Faculty Interest Groups Archive
About
A Faculty Interest Group (FIG) is a group of faculty within or across disciplines with a mutual interest in some subject applicable to teaching. The group agrees to meet regularly to share ideas for a predetermined length of time (generally one or two semesters). These groups are less formal than Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs), but still engage faculty in regular efforts to share ideas about teaching that address their selected focus.
The Teaching and Learning Excellence Division (TLED) is pleased to support opportunities for Austin Community College (ACC) faculty to engage in instructor-centered and initiated groups of like-minded peers to explore shared topics of interest.
Fall 2021-Spring 2021: Post Event Summary
A total of 52 Austin Community College (ACC) faculty and staff participated in Faculty Interest Groups (FIGs) during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semester. The FIG topics included Distance Learning, Empowered Google, Building Culturally Responsive Classrooms, Teaching Ethics to Adult Learners, and Religious Literacy. Eight Areas of Study were represented.
The Faculty Experience
As a result of their participation in this program:
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- 92% felt they are able to be more effective in their role.
- 100% would recommend this course to colleagues.
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- 96% felt a renewed excitement for teaching.
- 88% felt more confident in their ability to create an inclusive classroom.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about what faculty from other disciplines do to integrate ethics into their teaching.”
Fall 2020-Spring 2021 FIGS
The Culturally Responsive Teaching Faculty Interest Group (CRTFIG) will read and reflect on the book “Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students.” The purpose of this FIG will be to self-reflect on our own cultural lens and work toward offering the most culturally responsive classroom we can.
Each meeting participants will discuss a section of the book and create consumables that can be used in the classroom. Spring 2021 meetings will be held virtually via Google Meet.
For more information, please contact Kendall Dingee at kdudley@austincc.edu.
Meeting Dates and Topics
Topic 1: Building Awareness and Knowledge
February 26, 2021
10:00am-12:00pm
Topic 2: Building Learning Partnerships
March 26, 2021
10:00am-12:00pm
Topic 3: Building Intellective Capacity
April 30, 2021
10:00am-12:00pm
Topics
Sharing information on the various Google products available through the current ACC G Suite for Education installment.
Share examples of how various faculty are employing various tools.
Best case uses for enhancing ACC communication and instruction.
Note: 12 faculty will be accepted into the FIG and all applicants will be notified of their application status shortly after the deadline.
Meeting Schedule
All meetings will be hosted virtually on Google Meet.
| Topic | Date | Time |
| Coming together to talk about what we use, how we use it, and latest updates | September 18, 2020 | 3:00pm-4:30pm |
| Basic Google products available for ACC Users | October 16, 2020 | 3:00pm-4:30pm |
| Demonstration of how faculty are using the tools | November 20, 2020 | 3:00pm-4:30pm |
| Sharing training resources for Google products | February 5, 2021 | 3:00pm-4:30pm |
| Discuss ways to share Google tools | March 5, 2021 | 3:00pm-4:30pm |
| Proposals for 2nd year FIG or FLC | April 2, 2021 | 3:00pm-4:30pm |
Contact FIG Lead
Herb Coleman, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Student Development
TCEA Google Certified Educator
hcoleman@austincc.edu
The Teaching Ethics to Adult Learners Faculty Interest Group (TEALFIG) is an opportunity for faculty from various disciplines to come together and discuss the effectiveness of ethics education at ACC. Participants will discuss best practices, how to increase student success, and collaborate to expand ethics-based courses to other Areas of Study at ACC. Join this group to obtain a better understanding of why ethics are taught in various disciplines and what the ultimate goal is in having students complete an ethics course(s) as part of their undergraduate education.
Spring 2021 meetings will be held virtually via Zoom. For more information, please contact Larry Stephens at larry.stephens@austincc.edu.
Meeting Dates and Topics
Topic 1: Introductions and Overview
January 29, 2021
9:30am-11:00am
A survey and discussion of Ethics courses taught in various Areas of Study throughout ACC; course offerings (online vs. classroom). Talk about successes and opportunities in teaching an Ethics course.
