Teaching Circles

Best Practices for Meeting Student Accommodations Teaching Circle

Mona Kulp, Maria Bickar, Kementari Whitcher

Accommodations are essential for an equitable learning environment and are not just legal requirements. They foster a sense of belonging and empower learning. However, implementing the best practices for meeting accommodations isn't always straightforward. This teaching circle will review literature for evidence-based strategies and also offer an informal space to discuss common types of accommodations encountered and current practices across disciplines at Smith as well as surface potential challenges to meeting accommodation requests. We also hope to discuss the intersection between universal design and meeting specific accommodations. 

RSVP for the Best Practices Teaching Circle.

Formative and Summative Assessment of Analytical Inductive and Deductive Processes

Alicia Grubb, Allie Strom

This teaching circle is organized for faculty teaching technically and procedurally challenging courses in highly analytical fields. Our focus this semester will be scaffolding of assignments and pacing of topics and skills leading up to challenging exams. Other topics of discussion include the incorporation of literature into assessments and the various types of assessments we are experimenting with in our courses. Please plan to RSVP early and commit to attending the circle; reach out to the organizers with any questions. 

RSVP for the Formative and Summative Assessment of Analytical Inductive and Deductive Processes Teaching Circle.

Human Rights Teaching Circle

Carrie Cuthbert, Loretta Ross

In today’s challenging political environment, how should we address challenging dynamics in the classroom? How should we introduce and teach hard topics like human rights violations or the climate crisis? This teaching circle is an informal “community of practice” space for faculty and teaching staff to share their experiences and expertise both within and across disciplines, and to explore how approaches like Calling In and other human rights pedagogies can apply. All are welcome. 

RSVP for the Human Rights Teaching Circle.

Mathematics Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle

Jacob Garcia and Ileana Vasu

This teaching circle provides an informal space to explore how mathematics fits in and works with the Smith curriculum. This teaching circle is for those teaching math, teaching with math, or those supporting students who use math in their courses. The teaching circle also explores recent approaches to teaching, learning, and technology adaptation in classes, in addition to discussing ways to motivate students’ learning and to discuss how different disciplines at Smith are supporting students in their mathematics. 

RSVP for the Mathematics Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle.

Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle

Adrian Gras-Velazquez, Rebecca Deitsch, Ilona Sotnikova 

This teaching circle provides an informal space for language educators and faculty across disciplines to discuss ways to collaborate and connect world languages and with other majors and areas of student interest and promote languages and research at Smith. The teaching circle also explores recent approaches to teaching, learning, and technology adaptation in classes, in addition to discussing ways to motivate students’ learning and enhancing their progress and future careers. Faculty from all disciples are encouraged to attend. 

RSVP for the Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle.

Navigating Gen-AI in the Classroom Teaching Circle

Travis Grandy

This teaching circle will focus on adapting teaching to the realities of generative AI. You will be encouraged to share what’s happening in your own classrooms, reflect on your teaching values, and receive support and feedback from friendly colleagues. Discussions will explore practical strategies such as designing assignments and assessments that limit misuse, how to clearly communicate expectations and academic integrity policies, and crafting syllabus and rubric language. 

RSVP for Navigating Gen-AI Teaching Circle. 

Teaching-Focused Faculty Teaching Circle

Reid Bertone-Johnson

The Teaching Circle for TFF (Teaching Focused Faculty) will offer an informal space for TFF across disciplines at Smith to make connections, build community and share helpful resources. We hope this will provide a space for new and veteran TFF to connect. 

RSVP for the TFF Teaching Circle.