embracing the realities of our increasingly VULCAN (Volatile, Uncertain, Life giving, Complex, Ambiguous, Networked) environment.

• Instruction for Writing using APA Style  Facilitator:  Mary Beeker

This community will explore ideas for instructing students in the use of APA style guidelines for writing and formatting papers, in preparation for science and nursing assignments.

• Meet Me at the Museum  Facilitator:  Jason Dake

Join a small group of faculty across departments to meet monthly at the Dennos Museum Center for lunch and informal exploration of how to use the Museum’s collections and exhibitions as a learning resource.

• New Faculty  Facilitator: Kristen Salathiel

This FLC is for full- or part-time faculty who have been at NMC for three or fewer years. The group will choose its focus but possible areas of exploration could include learning more about the college, investigating active learning strategies, practicing classroom management strategies, or any other interests shared by the group.

• Reading Apprenticeship  Facilitator:  Dianne Owens

The Reading Apprenticeship FLC is focused on supporting students as readers within our classrooms. The Reading Apprenticeship method for reading instruction is centered on apprenticing students into reading within the disciplines. We will investigate this method of reading instruction and explore a variety of strategies and activities that help facilitate student understanding of texts.

• WID@NMC  Facilitator:  Megan Ward

The Writing in the Disciplines FLC will focus on supporting instructors who teach writing within their specific disciplines. We will meet to discuss the role of writing in your classes and how to manage instruction, assignments, and grading. Depending on participant needs, this FLC may focus on why/how writing instruction works, on creating concrete assignments and supports for your students, or on any other aspects of integrating writing into a discipline-specific class.