Topic 2: Developing Ethics Course Content and Best Practices
February 26, 2021
9:30am-11:00am
Discussion focused on what content is covered in an Ethics course. Suggestions for best practices in course design (learning objectives). Possible collaboration among group members of implementing Quality Matters in our online courses.
Topic 3: Developing Ethics Course Content and Best Practices, Part 2
March 26, 2021
9:30am-11:00am
A continuation of the previous discussion with a focus on active learning techniques and engaging students in an Ethics course (both online and classroom). Discussion of potential collaborative ethics education research project.
Topic 4: TBD by FIG participants based on previous discussions
April 30, 2021
9:30am-11:00am
If participants are open to doing a collaborative ethics education research project, this session could be focused on possible research topics, funding, grants, etc.
Fall 2021-Spring 2022 FIGS
This faculty interest group (FIG) is part of the new religious literacy initiative at Austin Community College (ACC) and is brought to you by the Religious Literacy Working Group. We want to work our way through the Norton Anthology of World Religions. We will start with Islam in Spring 2021, and then cover a different world religion each semester for 6 total consecutive semesters. For Fall 2021, the Religious Literacy FIG will focus on Hinduism. Participants are welcome to participate in as many or as few semesters as they would like.
According to the Harvard Religious Literacy Project, religious literacy is “The ability to discern and analyze the fundamental intersections of religion and social, political, and cultural life through multiple lenses.” And, according to Wikipedia, “The importance of being religiously literate is increasing as globalization has created greater links and migration between societies of different faiths and cultures. It has been proposed that including religious literacy as an aspect of public education would improve social cohesion.” Find out more here.
The Fall 2021 meetings will focus on Hinduism. For more information, please contact Amy Velchoff (amy.velchoff@austincc.edu) or Carleen Sanchez (csanche1@asutincc.edu).
Meeting Dates and Topics
Topic 1: Introduction; Origins of Hinduism
Date & Time: September 24, 2021, 3 pm – 4 pm
Topic 2: The Age of Ferment
Date & Time: October 8, 2021, 3 pm – 4 pm
Topic 3: The Synthesis of Hinduism
Date & Time: October 22, 2021, 3 pm -4 pm
Topic 4: Vernacular Hinduism of the South
Date & Time: November 5, 2021, 3 pm – 4 pm
Topic 5: Vernacular Hinduism of the North
Date & Time: November 19, 2021, 3 pm – 4 pm
Topic 6: Current writings on Hinduism
Date & Time: December 3, 2021, 3 pm – 4 pm
The Centering Marginalized Histories Faculty Interest Group is a reading group that places African American and Latinx history at the center of U.S. history more broadly to offer faculty an historical basis for current social and political movements that impact our educational practice. In addition to outlining the ways in which African Americans and Latinx peoples throughout history have engaged in emancipatory resistance movement, An African American and Latinx History of the United States identifies models for coalition-building that can be applied not only in our teaching but also in our work of shared governance and community-building.
As such, this interest group serves as a reading group with the aim of strategizing the ways we as faculty can incorporate the historic practices of African Americans and Latinx peoples into practice in our teaching and learning, student and community engagement, scholarship, and institutional practice.
For more information, please contact Lydia CdeBaca-Cruz, (lydia.cdebaca-cruz@austincc.edu) or Corey Greathouse, (corey.greathouse@austincc.edu).
Topics & Schedule
Time Frame: October 15 – December 3, 2021 on the 3rd Friday of each month
Topic 1
What Does It Mean to Center African American and Latinx History?: How “Emancipatory Internationalism” Impacts our Classrooms and Communities
Date/Time
Friday, October 15, 2021, 3 pm – 5pm
Topic 2
Slavery, Solidarity, and the Global South: Reframing U.S. Exceptionalism to Restructure Curricula and Classrooms
Date/Time
Friday, November 19, 2021, 3 pm – 5 pm
Topic 3
Emancipatory Labor: Rethinking the Education-to-Work Pipeline in Emancipatory Terms
Date/Time
Friday, December 3, 2021, 3 pm – 5 pm
Do you have a passion or interest for learning how to be more creative in and out of the classroom? Please consider joining our Creativity Faculty Interest Group (FIG). The FIG is for faculty to meet in an informal setting and share ideas regarding the practice of creativity in professional and personal lives.
