Empowering educators through connection and innovation.
Welcome to the University of Arizona's Faculty Learning Communities (FLC) program, where educators gather to explore innovative teaching practices, share experiences, and grow professionally in a supportive environment. Since 2013, our FLCs have brought together faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students passionate about enhancing student learning through evidence-based approaches.
Whether you're interested in active learning strategies, inclusive teaching practices, or incorporating new technologies in your classroom, our learning communities offer a space for meaningful collaboration and professional development.
Join us to connect with colleagues, stay current with educational research, and transform your teaching practice. All faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students with an interest in teaching are welcome to join us.
Teaching Guides and Resources
Curious about how you can incorporate new teaching strategies in your courses? Check out these guides and resources we have curated.
Faculty in the FLCs at the University of Arizona have begun sharing their own teaching tips and techniques. If you would like to submit your own tips, please email Kate Bunton (bunton@arizona.edu), for more information.
Collaborative Learning Spaces: Tips & Techniques
Four Strategies You Should Try: Teaching in Large Collaborative Classrooms
Small Changes, Big Impacts: Teaching Strategies That Work
Teaching in a Large Collaborative Learning Space
A guide for all faculty on structuring courses to enhance student participation and learning through better classroom discussions.
Tips for creating an engaging first session that introduces students to the intellectual journey ahead, regardless of discipline.
Practical tips to minimize inequities and help more students succeed without completely redesigning your courses.
Making Your Teaching More Engaging
Research-based methods to introduce energy and enthusiasm into your classroom.
Advice for making your online pedagogy as effective and satisfying as in-person teaching.
Resources for creating a syllabus that serves as both a logistical map and an invitation to actively engage in learning.
The University of Minnesota's Center for Educational Innovation has excellent teaching guides for active learning.
The University of Western Ontario provides practical guidance on incorporating active learning strategies into your teaching practice.
Open pedagogy is an educational approach that emphasizes student agency, collaboration, and the creation of openly shared knowledge.
Facilitators & Themes
Check out our past FLC facilitators and themes!
Fall 2025: The campus wide theme for FLCs this fall is Students Define Meaningful Writing-What does it mean for us? This theme connects with the book Making Writing Meaningful: A Guide for Higher Education but will also use related resources (articles, podcasts, UA data).
Summer 2025: Themes of the summer FLCs included AI, Belonging, Writing, Grading, Assessment, and challenges in the classroom.
Thank you to our facilitators: Rivka Fidel (Environmental Science), Jeri Heileman (General Education), Amelia Herb (English), Kathleen J. Kennedy (School of Human Ecology), Aimee Mapes (UCATT), Michael Mulcahy (School of Theatre, Film and Television), Emily Jo Schwaller (UCATT), Kristin Winet (UCATT), and Spencer Willis (UCATT).
Spring 2025: Our common read was A Pedagogy of Kindness (author Catherine Denial).
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Zawan Al Bulushi (General Education), Yadira Bergin (Spanish & Portuguese), Kathy Broneck (Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences), Cheryl Casey (UA Libraries), Lisa Elfring (UCATT), Mascha Gemein (UCATT), Gretchen Gibbs (UCATT), Sarah Grace (Psychology), Florian Hafner (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences), Arin Haverland (Environmental Science), Jeri Heileman (General Education), David Herring (UCATT), Jessica Hill (General Education), Linda Hollis (Psychology), Kathleen J. Kennedy (School of Human Ecology), Brian Moon (Music), Cheryl Neal (UCATT), Tim Ottusch (Human Development and Family Science), Amanda Parkman (General Education), Lisa Rezende (Molecular and Cellular Biology), Emily Jo Schwaller (UCATT), Tierra Stimson (Applied Science and Technology), and Kristin Winet (UCATT)
Fall 2024: Our common read was Teaching with AI: A practical guide to a new era in human learning (Bowne & Watson).
