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Every semester, the Sherrerd Center sponsors a variety of Teaching Circles in which faculty and teaching staff come together to discuss a teaching topic of shared interest. These have proven especially useful over the past several years, and we encourage faculty and staff members to consider leading or participating in a Teaching Circle. The Sherrerd Center arranges for Teaching Circles to meet on some specific Fridays from 12:15 until 1:15 p.m. with lunch provided and available at noon, so please RSVP on the forms provided (note that once you have sent in your RSVP for a circle, you will receive calendar invitations to that circle for each session, so you need not RSVP each time). The RSVPs with the calendar invitations help us determine more accurate counts for lunch and seating.

Fall 2025 Teaching Circles

  • September 26
  • October 24
  • November 14
  • December 6

Circles will meet in the Campus Center from 12:15–1:15 p.m., with lunch available beginning at noon. Location and details will be sent with a calendar invitation after responses are received.

AI Pedagogy Teaching Circle

Travis Grandy

This teaching circle will meet as a reading group and delve into Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning, exploring how artificial intelligence is dramatically changing teaching and learning. Over multiple sessions this fall semester, you will engage with practical strategies to foster AI literacy, reimagine creative work in the classroom, and redefine quality in student work. We will collectively consider how to adapt assignments and assessment strategies, and whether to leverage AI as a partner to cultivate essential human skills like critical thinking, problem formation, and ethical collaboration, preparing our students for a rapidly evolving world of work and intellectual inquiry.

Free Books Available

The first 20 faculty to RSVP for the AI Pedagogy Teaching Circle will receive a free copy of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning (Johns Hopkins University Press).

Best Practices for Meeting Student Accommodations Teaching Circle

Mona Kulp, Maria Bickar, Shiya Cao, Caitlin Willis

Accommodations are essential for an equitable learning environment and are not just legal requirements. They foster a sense of belonging and empower learning. However, implementing the best practices for meeting accommodations isn't always straightforward. This teaching circle will review literature for evidence-based strategies and also offer an informal space to discuss common types of accommodations encountered and current practices across disciplines at Smith as well as surface potential challenges to meeting accommodation requests. We also hope to discuss the intersection between universal design and meeting specific accommodations. RSVP for the Best Practices Teaching Circle.

Formative and Summative Assessment of Analytical Inductive and Deductive Processes

Alicia Grubb, Allie Strom

This teaching circle is organized for faculty teaching technically and procedurally challenging courses in highly analytical fields. We will discuss how to create assessments to gauge deep learning and ways of assessing synthesis and transfer. Our focus this semester will be questions that assess preparation for future learning (PFL) and participants will be asked to bring concrete assessment questions to lunches and discuss how they fit into their broader course plan. Please reach out to the organizers with any questions. RSVP for the Formative and Summative Assessment of Analytical Inductive and Deductive Processes Teaching Circle.

*meeting only 3 times on September 26th, October 24th and November 14th and participants are asked to RSVP early and attend all 3 sessions.

Human Rights Teaching Circle

Carrie Cuthbert, Loretta Ross

The Human Rights Teaching Circle is designed as an informal space for those who are engaged in human rights education inside and/or outside the classroom, interested in learning about the field of Human Rights Education, including human rights-based pedagogical practices, and/or wish to benefit from ongoing peer conversations about integrating a human rights lens into their teaching. Funding and schedules permitting, we will bring in a guest speaker. Our hope is to build on last year’s teaching circle to establish a human rights education “community of practice” at Smith. All are welcome. RSVP for the Human Rights Teaching Circle.
 

Joy and Fun in the Classroom

Jessica Bacal, Cat McCune

Smith educators often infuse joy and fun in students’ classroom experiences—but we don’t always take the time to tell each other about how we do it, and we should! Having fun together builds class community and can make everyone feel more at ease when approaching difficult work. We will run this circle not as “experts in joy and fun,” but as colleagues who want to learn from each other and from you. We will bring strategies that we have used, including games and exercises, and hope that everyone will leave each session with inspiration and ideas for lightening things up during these difficult times. RSVP for the Joy and Fun in the Classroom Teaching Circle.

Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle

Ilona Sotnikova, May George

This teaching circle provides an informal space for language educators and faculty across disciplines to discuss ways to collaborate and connect world languages and with other majors and areas of student interest and promote languages and research at Smith. The teaching circle also explores recent approaches to teaching, learning, and technology adaptation in classes, in addition to discussing ways to motivate students’ learning and enhancing their progress and future careers. Faculty from all disciples are encouraged to attend! RSVP for the Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle.

Teaching-Focused Faculty Teaching Circle

Reid Bertone-Johnson

The Teaching Circle for TFF (Teaching Focused Faculty) will offer an informal space for TFF across disciplines at Smith to make connections, build community and share helpful resources. We hope this will provide a space for new and veteran TFF to connect. RSVP for the TFF Teaching Circle.

Ungrading, Grading, and the In-Between Teaching Circle

Kementari Whitcher

Join our informal conversations to discuss ungrading and related alternatives (like contract, specs, and labor-based grading), and their benefits and challenges. We also explore course learning objectives and ways of giving feedback. Come discuss how you can incorporate even small elements of ungrading/alternative grading in your classes. Guests in this circle may include some experienced “ungraders,” others who use other grading methods, and those curious to explore the options. RSVP for the Ungrading, Grading, and the In-Between Teaching Circle.

Past Teaching Circles

Spring 2025

  • Digital Pedagogy and Scholarship
    with Travis Grandy
  • Formative and summative assessment of analytical inductive and deductive processes
    with Alicia Grubb (CSC) and Allie Strom (CHM)
  • Human Rights Initiative Teaching Circle
    with Carrie Cuthbert (Dir., Human Rights Initiative) and Loretta Ross (SWG)
  • Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle
    with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Reflective Practices Teaching Circle
    with Jessica Bacal (Dir. of Reflective Practices) and Cat McCune (Dir., Spinelli Center)
  • TFF Teaching Circle (Teaching Focus Faculty)
    with Mona Kulp (CHM), Reid Berone-Johnson (LSS), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI)
  • Ungrading, grading, and the in-between Teaching Circle
    with Kementari Whitcher (SDS)

Fall 2024

  • Human Rights Initiative Teaching Circle with Carrie Cuthbert (Human Rights Initiative) and Loretta Ross (SWG)
  • Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • NTT Faculty Teaching Circle with Mona Kulp (CHM), Reid Berone-Johnson (LSS), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI)
  • Reflective Practices Teaching Circle with Jessica Bacal ( Reflective Practices) and Cat McCune ( Spinelli Center)
  • Ungrading, grading, and the in-between Teaching Circle with Caroline Melly (ANT)
  • Universal Design for Learning Teaching Circle with Travis Grandy (LRT)

Spring 2024

  • Big Questions Circle with Patty DiBartolo
  • Let’s Talk OERs! with Elise Gowen, Jessica Ryan, and Abril Navarro
  • NTT Faculty Circle with Miranda McCarvel (Jacobson Center)
  • Teaching Circle for NTT Faculty with Mona Kulp (CHM), Reid Berone-Johnson (LSS), and Atsuko Takahashi (JPN)
  • Teaching Languages Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Ungrading Teaching Circle with Magdalena Zapędowska (Jacobson Center) 

Fall 2023

  • Algebra Skills Across the Curriculum
    with Jen Beichman (MTH) and Cat McCune (Dir., Spinelli Center)
  • Big Questions Circle​ 
    with Patty DiBartolo and Kate Queeney
  • Let's Talk OERs! 
    with the OER Team: Kevin Shea, Elise Gowen, Jessica Ryan, Abril Navarro
  • NTT Faculty Circle
    with Mona Kulp (CHM), Reid Berone-Johnson (LSS), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI)
  • Teaching Languages Circle
    with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: A Practice for Equity, Inclusion, and Resilience
    with Kelly Vogel (Integrative Studies)