The goal is to explore notions of creativity, especially as developed by Dr. Mikhaly Csikszentminhalyi in Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention, and first explored in his bestseller Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. We will discuss how they apply to our professional and personal lives, and develop an improved creative practice in everyday life with mutual support in our group and beyond.
Topics will include the creative process, creativity in life stages, and the domains of creativity
For more information, please contact Dr. Kevin Clark, kclark@austincc.edu.
Topics & Schedule
Time Frame: October-December 2021
Topic 1
The Creative Process: Personality, Work, Flow, and Surroundings
Date & Time
Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
Topic 2
The Lives: Early, Later, and Aging
Date & Time
Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
Topic 3
Domains of Creativity: Word, Life, Future, Culture, and Personal Creativity
Date & Time
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
Meeting Dates and Topics
Topic 1: ACC Tools
Faculty will discuss the tools they use to assist them with facilitating their distance learning courses. The exploration of tools should include what ACC has to offer and might include discussing outside of ACC tools.
Tentative Date: September 24, 2021, 11 am – 12 pm
Location: Virtually via Zoom
Topic 2: Creating Presence in Your Course
Faculty will discuss methods they use in order to create an online presence in their distance learning course. Faculty should be ready to share some practical tips they use in their course.
Tentative Date: October 15, 2021, 11 am – 12 pm
Location: Virtually via Zoom
Topic 3: Overcoming Challenges in Distance Learning Courses
Faculty will discuss solutions for challenges they have encountered while teaching in the distance learning format. Each faculty member will be asked to share a challenge they have experienced or currently experiencing while conducting their distance learning course(s), and colleagues will provide feedback.
Tentative Date: November 19, 2021, 11 am – 12 pm
Location: Virtually via Zoom
The Teaching Between Worlds: Interdisciplinary Studies and You Faculty Interest Group will introduce faculty to Interdisciplinary Studies (INDS) at Austin Community College (ACC), including an overview of the existing 5 tracks:
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- African and African Diaspora Studies (AADS), coordinated by Dr. Corey Greathouse
- American Studies (AMS), coordinated by Dr. Samuel Echevarria-Cruz
- Global Studies (GS), coordinated by Amy Velchoff
- Mexican American Studies (MAS), coordinated by Dr. Lydia CdeBaca-Cruz
- Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), coordinated by Dr. Sarah Bowman
Faculty will get to select which specific track(s) they are interested in learning more about, and will have the opportunity to engage in reading/ discussion around those areas. Especially motivated and interested faculty will have the option to participate in a 4th session around the INDS course proposal process and will be able to work with a track-specific coordinator to navigate that process.
Preference will be given to faculty who especially express an interest in developing courses for AADS, AMS, and MAS.
For more information, please contact Amy Velchoff (amy.velchoff@austincc.edu), INDS Faculty Mentor, and Global Studies Track Coordinator.
Meeting Dates & Topics
Topic 1: Introduction to INDS
Discussion of the field of Interdisciplinary Studies more broadly, introduction to ACC specific tracks and coordinators.
Readings: Two short pieces to be engaged with prior to this first meeting, more details to come
Date & Time: September 24, 2021, 10 am – 12 pm
Topic 2: Introduction to INDS Tracks
Small group discussions on track-specific reading materials.
Readings: Participants will be provided with a list of track-specific readings to select from and read prior to the session
Date & Time: October 22, 2021, 10 am – 12 pm
Topic 3: INDS and YOU
What does it mean to be interdisciplinary? Discussion of next steps for interested faculty – what does the proposal process look like, what are the expectations for INDS faculty, etc?
