Faculty of Science Teaching Circles

What are teaching circles all about?

The Teaching Circles project is a collaboration between the Faculty of Science and the Teaching and Learning Centre that aims to promote discussion about teaching among Science faculty members and instructors. Participants in each circle are invited to sit in on a class by a faculty member. Following class, the participants meet as a group to discuss their observations and thoughts. These visits provide a window into the diversity of teaching styles and strategies used in the Faculty. The discussions will also encourage reflection on participants' own teaching and will facilitate the exchange of ideas with colleagues who share a commitment to teaching. Each circle will be facilitated by Cindy Xin from the TLC, and the course instructor will join in for the discussion.

How to register

Please email Erin Barley (ebarley@sfu.ca) to register for the teaching circles, and specify which teaching circle(s) you would like to attend. Note that space is limited.

Spring 2013 teaching circles

This term Lynne Quarmby and Frederic Pio from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry have incorporated team-based learning (www.teambasedlearning.org) into MBB 201 Biochemistry of the Cell, a traditionally lecture-based course. Close to 150 students are enrolled in this course this term. Students are required to complete assigned readings for each class. In class they take a readiness assurance test that assesses their comprehension of the readings and their preparedness to apply their knowledge. Based on the results of the readiness assurance test, instructors focus their lecture on concepts that puzzle students the most and spend class time on team-based learning activities. Tutorials are designed to complement lecture classes and further engage students in team-based problem solving and case-study activities.

Visitors are invited to attend a lecture and/or a tutorial session (see details below). A facilitated discussion follows each of the two observation sessions.

Theme: Team-based learning (lecture)

Instructors: Lynne Quarmby and Frederic Pio
Course: MBB 201 Biochemistry of the Cell
Wednesday, February 27 | 2:30–3:30 pm (observation, C9002) | 3:30–4:30 pm (discussion, SSB7109)

Theme: Team-based learning (tutorial)

Instructor: Laura Hilton, TA
Course: MBB 201 Biochemistry of the Cell
Thursday, March 21 | 2:30–3:30 pm (observation, TASC2 8070) | 3:30–4:30 pm (discussion, TASC2 9705 (Dean of Science boardroom))

As a complementary theme, we present Studio Physics, grounded in a pedagogy built on student-centred active learning.

Studio Physics is a complete physics course package that redefines the interaction between students, instructors, and course content – inside and outside of lecture. Traditional lectures are replaced by shorter introductions and topic-based group learning activities facilitated by the instructor in a studio setting. Join us to see how Sarah Johnson organizes her classroom to create a student-centred active learning environment. We will follow our observation with a discussion on student interaction in the classroom, the changing role of the instructor, and the design of classroom learning space. For more information about Studio Physics, visit scaleup.ncsu.edu/.

Theme: Studio Physics: Learning physics the fun way

Instructor: Sarah Johnson
Course: Physics 140 or 141

Please contact us if you are interested, and we will select a date based on participant availability. Please note that this teaching circle will be at SFU Surrey.