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Paul Blowers (Chemical Engineering), Kathy Broneck (Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences), Buddy Butram (UCATT), Sanlyn Buxner, Lisa Elfring (UCATT), Ahn Dang, Erin Galyen (UCATT), Mascha Gemein (UCATT), Gretchen Gibbs (UCATT), Arin Haverland (Environmental Science), Katrina Henry (Environmental Science), David Herring (UCATT), Jeri Heileman (General Education), Kathleen J. Kennedy (School of Human Ecology), Sarah Kyte (Student Success), Aimee Mapes (UCATT), Elaine Marchello (UCATT), Jackie Maximillian (Environmental Science), Susan Miller Cochran (English/General Education), Bill Neumann (Eller), Tim Ottusch (Human Development and Family Science), Lisa Rezende (Molecular and Cellular Biology), Alyssa Sachs (SLHS), Emily Jo Schwaller (UCATT), Spencer Willis (UCATT), Kristin Winet (UCATT).
Fall 2023: Our common read was the book Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom, Robert Eaton, S. Hunsaker, and Bonnie Moon.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Kate Bunton (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences), Rachel Castro (Student Learning and Engagement), Reed Dickson (Pima Community College), Lisa Elfring (UCATT), Heather Froehlich (Research Engagement, UA Libraries), Erin Galyen (UCATT), Mascha Gemein (UCATT), Sarah Grace (Psychology), David Herring (UCATT), Kathleen J. Kennedy (School of Human Ecology), Kasi Kiehlbaugh (Health Sciences), Annie Kurtin (Student Engagement and Career Development), Julio Loya (Nursing), Jennifer Nichols (Student Learning and Engagement), Linda Pallock (School of Human Ecology), Lisa Rezende (Molecular and Cellular Biology), Kristin Winet (UCATT)
Spring 2024: Our common theme is How do we continue to improve as teachers? This theme explored how we can use peer feedback, student feedback, reflective practice, and research to improve our teaching.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Kate Bunton (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences), Kathy Broneck (Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences), Sanlyn Buxner (Teaching/Learning), Cheryl Casey (Library), Ahn Dang (UCATT),Lisa Elfring (UCATT), Erin Galyen (UCATT), Sarah Grace (Psychology), Arin Haverland (Environmental Science), Kathleen J. Kennedy (School of Human Ecology), Darin Knapp (Human Development and Family Science), Aimee Mapes (UCATT), Jacqueline Maximillian (Environmental Science), Jennie McStotts (Honors College), Michael Mulcahy (Theatre), Ronnie Mullins (Nutritional Science and Wellness, Cheryl Neal (UCATT), Bill Neumann (Eller), Tim Ottusch (Human Development and Family Science), Emily Jo Schwaller (UCATT), Tierra Stimson (College of Applied Science and Technology), Audrey Tocco (UCATT), Kristin Winet (UCATT), Lisa Rezende (Molecular and Cellular Biology)
Summer 2024: FLCs explored a variety of topics.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Ahn Dang (UCATT), Kathleen J. Kennedy (School of Human Ecology), Aimee Mapes (UCATT), Tim Ottusch (Human Development and Family Science), Emily Jo Schwaller (UCATT), and Lisa Rezende (Molecular and Cellular Biology).
Fall 2022: The common read was the updated Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning (James Lang). The book makes its case for small teaching changes by introducing nine learning strategies that have been demonstrated as highly effective for college and secondary students in the research literature.
Spring 2023: The common read this semester was Picture a Professor (editor Jessamyn Neuhaus), a collection of evidence-based insights and intersectional teaching strategies crafted by and for college instructors. It aims to inspire transformative student learning while challenging stereotypes about what a professor looks like.