Date & Time: November 12, 2021, 10 am – 12 pm
Topic 4 (Optional): INDS Proposal Process
Work with a track-specific coordinator to cross-walk your course objectives with the track-specific objectives
Date & Time: December 3, 2021, 10 am – 12 pm
Fall 2022-Spring 2023 FIGS
TLED and the Office of Academic Technology will be supporting the organization of Faculty Interest Groups with the goal of engaging diverse faculty, building community, encouraging leadership, and facilitating implementation of technology. Less formal than Faculty Fellowships and Faculty Learning Communities, these groups aim to provide participants with occasions for networking and forming cross-disciplinary connections related to a topic(s) of mutual interest.
Open to all instructors, full or part-time, as well as staff with a particular interest in the topic, groups are structured to provide encouragement, support, and reflection. Each group will meet twice per semester for an academic year to address a pedagogy or academia-related topic of mutual interest. At the end of the year, each group will share its findings with the college community in some fashion.
Typically these sessions will include some sort of brief pre-work like reading an article and then the meeting time will be reserved for a discussion or presentations from ACC faculty members. We will trade best practices, share ideas for incorporating the topics in our coursework or personal work, and investigate new technology and methods in a collegiate and informal setting. Groups will decide amongst themselves if it’s best to meet over Zoom or face-to-face.
Interested faculty will read articles and discuss different uses and approaches to portfolios.
Tentative topics include:
1. Educational versus professional use
2. Portfolio assessment
3. Digital portfolio tools
4. Different subject area approaches
For more information, please contact Richard Palmer rpalmer@austincc.edu.
Meeting Dates and Topics
Time Frame: One Academic Year
Topic 1: Educational versus professional use
Date & Time: Sep 23, 2022
Topic 2: Portfolio assessment
Date & Time: Nov 18, 2022
Topic 3: Digital portfolio tools
Date & Time: TBD (February 3, 2023)
Online Web Conferencing Link: Possibly F2F or online
Topic 4: Different subject area approaches
Date & Time: TBD (April 28, 2023)
Online Web Conferencing Link: TBD
TLED and the Office of Academic Technology will be supporting the organization of Faculty Interest Groups with the goal of engaging diverse faculty, building community, encouraging leadership, and facilitating implementation of technology. Less formal than Faculty Fellowships and Faculty Learning Communities, these groups aim to provide participants with occasions for networking and forming cross-disciplinary connections related to a topic(s) of mutual interest.
Open to all instructors, full or part-time, as well as staff with a particular interest in the topic, groups are structured to provide encouragement, support, and reflection. Each group will meet twice per semester for an academic year to address a pedagogy or academia-related topic of mutual interest. At the end of the year, each group will share its findings with the college community in some fashion.
Typically these sessions will include some sort of brief pre-work like reading an article and then the meeting time will be reserved for a discussion or presentations from ACC faculty members. We will trade best practices, share ideas for incorporating the topics in our coursework or personal work, and investigate new technology and methods in a collegiate and informal setting. Groups will decide amongst themselves if it’s best to meet over Zoom or face-to-face.
Sharing experiences and ideas for integrating Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality in the classroom.
Tentative topics include:
- The rapidly changing landscape of XR technologies and content
- Including XR as a tool for learning
- XR creation
- XR best practices for teaching and learning
- Using the virtual space for community building
For more information, please contact Stephanie Bogdanich sbogdani@austincc.edu.
Meeting Dates and Topics
Time Frame: One Academic Year
Assuming that 3 of these meetings will be in person and 3 will be virtual. Once the participants have been identified, we will determine as a group which meeting will meet virtually and in person and finalize the meeting information at that time.
Topic 1: The State of XR at ACC
Date & Time: 9/23/22, 1pm
Topic 2: Academic Programs leading the way outside of ACC, looking at examples
Date & Time: 11/18/22
Topic 3: Using the virtual space for community building
Date & Time: 2/3/23
Topic 4: Tools we have to create XR
Date & Time:4/28/23
Topic 5: Ideas for using XR in our own classrooms
Date & Time: 6/9/23
Topic 6: Best practices for XR in our own classrooms
Date & Time: 7/21/23
Do you want to cultivate an environment where everyone is able to contribute and participate and move toward greater inclusivity in the classroom? Please consider joining our Inclusive Language and Practices in the Classroom Faculty Interest Group!
