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 Rise of Adjuncts and Decline of Tenure-Track Faculty in Higher Ed.

Date: Wednesday, 19 September 2018

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Location: TUC 423

2. Exploring Community-Based Learning

Date: Thursday, 4 October 2018

Time: 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Location: MSB 3352

3. Anti-Oppressive Teaching and Holistic Learning

Date: Wednesday, 17 October 2018

Time: 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Location: TUC 423

4. #MeToo: Sexual Harassment in Academia

Date: Thursday, 8 November 2018

Time: 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Location: TUC 415

5. Mental Health: For You and Your Students

Date: Monday - Thursday, 12-15 November 2018

*This will be offered as an online reading group.

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