Summer 2023: Varied topics suggested by facilitators
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Zawan Al bulushi (Honors College), Celeste Atkins (Graduate College), Phyllis Brodsky (UCATT), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences), Rachel Castro (Student Learning and Engagement), Cheryl Casey (Research Engagement, UA Libraries), Amy Graham (Chemistry and Biochemistry), Lisa Elfring (UCATT), Mascha Gemein (UCATT), Gretchen Gibbs (UCATT), Arin Haverland (Environmental Science), Chris Hilliard (College of Applied Science and Technology), Linda Hollis (Psychology), Kathleen J. Kennedy (School of Human Ecology), Kasi Kiehlbaugh (Health Sciences), Darin Knapp (School of Human Ecology), Kathleen Kryger (UCATT), Annie Kurtin (Student Engagement and Career Development), Sarah Kyte (Student Success and Retention), Sarah Lavelle (Nutritional Science and Wellness), Julio Loya (Nursing), Aimee Mapes (UCATT), Elaine Marchello (UCATT), Mona Nakamura (Student Learning and Engagement), Dana Narter (Psychology), Cheryl Neal (UCATT), Jennifer Nichols (Student Learning and Engagement), Tim Ottusch (School of Human Ecology), Linda Pollack (School of Human Ecology), Lisa Rezende (Molecular and Cellular Biology), Emily Jo Schwaller (UCATT), Tierra Stimson (College of Applied Science and Technology), Spencer Willis (UCATT), Kristin Winet (UCATT), Zoe Cohen (Physiology)
Spring 2021: We focused on "learner-centered teaching" with the book Learner-Centered Teaching: 5 Key Changes to Practice by Maryellen Weimer. This resource is a user-friendly guide to implementing changes to teaching that empower students to take responsibility for their learning. FLC members discussed what learner-centered teaching is and how to implement learner-centered strategies to motivate and inspire students (and ourselves)!
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Tim Ottusch (Family Studies & Human Development), Jessie Brown (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Arin Haverland (Environmental Science), Lisa Rezende (Molecular & Cellular Biology), Kathleen Kennedy (Family & Consumer Sciences), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Sarah Lavelle (Nutritional Sciences), Paul Blowers (Chemical & Environmental Engineering), Kristin Winet (English), Aimee Mapes (English), Dana Narter (Psychology), Tierra Stimson (Applied Science & Technology), Rivka Fidel (Environmental Science), Byron Hempel (Chemical & Environmental Engineering), Sarah Grace (Office of the Provost), and Angela Kaczowka (Agric Educ Tech & Innov).
Fall 2020: Our theme was quite unique and discussions were focused on sharing strategies for pandemic teaching. Groups referenced the book Small Teaching Online in order to develop skills to engage students and assess learning in the online environment.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Kathleen Kennedy (Family & Consumer Sciences), Byron Hempel (Chemical & Environmental Engineering), Adam Clark (Family & Consumer Sciences), Sarah Lavelle (Nutritional Sciences & Wellness), Paul Blowers (Chemical & Environmental Engineering), Kristin Winet (English), Eric Smith (Educational Psychology), Aimee Mapes (English), Jessie Brown (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Lisa Rezende (Molecular & Cellular Biology), Tim Ottusch (Family Studies & Human Development), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Dana Narter (Psychology), Jennifer Teske (Nutritional Sciences & Wellness), Tierra Stimson (Applied Science & Technology), Rani Olson (Nutritional Sciences & Wellness), Kristen Ackley (Psychology), and Sarah Grace (Office of the Provost).
