Courses and Communities of Practice

The CTE's Short Courses and Communities of Practice provide opportunities for sustained and deeper engagement with teaching related interests and topics in a collegial setting. Our Short Courses are opportunities to learn about a particular area of teaching with the guidance of an expert colleague in that area. Our Communities of Practice allow for informal conversation and idea sharing among colleagues involved in a particular area of teaching.

Faculty Cohort

New Faculty Academy

New Faculty Academy is a new initiative of the Office of the Provost designed to launch the careers of new faculty on a positive and productive trajectory by providing a series of professional development, networking, and mentoring activities during their first year at USC. All first-year full-time faculty members on the USC Columbia campus are eligible to participate. NFA is a cohort-based program that begins with a half-day kickoff workshop in conjunction with New Faculty Orientation, followed by a series of monthly workshops and gatherings throughout the academic year.

Short Courses

Technology for Online Teaching and Learning

The focus of this 6-week online course is on integrating technology for online course delivery to transform learning environments. Instructors are introduced to the how’s, when’s and why’s of technology use in the online learning environment. This course is a collaborative learning experience designed to give instructors an in depth look at how to effectively teach online with technology.

Communities of Practice (CoP)

FLIP: Focus on Learning, Innovation and Pedagogy

FLIP is a faculty discussion group, ideas lab and learning community focused on topics related to the theory and practice of teaching and learning. FLIP is open to faculty members, instructors, postdocs and graduate students who want to study, discuss and try out various evidence-based approaches to instruction, including student-centered learning, discipline-based education research, flipped classrooms, problem-based learning (PBL), case studies and other forms of active learning. If you are interested in joining the group or would like to be added to the FLIP listserv, please contact FLIP coordinator Dr. Alan White, Associate Dean for Undergraduate STEM Education and Professor of Biological Sciences, at arwhite@mailbox.sc.edu.

Instructional Design Community of Practice (ID CoP)

The Instructional Design/Distributed Learning Community of Practice (ID/DL CoP) is a community of instructional design and distributed learning colleagues at the University of South Carolina. This CoP is a place where each person can learn from one another and can provide updates, share resources, and showcase examples of online learning best practices. All Instructional Designers and Directors/Managers of Distributed Learning on any USC campus (Columbia, Regional, and Senior Campuses) and in any department on campus are welcome. The ID/DL CoP meets bi-monthly at 10:00 a.m. on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Center for Teaching Excellence, Thomas Cooper Library, L511. For more information and if you would like to join us, please contact us at cte@sc.edu or call 803-777-8322.

Community Engaged Teaching and Research Community of Practice (CETR CoP)

Do you want to explore or deepen your knowledge, skills, and passion for community engaged teaching and research? In this community of practice, faculty experts will share key insights about community engagement pedagogy, the tenure and promotion process, publishing community engaged scholarship, and measurable community outcomes. Guest speakers include Dr. Ronald Pitner, Dr. Sara Wilcox and Dr. Kirk Foster. Participants will participate in cross disciplinary dialogue and travel into the local community to learn with community partners. To learn more about the Community Engaged Teaching and Research Community of Practice contact Moryah Jackson at mjackson@sc.edu.

Coordinators of Large Undergraduate Courses Community of Practice for Coordinators (CLUC CoP)

In this informal, cross-disciplinary discussion group, participants share best practices and resources for effective coordination of large undergraduate courses, including logistics, class management, TA and adjunct supervision, and other issues unique to large course management. Sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Coordinators of Large Undergraduate Courses (CLUC CoP) is facilitated by Maureen Petkewich, Senior Instructor in the Department of Statistics and Coordinator of STAT 201. The group meets twice a semester for an informal breakfast (courtesy of CTE), discussing concerns, ideas, and other issues, and regularly invite campus offices to contribute to the discussion. Please contact Maureen at petkewic@stat.sc.edu if you are interested in participating in the CoP.

Pedagogical Technology Community of Practice (PT CoP)

The Pedagogical Technology CoP has spawned a Virtual Reality Interest Group. To join this group, or if interested in another pedagogical technology, please email Linda Mihalik at mihalikl@mailbox.sc.edu.