2024 FALL FACULTY READING GROUPS
This semester the Center for the Advancement of Teaching is offering the following faculty reading groups. Each group will meet once a week for three weeks to discuss the books in sections. We hope you can join us! Please register here.
Wednesdays: 9/11, 9/18, 9/25
1:30–3:00 p.m.
Strozier Library’s Graduate Conference Room 0005B
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Peter Felten and Leo M. Lambert argue that education is not merely a series of transactions, but instead an opportunity for students to form a web of meaningful relationships that are vital not only to their academic success but also to their sense of belonging and self-discovery. They explain that social connection and belonging are not just pleasant extras in college, but prerequisites for learning, especially for powerful learning. The book provides examples and strategies for how institutions can foster richer learning environments, and the reading group will discuss ways we can shape our teaching to cultivate community and connection in our classrooms.
Fridays: 9/20, 9/27, 10/04
1:00–2:30 p.m.
Dirac Science Library Conference Room
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The newly updated edition of this important book translates decades of scientific literature into practical advice, introducing eight general principles of how people learn. The authors draw on cognitive, developmental, and social psychology, as well as educational research, anthropology, etc. The discussion spans issues from memory to motivation, integrating theory with real classroom examples. Participants will develop strategies for strengthening their own teaching through the application of these principles.
Tuesdays: 9/24, 10/01, 10/08
1:00–2:30 p.m.
432 Diffenbaugh
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Most of our preparation for teaching (both our training and our planning) focuses on the content and the thinking students need to do, but Sarah Rose Cavanagh reminds us that learning is a highly emotional process. Anxiety and fear hamper learning, while powerful positive emotions can enhance it. Cavanagh offers concrete strategies for harnessing the power of emotion to galvanize learning.
Thursdays: 9/26, 10/03, 10/10
1:30–3:00 p.m.
204A LOV
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Even if you’re not familiar with the scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL)—a form of classroom research that can be done by faculty in any discipline—you may already be doing it. When you spot an issue in your teaching, generate a possible solution, and collect student data to see if the solution works, you’re engaging in SoTL informally. In this reading/working group, participants will learn approaches to doing SoTL more formally so that they can share their findings with a wider audience. In addition to learning about the process of doing SoTL, participants will actually get to engage in that process by designing a hypothetical or real project with support from the group. Beginners are very welcome!
Wednesdays: 10/09, 10/16, 10/23
1:30–3:00 p.m.
Dirac Library Conference Room
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Intentional Tech: Principles to Guide the Use of Educational Technology in College Teaching by Derek Bruff explores how educators can thoughtfully integrate technology into their teaching practices to enhance student learning. Bruff provides practical strategies and real-world examples that emphasize intentionality and pedagogical purpose. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a cautious adopter, Intentional Tech offers valuable perspectives to help you navigate the evolving landscape of educational technology. Let’s gather, discuss, and discover new ways to make our teaching more intentional and impactful with educational technology. Note: AI tech was intentionally used in producing this blurb!
Fridays: 10/11, 10/18, 10/25
1:00–2:30 p.m.
Dirac Library Conference Room
Print copy, delivered through interoffice mail
In Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel assemble the most important current research on learning, to deliver “highly effective, evidence-based strategies to replace less effective but widely accepted practices that are rooted in theory, lore, and intuition.” It turns out that much of our intuition about learning is misleading; this book group will focus on using the research to develop more effective learning strategies for our classrooms.
Looking for great books about college teaching? You can explore our archive of past reading group selections here.