How to Form an FLC

The FCTL is seeking MSU faculty facilitators for Spring 2024 FLCs focused on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning.

The FCTL supports the creation of new FLCs and provides resources to facilitators to promote the success of their communities of practice.

Selected FLCs receive a budget of $2000 per semester.
Primary FLC facilitators receive a stipend of $750 per semester.

Planning an FLC

Identifying the common purpose for the community is central to an FLC. While FLCs do spend time getting to know each other and build relationships over time, they are distinguished by the topic of interest bringing the group together. In communities of practice have a shared vision and mission.

Defining community purpose supports the overall success of the group. People who join the FLC find clarity in the group's focus and are able to select a community most aligned to their interests and level of involvement (networking, discussion, writing, advocacy, etc...).

Joining a group focused on a specific pedagogical practice will likely be very different than one involved in campus-wide teaching and learning initiatives.
Part of being involved in an FLC is supporting each member's individual goal-setting and progress in reaching those goals. Individual member goals should be aligned to over-arching group goals. Establishing clear community outcomes with established checkpoints sets the group's direction and provides opportunities for reflection on the group's progress towards achieving its goal.

What will characterize the community when it is successful and has met its goal?
1. Learning

Conversations focus on teaching and learning and are informed by evidence-based practices. Community members engage in critical reflective practice and are encouraged to share and grow together.

2. Collaboration

Community members are actively engaged and meet regularly in a safe, inclusive environment that values all perspectives and contributions.

3. Results

The community creates goals that focus on student learning outcomes and deliverables for their FLC.
Topic-Based

Communities coming together around specific topics and/or issues impacting teaching and learning on campus would be considered topic-baed. Shared interest in topics-based groups may range from specific pedagogical practicies to campus-wide teaching and learning initiatives.

Cohort-Based

The cohort FLC is made up of a group of faculty who are comitted to learning together for an extended period of time (semester/year). Cohort FLCs focus on teaching, learning, and professional development topics. An example of a cohort FLC would be a learning community for early career faculty.

FCTL Support for FLCs

FCTL supported FLCs will receive a budget of $2000 per semester budget to cover costs associated with the FLC (books, supplies, catering, bringing in an outside speaker, conference fees, continued professional development). The FCTL will manage funds for the FLC and can help with ordering, payments, and tracking of expenses related to hosting the community.

In addition to supporting costs associated with FLC operations, the primary FLC facilitator will receive a stipend of $750 per semester for leading the FLC.
- Marketing
- Registration
- Space
- Catering Orders
The FCTL conducts a program evaluation on FCTL-supported FLCS to gather information about the success of the program. FLCs are encouraged to design and implement methods for evaluating the group's progress towards community outcomes. The FCTL can support the creation and management of community-specific strategies for identifying community progress.

FLC Proposal Requirements

FLC Name
Facilitator(s) Name(s)
FLC Duration

You may elect to facilitate the FLC for one semester or for a full year.

Abstract (100-150 words).

Provide a brief description of the community that can be used for marketing the group.

Goal(s).

Goal-setting is a key activity within FLCs. Each member is encouraged to set their own individual goals, and group goal setting is encouraged. However, when planning the FLC, each facilitator should set broad measurable goal(s) for the group as a whole to set the direction of the community. For example, participation in a community may increase awareness of a topic/issue, change a teaching practice, increase collaboration, impact the university community, etc...

Meeting plan

The meeting plan should include dates, times, and session topic/outcomes. The plan should include a minimum of 4-5 sessions per semester with a minimum of 10 contact hours spread across the semester.

Resources & Materials

Each FLC receives a budget of up to $2000 per semester to support the community. The FCTL will take care of the details, but please include information about books, supplies, materials, etc. that you will need for the group. If you would like to provide catering, please indicate: breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks.

Evaluation

Please provide your plan for assessing the progress of the community towards meeting the FLC goal(s). Review the FLC goal(s), and describe how and when you will measure the community progress. You might think about what data you will need to gather and how/when you will obtain the data. Will you include a pre-/post- survey question, use observational techniques, collect responses to reflective questions, etc...

Deliverables to demonstrate evidence of FLC impact. Please provide a description of deliverables which may be generated by the group to communicate the evidence of impact of your FLC on the university, faculty, and/or students.

Submitting the FLC Proposal Form

Form a New FLC

Complete Proposal Form

image showing the title FCTL Learning Community Proposal

What happens after I submit my idea for an FLC?

If your idea for an FLC is accepted, we will schedule a planning meeting to provide additional information and support to facilitators.

Important Timelines & Deadlines

June 1, 2023	Deadline: FLC Proposals for Fall
June - August	Fall FLC Registration Period
August 25, 2023	Fall FLC Facilitator Coffee
August - December	Fall FLCs in Session
October 15	Deadline: FLC Proposals for Spring
November 1	Notification of proposal status
November	Spring FLC Facilitators Coffee
November - January	Spring FLC Registration Period
January - May	Spring FLCs in Session
March 15, 2024	Deadline: FLC Proposals for Fall
April 1, 2024	Notification of proposal status
May, 2024	Fall FLC Facilitators Coffee
May - August, 2024	Fall FLC Registration Period