The goal of this FIG is to positively impact retention, persistence, engagement, access, and equity in the classroom. Inclusive language and practices in the classroom promote belonging, community building, inclusion, equity, diversity, justice, and the mission of Austin Community College (ACC).
We will reflect and learn about intentional practices to make a vibrant and inclusive community in our classrooms and beyond. The conclusion of this FIG will have our participants develop a plan to implement inclusive practices in their classrooms.
Tentative topics include race, gender, identity, accessibility, inclusive teaching strategies and practices, inclusive and equitable assignments and assessments; collaboration, concerns, and hot spots.
For more information, please contact Kisha Barrett lakisha.barrett@austincc.edu or Silke Morin smorin@austincc.edu
Topic 1
Race, Gender, Identity, and Accessibility
Date & Time
Friday, September 9, 2022
10:00 am
Online
Topic 2
Inclusive Teaching Strategies and Practices
Date & Time
Friday, October 14, 2022
10:00 am
Online
Topic 3
Inclusive and Equitable Assignments and Assessment
Date & Time
Friday, November 4, 2022
10:00 am
Online
Topic 4
Collaboration, Concerns, and Hot Spots
Date & Time
Friday, December 9, 2022
10:00 am
Location: Highland Learning Campus (HLC) 1550
The purpose of the Reducing Student Assessment Anxiety Faculty Interest Group (FIG) is to explore adult learning theory and how it can be applied to the classroom in a way that helps reduce student assessment anxiety.
Tentative topics include:
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- Strategies for students- journaling, developing a growth mindset, empowering students, partnering with students in their learning
- Strategies for faculty- assessment development, teaching for mastery, grading schema
The meetings are from 12:00-3:00pm online via Zoom on the following days:
Topic 1: Effects of Stress & Anxiety on Learning & Student Performance
Date & Time: Friday, March 24, 2023 from 12:00-3:00pm
Topic 2: Empowering Students in Their Own Learning
Date & Time: Friday, April 7, 2023 from 12:00-3:00pm
Topic 3: Partnering with Students in the Classroom
Date & Time: Friday, April 21, 2023 from 12:00-3:00pm
Topic 4: Evidence-Based Practices for Effective Teaching
Date & Time: Friday, May 5, 2023 from 12:00p-3:00pm
For more information, please contact Kris Tolman or Silke Morin at smorin@austincc.edu.
Summer 2023
Are you an LGBTQ+ identifying faculty member looking for community at ACC? This Queer Faculty Affinity Group will provide opportunities for LGBTQ+ ACC faculty to come together around their shared queer identities. Affinity groups provide an affirming and brave space for individuals to discuss their needs, challenges, and successes as queer-identifying faculty members of the ACC community.
Tentative topics include:
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- Navigating transphobia and homophobia in the classroom, towards you, towards the community at large, and towards students
- Being queer in the classroom, in Texas, and at ACC
- Strategies to make our classrooms a more affirming, welcoming place for queer students
- Other unique issues we, as instructors, face and how to navigate them
- Peer mentorship and support
- Potential areas of improvement for ACC policy and support
- Queer pedagogical techniques and texts (potential book and media discussions)
Meeting Details
Topic 1: Build community, establish group expectations, and discuss needs
Date & Time: Friday, April 28th – 10am-noon
In-Person: ACC Highland Campus (HLC) Room TBD
Topic 2: Discuss challenges
Date & Time: Friday, May 19th – 10am-noon
Location: TBD by group
Topic 3: Discuss successes
Date & Time: Friday, June 23rd – 10am-noon
Location: TBD by group
Topic 4: What’s next?
Date & Time: Friday, July 21st – 10am-noon
Location: TBD by group
For more information, please contact Chelsea Biggerstaff (chelsea.biggerstaff@austincc.edu) or Grant King (grant.king@austincc.edu).
Contact
For any questions, please contact the Office of Faculty Development via facdev@austincc.edu.