Reading Groups

Reading groups, offered several times each semester, provide up-to-date information on topics in effective teaching and give participants valuable experience in leading group discussions. For each session, approximately 50–75 pages are assigned in advance, and one to two PFF students guide the discussion, which generally lasts about 90 minutes (for the in-person groups).

As of 16US: Students are required to attend four reading groups, serving as a group leader for one of these four meetings.

All students enrolled in PFF before 16FS will be held to the old standard, which required students to attend two groups as a participant and a third as a leader.

The reading group assigned readings are posted on the PFF Blackboard page under the "Readings" tab, which is located in the left-hand navigation.

Note: You must register before the group starts to participate. You do not need to be officially enrolled in the PFF program to participate in reading groups.

1. The Flipped Classroom
Wednesday, January 23
12:00-1:30 p.m. 
TUC 407

2. Minority and Women Faculty: Navigating Academia 
Monday, February 4
3:00-4:30 p.m.
CARE 1870 (Medical Campus)

3. Incivility: Among Faculty and in the Classroom
Tuesday, February 19
2:00-3:30 p.m.
Baldwin 660

4. LGBTQ+: Navigating Academia and Creating Safe Spaces
Monday, March 4
1:00-2:30 p.m.
TUC 423

5. First Generation Faculty: Excerpts from A Fine Place So Far From Home 
April 1-4
Online

Leaders should download these guidelines and consider them carefully as they plan to lead a reading group.

Guidelines for Leading In-Person Discussion Groups (PDF)

To view this document, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download.

• The Balance between Teaching and Research
• Being an International Student on the Academic Job Market
• The Biology of Learning
• Cheating
• Collaborative Learning
• Creating Significant Learning Experiences
• Evaluations and Assessment
• Grading Strategies
• Incivility: Classroom Management Techniques
• Inclusion and Diversity in Higher Ed
• Issues of Ethics for College Teachers
• Learner-Centered Teaching
• Motivating Culturally Diverse Students
• New Faculty: Helpful Tips, Unexpected Challenges, and Gaining Tenure
• Non-Tenure Track Teaching
• Online Learning
• Setting Up your own Program of Research
• Silent Students: Challenges and Opportunities
• Teaching Critical Thinking
• Teaching Nonmajors
• Teaching Strategies for Large Enrollment Classes
• Teaching Unprepared Students
• Teaching What You Don't Know
• To Tech or Not to Tech
• What the Best College Teachers Do