Skip to content Skip to navigation

University of Louisville

IDEAS TO ACTION: Using Critical Thinking to Foster Student Learning and Community Engagement

Personal tools

Log in

You are here: Home → FLC

Photos from Fall 2008 FLC sessions
What is Ideas to Action (I2A)? What is the Faculty Learning Community (FLC) on Critical Thinking? Who is eligible to participate? What are the I2A FLC goals and objectives? What will be expected from Fall 2008 FLC participants? What are the rewards and recognition for participating in the FLC? What are the criteria for selecting participants? What is the submission and selection process? What is the timeline for the Fall 2008 I2A FLC?	Nomination Forms due by 12:00 p.m., Thursday, November 20, 2008 *Full-time & part-time U of L faculty are invited to…* *Devise & try new tactics for promoting students' critical thinking* *Learn innovative methods for fostering student engagement & learning* *Meet & work with new colleagues & share teaching strategies & successes* *Gain access to resources on designing assessment & assignments* Call for Nominations Nominations are now being accepted for U of L instructors who wish to participate in the Spring 2009 Faculty Learning Community (FLC). This FLC is designed to create a supportive, collegial environment for instructors to try new pedagogies and curricular enhancements. The FLC program is a vehicle for promoting the advancement of U of L’s Ideas to Action initiative across disciplines and departments. U of L instructors are encouraged to collaborate with their respective department chairperson/unit head in order to signal their interest in this program and complete the nomination requirements by Thursday, November 20, 2008. Download the Call for Nominations (Word) Download the Nomination Form (Word) What is Ideas to Action (I2A)? The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states. Each institution applying for accreditation or renewal of accreditation is required to develop a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). At U of L, the QEP is titled Ideas to Action: Using Critical Thinking to Foster Student Learning and Community Engagement, also known as I2A. Ideas to Action (I2A) is the University of Louisville's multi-year initiative to promote meaningful transformation of our undergraduate programs through intentionally connecting and sharing learning outcomes and curricular enhancements in order to foster students' critical thinking skills and promote community engagement in academic, co-curricular and real-world contexts. For more information, please visit our homepage: http://louisville.edu/ideastoaction Return to the top of the page What is the Faculty Learning Community on Critical Thinking? This semester-long program is an opportunity for a group of 10-12 faculty members to engage in cross-disciplinary ongoing dialogue, structured activities, and reflection related to implementation of individual or programmatic I2A goals and outcomes. Participants will be part of a community of instructors who will be provided with sustained and scholarly support in deepening their understanding and use of the Paul-Elder critical thinking model, instructional design, and assessment principles, both generally and in discipline-specific contexts. Return to the top of the page Who is eligible to participate? Any part-time, term, tenure track, or tenured faculty member who will be teaching an undergraduate face-to-face course during Spring 2009 may be nominated. The I2A FLC can include faculty members with and without prior experience with I2A and/or the Paul Elder critical thinking model. Return to the top of the page What are the I2A FLC goals and objectives? To increase and enhance faculty engagement in I2A To increase and enhance faculty expertise and application of the Paul-Elder critical thinking model in a specific course (or courses) To create a library of faculty and student artifacts related to I2A implementation To increase faculty collaboration across disciplines To develop a cohort of FLC graduates who can serve as I2A advocates after completing the program To nourish scholarly teaching and the scholarship of teaching and its application to I2A and student learning. Return to the top of the page What will be expected from Fall 2008 FLC participants? Participants will meet for a series of group sessions to promote learning, discussion, and support in a multidisciplinary and collegial community. Individual consultations and coaching to supplement the group work will be available before & after the FLC semester. Specifically, participants will: Attend and fully participate in the opening FLC retreat, attend five out of six of the scheduled meetings and discussions during the Fall 08 FLC timeline Explore and implement “best practices” in integrating I2A and the Paul-Elder critical thinking model into their course design or in the redesign of a specific assignment Develop individual goals and/or outcomes for the FLC, in addition to completing readings and participating in the activities developed by the I2A Team Submit a revised syllabus and other related instructional materials throughout the FLC as required Consult individually about teaching and learning goals with I2A Team members at least once between December 10th and January 6th Develop an e-portfolio to share and feature accomplishments and I2A teaching and learning artifacts Serve as an I2A advocate within their home units and within the U of L community upon completion of the FLC Return to the top of the page What are the rewards and recognition for participating in the FLC? Stipend: Upon the successful completion of the FLC process (i.e. cohort activities, individual goals, final products), participants will receive a $1,000 stipend* Complimentary relevant books & publications Customized teaching and learning documents/artifacts Individual support and coaching Certificate of completion Letters of thanks and recognition from I2A Team to unit heads and administrators Successful completion also includes completing all tasks and activities and attending the opening and closing retreats and five out of the six scheduled semester meetings. Return to the top of the page What are the criteria for selecting participants* The nomination process invites participants who: Are scheduled to teach at least one face-to-face undergraduate course during the FLC semester Have demonstrated evidence of commitment to excellence in teaching Have potential for I2A contributions to the FLC cohort, your home department and/or the University community Are available to attend FLC meetings and meet deadlines (see timeline below) Are endorsed/nominated by unit heads regarding program expectations and time commitments (see expectations) Return to the top of the page *What is the submission and selection process?* Faculty must work cooperatively with their unit chairperson or department head to submit the Nomination Form. To be considered for selection, the nominee must complete Sections 1 – 6 of the separate Nomination Form. The nominee must provide a copy of their complete materials to the nominator to complete Sections 7 – 8 of the form. It is the responsibility of the nominee to submit a hard copy of the fully completed Nomination Form to the I2A FLC Selection Committee located in the Delphi Center, Ekstrom Library, Room 244 on or before 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2008. Participants will be selected by a Subcommittee of the I2A Task Group Selection will be based upon committment to quality teaching (as evidenced in the nomination materials), level of expressed interest in the program and strong support from the nominator. Participants will be chosen to create a diverse group representing a variety of disciplines and experiences Return to the top of the page *What is the timeline for the Fall 2008 I2A FLC?* October 2008 Week of October 6 - Launch Call for Nominations October 15- I2A FLC Informal Information Session, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., HSC, School of Nursing, K-Wing Room 2023 October 15 - I2A FLC Informal Information Session, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., Belknap, Ekstrom Library, Room 254 November 2008 November 7 - I2A FLC Informal Information Session, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., HSC, Dental School, Room 235 November 11 - I2A FLC Informal Information Session, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Belknap, Ekstrom Library, Room W210 November 20 - Nominations due to I2A FLC Selection Committee by 12:00 p.m. December 2008 December 5 - FLC cohort for Spring 2009 announced December 10 - Introductory lunch, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. December 10 through January 6 - Schedule your individual consultations with I2A Team on syllabus/course objectives and design January - May 2009 Periodic Friday sessions (see nomination form for dates) Individual consultations Return to the top of the page	Interested in getting more information? Contact the I2A Team at: I2A@louisville.edu 502-852-7611 Join us for an FLC Information Session! Wednesday, October 15, 2008 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. HSC, K-Wing, Room 2023 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Belknap, Ekstrom Library, Room 254 Tuesday, November 7, 2008 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Belknap, Ekstrom Library, Room W210 Friday, November 11, 2008 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. HSC, School of Dentistry, Room 235 Interested but cannot participate in Spring 2009? We'd love to give you an update on other programs and services for 2008-2009! Please contact us so we may keep in touch! I2A@louisville.edu

Powered by Plone CMS, the Open Source Content Management System

This site conforms to the following standards: