Teaching Communities
Communities of Practice
Instructors interested in learning about and trying new techniques of instruction can join a community of practice. In a community of practice, instructors come together around a common interest to improve their teaching by sharing best practices and collaborating to create new ideas. The Teaching Center organizes several such communities annually for University of Rochester instructors.
Spring 2026
Transparent Assignment Design Fellowship
The Transparent Assignment Design Fellowship supports instructors in transitioning their non-test assignments using the principles of transparent assignment design. Fellows will meet in person four times for 90 minutes during the spring 2026 semester to learn the principles of transparent assignment design and universal design for learning, transition their assignments, and workshop their assignments with their peers and enjoy ongoing support from Teaching Center staff. The fellowship carries a $500 non-salary stipend for instructors to cover expenses related to their teaching and research. The application deadline is January 5, 2026.
Apply for Transparent Assignment Design Fellowship
New and Early Career Instructor Teaching Community
This community focuses on learning evidence-based practices and documenting and reflecting on teaching for iterative growth. Eligible instructors are in their first three years of teaching at Rochester and are on a multi-year contract. As this is a year-long program, participants registered and began in fall 2025, and registration for the 2025–2026 cohort is now closed.
Other Regularly Scheduled Groups
Active Learning Teaching Group
Explore small, easy-to-implement, evidence-based classroom activities that can be dropped into ongoing courses. Participants commit to meeting six times to read James Lang’s Small Teaching (provided), as well as trying out one of the teaching strategies once and reporting back to the group on how it worked out. Instructors must be teaching in the semester when the program is offered to be eligible to participate.
Generative Artificial Intelligence Group
This group will discuss the implications of generative AI for teaching and learning, as well as share resources and teaching ideas. In addition to considering how to revise courses in response to generative AI, the group will consider how and whether to integrate generative AI into student and/or instructor work. Appropriate for both those who have never used generative AI and those who have used it extensively.
Overview of program:
- Understanding Generative AI
- Managing risks, ethics, and other implications of GenAI
- Analyzing Course Learning Outcomes and Component Skills
- (Re)Writing an Assignment
- Writing a Course Policy and Associated Communication Plan
- Teaching with Generative AI Assistance
Learner-Centered Teaching Group
Explore evidence-based teaching practices to create and sustain effective learning environments, particularly as they relate to improving all students’ academic performance, sense of belonging, and self-efficacy. Over six weeks, participants will engage with online video content (videos and reflection prompts) before coming together as a group to engage in dialogue and explore how these concepts can be applied specifically at UR. This program meets in person.
Large Courses Discussion Group
Explore evidence-based teaching practices to engage students in meaningful learning in large courses (enrolling 60+) as part of this in-person Teaching Center program. The group will meet five times for 90 minutes over the course of one semester, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of teaching large courses (including logistics and administration) share ideas and resources, and explore strategies for active learning in lecture-based instruction. This teaching group is open to instructors teaching a large course (60+ students).
Peer Observation Group
Join a teaching group to learn observation skills and evidence-based teaching practices through peer teaching observation. With your peer partner, conduct mutual observations to spark reflection and teaching improvement. In the broader group, connect with colleagues to discuss how to make observations productive and how to improve teaching. The community meets as a group in person on the River Campus four times during the semester. In addition, peer partners visit each other’s classes once during the semester, with structured and confidential pre- and post-conversations built in as part of the process. This community is open to instructors who are teaching a course at the University of Rochester in the semester they are participating in the community, are able to attend the in person meetings on River Campus, and have enough flexibility in their schedules to observe a colleague’s course and meet their partners in person for the pre- and post- observation conferences. Partners will be established to maximize schedule compatibility. Learn more about the Peer Observation Group.
Teaching Center Course Development Fellowship
This two-semester fellowship program brings together a small group of instructors to collaborate in (re)developing and implementing their courses. Fellows enjoy intensive support from Teaching Center staff and are each awarded $1,000 in non-salary funding to cover expenses related to their teaching and research. This cohort meets in person and is offered twice annually. One group meets in the summer to plan for fall courses, and the other meets in the fall to plan for spring courses. The next offering will be the summer 2026-fall 2026 cohort. Learn more about the Course Development Fellowship.
Teaching Center Discussion Forum
The Teaching Center has created a discussion forum in Microsoft Teams where instructors can connect with colleagues with similar interests to share ideas and ask questions.