Building Faculty Learning Communities: Lessons Learned from a FastTrack Implementation Project

1
Building Faculty Learning Communities Lessons
Learned from a Fast-Track Implementation Project

• Andrea L. Beach, Ph.D.
• Western Michigan University
• Milton D. Cox, Ph.D
• Miami University
• Lilly North, September 25, 2004

2
Slides can by downloaded from http//homepages.wmi
ch.edu/abeach/
3
Purpose of this Session

• Overview of Miami Universitys 3-year FIPSE
  funded FLC dissemination project, Developing
  Faculty Learning Communities to Transform Campus
  Culture for Learning
• Lessons learned from that Project
• Discussion of applying lessons to FLC
  implementation at your institution

4
About the FIPSE Project . . .

• Miami University and six adapting institutions
• Claremont Graduate University, Indiana University
  Purdue University Indianapolis, Kent State
  University, Notre Dame University, Ohio
  University, and The Ohio State University
• Project sought to test the Miami Model and the
  success of mentored, accelerated adaptation 12
  FLCs at each institution in 3 years.

5
What We Wanted to Learn

• 4 overarching evaluation areas
• effectiveness and success of the project
  dissemination process in establishing a FLC
  Program at each Adapting Institution
• the effectiveness of the program components of
  each FLC
• faculty development outcomes for participants
• the impact of FLCs on student learning
• Data includes pre-implementation surveys,
  participant surveys, case reports, year-end
  reports, interviews, site visits, and discussions

6
Authentic Assessment within the Miami FIPSE
project

• FLC programs chose topics that best fit
  institution needs. Individual FLCs
  collaboratively planned their goals, activities,
  and assessment to a large extent.
• Individual projects products, participant
  surveys with questions specific to FLC
• Collective reflection for case reports, input on
  final year-end report
• Program directors individually and collectively
  reflected on results of FLC implementation for
  FLC program assessment.

7
Learning Within FIPSE FLCs

• From FLC participant assessments, keys to success
  include
• Multidisciplinary make-up of LCs
• Bonding experiences (retreats, conferences,
  pottery painting)
• Projects to focus efforts (individual or
  collective)
• Trained/experienced facilitators
• Visible support (money, release time,
  recognition)
• Opportunities to gather and disseminate

8
Lessons Across FIPSE FLC Programs

• Know where the right people and the money are to
  help get things rolling
• Partner with other departments (e.g., library,
  IT, Student Affairs)
• Plan recruitment that aligns with FLC program
  goals
• Build a cadre of TRAINED facilitators
• Support can be offered in many forms not just
  -- be creative to work within your means

9
FLC Institutional Considerations

• Understand and work with unique institutional
  culture current climate
• Address issues of institutional concern with FLCs
• Foster and maintain leadership buy-in through
  constant communication
• Show off your FLCs around campus (workshops,
  conferences, newsletters, etc.)
• Share your assessment and evaluation results

10
Other Observations

• Perfection is not the point building an
  effective FLC program takes time and adjustment
• Success breeds imitation expect and respect
  this
• many FLC like groups may spring up in response
  to your success. This is positive, but keep them
  distinct from your FLC program. Not every group
  is an FLC.
• Know your limits how many FLCs you can sustain
  depends on all of the factors discussed here.
  Dont burn yourself out or risk FLC fatigue in
  the institution.

11
Next Steps for Us. . .

• Long term outcomes for faculty development,
  changes in practice, and student learning
  outcomes
• Long term culture change the ripple effect at
  institutions, new language about teaching and
  learning, and support for FLCs

12
Next Steps for You . . .

• Think, pair, share
• what lessons outlined are most helpful to you as
  you think about building FLCs?
• What questions about implementation do you still
  have?
• What else can we share with you that will help
  you with your plans?