Spring 2023

  • Integrating Disability Inclusion Components into Your STEM, Social Sciences, and Humanities Courses Teaching Circle with Shiya Cao (SDS) and Caroline Melly (ANT)
  • Reclaiming Grading: Fixing the worst part of our job with Jennifer Beichman (MTH) and Marney Pratt (BIO) 
  • Teaching in the Time of ChatGTP with Miranda McCarvel (Jacobson Center)
  • Teaching Circle for NTT Faculty with Mona Kulp (CHM), Joyce Palmer-Fortune (PHY), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI)
  • Teaching Languages Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Trauma-informed Pedagogy: a Path towards Inclusion and Resilience with Kelly Vogel (Integrative Studies)
  • Creative Writing Salon/Circle with Gillian Kendall
  • Humanities and Social Science (HSS Labs) Teaching Circle with Joshua Birk

Fall 2022

  • Antiracist Learning Community (ALC) Teaching Circle with Floyd Cheung (OEI) and Hélène Visentin (PDOF)
  • Conversations about Advising Teaching Circle with Fraser Stables (Associate Dean of Integrative Learning), Adela Penagos (Associate Dean of the College for Advising and Mentoring), and Sarah Moore (Faculty Director of Liberal Arts Advising)
  • Exploring Metaphors in Teaching Circle  
    with Nick Howe (Computer Science)
  • Teaching Languages Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES), Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Trading Teaching Tips with Miranda McCarvel (Jacobson Center)
  • Trauma-Informed Pedagogy for the Resilient Classroom with Kelly Vogel (Lecturer in Integrative Studies)
  • Ungrading Teaching Circle with Magdalena Zapędowska (Jacobson Center)
  • Creative Writing Circle for Faculty and Staff Who Teach with Gillian Kendall (ENG)
  • Teaching Circle for NTT Faculty with Mona Kulp (CHM), Joyce Palmer-Fortune (PHY), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI

Spring 2022

  • Special Event: Sherrerd Center Teaching Circle on Teaching in this Momentw ith Sara Pruss and Patty DiBartolo 
  • Exploring Alternative Grading Methods with Marney Pratt (BIO) and Magda Zapędowska (Jacobson Center)
  • Executive Functioning in our Students Amidst the Pandemic with Kelly Vogel, Lecturer in Integrative Studies and former Learning Specialist for the Jacobson Center
  • Antiracist Learning Community (ALC) Teaching Circle with Floyd Cheung (OEI) and Hélène Visentin (PDOF)
  • The Small Teaching Circle with Caroline Melly (Sherrerd teaching mentor) and Miranda McCarvel (Jacobson Center)
  • Teaching Languages Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES), Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Labs Teaching Circle with Josh Birk (MED/HST), Christine Reynolds (Kahn Institute)
  • Science Ethics Circle with Betsy Jamieson (CHM)
  • Creative Writing Circle for Faculty and Staff Who Teach with Gillian Kendall

Fall 2021

  • Teaching Ideas for Team-based or Heavy-project-based Applied Courses (in person) with Susannah Howe (EGR), Megan Lyster (Wurtele Center)
  • Teaching Languages Circle (in person) with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES), Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • The New Normal? Teaching in Fall 2021 with a particular focus on equitable and inclusive pedagogies (in person) with Patty DiBartolo (PSY)
  • The New Normal? Teaching in Fall 2021 with a particular focus on disabilities and learning differences (over Zoom) with Caroline Melly (ANT)
  • Science Ethics Circle (in person) with Betsy Jamieson (CHM)
  • Faculty-and-Staff-Who-Write Creative Writing Salon Teaching Circle (in person) with Gillian Kendall (ENG)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Labs Teaching Circle (in person) with Josh Birk (MED/HST)

Spring 2021

  • Creative Writing Salon with Gillian Kendall
  • This Week in Teaching with Alicia Grubb and Miranda McCarvel
  • Lab Instructors Circle with Marney Pratt
  • Talking Through Remote Teaching: Creating Community, Accountability, Flexibility with Caroline Melly
  • Language Teaching Circle with Ilona Sotnikova
  • Africana and African Studies Course Teaching Circle with Daphe LaMothe
  • Contingent Faculty Teaching Circle with Bona Kang and Caitlin Shepherd