Spring 2020: We focused on student engagement: what it is, how faculty can help students engage with each other, with the course content, and with the instructor! The book we used as a reference was Student Engagement Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Lisa Elfring (OIA), Paul Blowers (Chemical Engineering), Cheryl Cuillier (Associate Librarian), Jennifer Ravia (Nutrition), Chad Park (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Jessie Brown (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Tim Ottusch (Family Studies & Human Development), Dana Narter (Psychology), Darin Knapp (Family Studies & Human Development), Samantha Orchard (School of Plant Sciences), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Laura Mcallister Smith (Academic Inits & Stdnt Success), Nicole Schmidt (Academic Inits & Stdnt Success), Byron Hempel (Chemical & Environmental Engineering), Sarah Lavelle (Nutritional Sciences), Lindsay Hansen (OIA), Tom Wilson (Honors College), Angela Kaczowka (Agric Educ Tech & Innov), Erin Galyen (OIA), Phyllis Brodsky (OIA), Mascha Gemein (OIA), and Sarah Grace (Academic Affairs)
Fall 2019: We focused on best teaching practices: what those are, how they can be implemented in any course, and how they transform teaching and learning. The book we used as a reference was Teaching at its Best.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Amy Graham (Chemistry), Erin Dokter (OIA), Paul Blowers (Chemical Engineering), Jackie Maximillian (Soil, Water, and Env.Science), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Jennifer Ravia (Nutrition), Cheryl Cuillier (Associate Librarian), Darin Knapp (Family Studies & Human Development), Sarah Grace (Academic Affairs), Steven Petritis (Graduate Student), Tim Ottusch (Family Studies & Human Development), Dana Narter (Psychology), Krys Ziska Strange (Technology & Innovation), Byron Hempel (Chemical & Environmental Engineering), Chad Park (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Tom Wilson (Honors College), Mascha Gemein (OIA)
Spring 2019: focused on creating dynamic discussions and FLCs used The Discussion Book (Preskill & Brookfield, 2015).
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Ray Barnes (Architecture), Paul Blowers (Chemical Engineering), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Ronnie Mullins (Nutritional Sciences), Amy Graham (Chemistry), Darin Knapp (Family Studies & Human Development), Kayle Skorupski (Nutritional Sciences), Jackie Maximillian (Soil, Water, and Env.Science), Mike Mulcahy (School of Theater, Film, and Television), Dana Narter (Psychology), Tim Ottusch (Family Studies & Human Development), and Tom Wilson (Honors College)
Fall 2018: We focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning with a panel presentation from the 2018 CUES Fellows and a presentation from Guada Lozano, the CUES Director.
An Institutional Review Board workshop session was also held for FLC members.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Ray Barnes (Architecture), Paul Blowers (Chemical Engineering), Jessica Kapp (Geosciences), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Zoe Cohen (Physiology), Ronnie Mullins (Nutritional Sciences), Amy Graham (Chemistry), Rich Harper (School of Criminology & Criminal Justice), Joela Jacobs (German Studies), Darin Knapp (Family Studies & Human Development), Kayle Skorupski (Nutritional Sciences), Jackie Maximillian (Soil, Water, and Env.Science), Mike Mulcahy (School of Theater, Film, and Television), Dana Narter (Psychology), Jennifer Ravia (Nutrition), and Tom Wilson (Honors College).
Spring 2018: We focused on assessment with presentations from Ingrid Novodvorsky and Elaine Marchello from the Office of Instruction & Assessment.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Ray Barnes (Architecture), Paul Blowers (Chemical Engineering), Jessica Kapp (Geosciences), Kate Bunton (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Zoe Cohen (Physiology), Lisa Elfring (Molecular & Cellular Biology), Ronnie Mullins (Nutritional Sciences), Amy Graham (Chemistry), Rich Harper (School of Criminology & Criminal Justice), Kayle Skorupski (Nutritional Sciences) and Tom Wilson (Honors College)
Fall 2017: We focused on diversity. The FLCs also co-hosted Dr. Carl Weiman at the end of the fall semester.
Thank you to all of our facilitators: Ray Barnes (Architecture), Paul Blowers (Chemical Engineering) Kate Bunton (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences), Eric Case (Management Information Systems), Zoe Cohen (Physiology), Erin Dokter (Office of Instruction and Assessment), Lisa Elfring (Molecular & Cellular Biology), Amy Graham (Chemistry), Rich Harper (School of Criminology & Criminal Justice), Mike Mulcahy (School of Theatre, Film & Television), Dana Narter (Psychology), Kayle Skorupski (Nutritional Sciences) and Tom Wilson (Honors College)