Faculty Learning Communities

Overview

Join our faculty learning communities to gain practical skills, innovative strategies, and valuable insights that will elevate your teaching practice and enrich your students' learning experiences. 

PBL (Problem Based) Faculty Learning Community - 2026 Application

Teaching is intellectual work fundamental to the University’s educational mission and requires continual adaptation, innovation, and improvement. Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) support these continual processes by bringing faculty from around the university together regularly to engage in joint inquiry of a teaching and learning topic or tool with an eye toward implementing it in their courses.

In support of the University of Miami’s Quality Enhancement Plan, the theme for this Faculty Learning Community program is Problem Based Learning (PBL). Participants will meet seven times over the course of the Spring 2026 semester to engage in facilitated sessions organized around important questions related to PBL teaching. You are encouraged to submit an application reflecting the method that you are most interesting in using in your future teaching.

Criteria for selection include school and departmental support, interest in exploring and integrating discussion-based teaching, commitment to faculty development, openness to collegiality and exchange of new ideas, potential contributions to the community, and high level of interest in developing, implementing and sustaining innovative techniques to enhance teaching and learning. Fellows will receive a stipend of $2,000 for research, professional-development activities, equipment, or a student assistant. These funds are a department transfer and can be used to support teaching or research related to the FLC themes with half transferring now and half in the following year when the course is implemented.  

If you have questions about the program, please contact Maria Kolovou, mxk1058@miami.edu.

In this application, you will be asked to provide
 
  • Personal/contact information. 
  • Short responses regarding your interest in teaching and innovation. 
  • The current syllabus of the course you are interested in teaching in a PBL format (will be uploaded).
  • Your current CV (will be uploaded).
  • Completed Academic Leadership Acknowledgement Form signed by your department chairperson (will be uploaded).

 
Please have the documents ready prior to starting the application.

A complete application must be submitted on or before Friday, November 21, 2025.

Apply here

 

Faculty Learning Communities

Flipped Classroom 

Discover the benefits of the flipped classroom model, where traditional lecture and homework elements are reversed. In this workshop, you'll learn how to create engaging pre-class content and design in-class activities that promote active learning and deeper understanding. 

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) 

Engage your students with Problem-Based Learning, an instructional method that challenges students to "learn by doing." This workshop will guide you through creating real-world problems that enhance critical thinking and collaborative skills, making learning more relevant and impactful. 

Harkness Method 

Enhance classroom discussion and student engagement through the Harkness Method. This workshop focuses on fostering a student-centered learning environment where dialogue and collaboration take precedence. Learn how to facilitate meaningful discussions that encourage student voice and agency. 

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) 

Expand your classroom beyond borders with COIL workshops. This innovative approach connects students and faculty from different countries for shared learning experiences. Learn how to design and implement COIL projects that promote intercultural competence and global collaboration. 

Artificial Intelligence in Education 

Explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in education. This workshop covers the basics of AI and its applications in teaching and learning, helping you integrate AI tools into your curriculum to enhance student engagement and personalize learning experiences. 

 

Past FLC Groups

Dr. Eric Mazur Active Learning FLC Group 

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