Teaching and Learning Collaborative:
The Colleges of the Fenway's Teaching and Learning Collaborative (TLC) was created to promote the professional growth of faculty across their careers, to be a resource for academic collaboration for faculty research and academic programs, and to create a nexus for the study of faculty development and teaching effectiveness. Funded for a three-year period in 2009 by the Davis Educational Fund, the TLC supports and builds on the faculty development offerings of the individual members of the consortium as well as developing new, effective, and innovative opportunities for faculty development. The goals of the TLC are to enhance faculty teaching through shared professional development experiences; share expertise to strengthen programs on individual campuses; facilitate support networks across and within institutions; and increase collaborative academic research and programs. While the content focus of specific initiatives and events varies, all TLC offerings emphasize the relationship between scholarship/research; the development, implementation, and evaluation of action plans; and the creation of communities of practice.
TLC Offerings. Beginning in 2002 and occurring in the fall of each academic year, the Teaching and Learning Conference brings together a large group of faculty from across the COF to discuss current topics, share resources, and learn new techniques to improve their teaching and encourage learning at all levels. The Conference, now offered within and connected to the emphases of the TLC, has recently addressed topics including Teaching and Learning in an Age of Technology and Universal Design: Teaching Better by Teaching Everyone. Beginnng in summer, 2010, the TLC offers an intensive Summer Teaching Institute for a smaller group of COF faculty of all ranks and disciplines, introducing the interconnections between developing effective teaching strategies, meeting the needs of diverse learners, and applying technology meaningfully. The Institute introduces the TLC threads of emphasis on scholarship, action, and community and forms the basis for additional, in-depth study of learning and teaching. Followup support for action projects developed in the Institute is provided by the TLC. In addition to these ongoing events, the TLC sponsors workshops, speakers, and a variety of activities focusing on the development of the professorial career, the scholarship of learning and teaching, and topics that support COF academic programs individually and collaboratively.
Administrative Workshops: These opportunities to master important workplace competencies occur through the academic year. In previous years, these have included courses on public speaking and writing, the power of laughter, dealing with stress in the workplace and organizing yourself and your life.
Vista Training: Attend training sessions on this comprehensive e-learning system that provides a user-friendly interface for preparing, delivering and managing your courses. Vista supports diverse teaching styles and learning needs and is designed to be easily adopted across institutions making it simple to collaborate with colleagues across the COF. Look for the calendar of training programs for faculty across the six campuses. These courses will be offered throughout the semester. Faculty are free to register for the course that best meets their schedules.
Employee Cross Registration: Cross registration provides benefited employees of Colleges of the Fenway with the opportunity to take one undergraduate course per semester at any of the six institutions at no additional tuition charge. Cross registration weeks are posted on the Colleges of the Fenway website. Check with your Human Resources Office for more information.
Intramurals: Faculty and staff are welcome to participate in intramurals, and compete for the Fenway Cup, COF’s intramural championship trophy. Play traditional sports like flag football, basketball, and indoor and outdoor soccer. Or try your hand in some non-traditional sports like floor hockey, dodge ball, racquetball, Texas Hold ‘Em, ultimate Frisbee and NCAA Bracket Busters. And don’t forget to sign up for our annual 5K fun run affectionately called the Turkey Trot or COF’s premiere event The Great Race Boston. So sign up today and don’t miss out on the fun!
Performing Arts: Performing arts at COF includes four ensembles (COF Orchestra, COF Chorus, COF Dance Project and the COF Theater Project), an Introduction to Performing Arts class, and the COF Minor in Performing Arts. For more information, contact Ray Fahrner, Director, Office of Performing Arts at rfahrner@colleges-fenway.org.
Global Education Opportunities (GEO) Center: The GEO Center is a resource that promotes international education by increasing opportunities and access for COF students to study abroad and by working with faculty to internationalize
curricula. The GEO Center offers passport applications, study abroad scholarship information, and support for faculty who want to organize a travel course.
MCPHS Forsyth Dental Hygiene Clinic: Located on the MCPHS campus, the clinic provides COF students, faculty, and staff with dental examinations, prophylaxis and flouride treatments for $5 when you show your college ID.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Your college ID card provides faculty, staff, and students complimentary admission to the museum year-round. This benefit also enables faculty to utilize the museum for numerous teaching opportunities.
ACL Discounts: Colleges of the Fenway is a member of the Association of Consortium Leadership. All faculty and staff of consortium member institutions are eligible to participate in the cost savings.
FACULTY / STAFF OPPORTUNITIES