At IUP, there are two main
categories of Teaching Circles: Cross-Disciplinary and Department.
A Cross-Disciplinary Teaching Circle (CTC) draws on the varied
knowledge, methodology, and pedagogy of colleagues across campus to relieve
isolation and accomplish goals personally important to its members.
A Department
Teaching Circle (DTC) is usually formed around areas of pedagogical interest
within a discipline. A DTC might be a
group of instructors teaching different sections of the same course. This offers a natural opportunity to conduct
classroom research that can improve learning in the course as well as lead to
scholarly publications and presentations.
Either type of Teaching Circle might have a peer-mentor. This peer-mentor acts as the group expert and
provides the voice of experience or guides the group as it works on the
goals they have selected.