Florida Atlantic University
Center for Teaching and Learning
Faculty Learning Community 2012-2013
Title: Best Practices in Interdisciplinary Co-Teaching
Duration: [ ] Fall 2013 only
[ ] Spring 2014 only
[x] Full-Year
Facilitator:
Charles Dukes, Associate Professor, Department of Exceptional Student Education, College
of Education
Focus:
This Faculty Learning Community (FLC) will explore the viability and feasibility of creating
interdisciplinary linkages between lower- and upper-division undergraduate coursework.
Possible linkages between course work will be explored using a framework based on three
essential aspects of the teaching and learning process: (a) curriculum (content), (b)
instruction (delivery) and (c) assignments (products). Opportunities for these links may vary
widely from collaborations across faculty (e.g., on a single topic that may link assignments
and/or class discussions), to integrated syllabi involving multiple ties across course units, to
combined curricular and co-curricular experiences across units. In this FLC, participants will
be introduced to and generate an array of ideas to forge links between their own courses and
integrate new material/methods into current and/or future courses.
Participants:
There is no pre-requisite knowledge required to participate in this FLC. Participants will
work collectively to conceptualize and ultimately incorporate interdisciplinary curriculum,
co-instruction, common assignments, and/or shared student experiences across course
work. This FLC is intended to facilitate the exploration and development of
interdisciplinary course work for those who teach (or intend to teach) lower- or upper
division undergraduate courses.
Supervisor approval is required for FLC participation.
Outcomes:
All FLC participants will collectively identify and document at least 10 best practices for
interdisciplinary co-teaching and develop a set of sample materials which may include (but
not be limited to): (a) syllabus (for each course in the pair), (b) common assignment(s),
and/or (c) related activities to be taught from two different disciplinary perspectives across
two lower- or upper-division courses. Moreover, participants will collectively identify and
document challenges as well as solutions associated with designing and delivering
interdisciplinary course work. This information will be complied and incorporated in the
Interdisciplinary Faculty Instructional Support Packet, for any and all faculty interested in ideas to
change and enhance instruction in lower- and upper division courses. This information may
potentially appear on a web page dedicated to information about instructional activities
related to the interdisciplinary studies.
Each individual participating in the FLC will identify a potentially compatible lower- and/or
upper-division course that has good potential for an interdisciplinary link. Participants will
contribute to a master table of courses with cross-references, linking courses by discipline.
This information will be shared in a brochure (possibly a supplement to literature that
already exists or new material) highlighting information about interdisciplinary studies for
the entire FAU community, including faculty and students explaining the link between
particular courses. This information may potentially appear on a web page dedicated to
information about instructional activities related to the interdisciplinary studies.
Timeline:
This FLC will hold six face-to-face sessions and four on-line sessions, for a total 10 sessions
over the course of the academic year. The timeline below is incomplete and does not
include the specific Wednesdays the tasks will be completed. Once the final format of the
expected products is clear (web based, etc.), specific dates will be determined. All tasks will
be completed by April, 2014. See the table below for further details.
Session #
Session Type
Pre-session
activity
In-session
activity
Assignment
Face-to-Face
TBD
TBD
Discuss
TBD
designing and
delivering
interdisciplinary
courses (noting
challenges and
solutions to
those challenges).
On-line
TBD
TBD
Discuss contents
of faculty
instructional
support packet.
TBD
Face-to-Face
TBD
TBD
Develop
template for
community
brochure and
faculty
instructional
support packet.
TBD
On-line
TBD
TBD
Draft community TBD
brochure and
faculty
instructional
support packet.
Face-to-Face
TBD
TBD
Identify best
instructional
practices and
courses for links
across
disciplines.
On-line
TBD
TBD
Vet best
TBD
instructional
practices.
Decide on list for
course links
across
disciplines.
Day/Date
Session #1
Wednesday/TBD
Session #2
Wednesday/TBD
Session #3
Wednesday/TBD
Session #4
Wednesday/TBD
Session #5
Wednesday/TBD
Session #6
Wednesday/TBD
Completion
Date
TBD
Session #7
Face-to-Face
TBD
TBD
Develop cross
course activities
for linked
courses.
TBD
On-line
TBD
TBD
Add to
community
brochure and
faculty
instructional
support packet.
TBD
Face-to-Face
TBD
TBD
Develop cross
course activities
for linked
courses.
TBD
On-line
TBD
TBD
Complete
community
brochure and
faculty
instructional
support packet.
April, 2014
Wednesday/TBD
Session #8
Wednesday/TBD
Session #9
Wednesday/TBD
Session #10
Wednesday/TBD
Potential Meeting Time: Meetings for this FLC will take place using two different formats. A total of six
face-to-face meetings (Boca Raton) will be scheduled on select Wednesdays from 12-2 PM in
Fall 2013 and 2-4 PM in Spring 2014. The leader and participants will also use Blackboard
to share ideas, documents, etc. in between face-to-face sessions. Participants from other
campuses will have the option to participant in meetings via Skype or videoconference if
necessary.
Stipend:
Participants will receive a stipend ($1000 full-year) for active participation in the FLC and
upon fulfilling all FLC expectations. These expectations include attendance/participation in
at least 80% of all group meetings and work, attendance/participation in the end-of-year
FLC luncheon on April 18, 2014, submission of an end-of-year report documenting
individual outcomes and results for the FLC’s project(s), and completion of the end-of-year
feedback survey.