As a faith-based university, we value the integration of faith and learning. This integration looks quite different from class to class and among various disciplines. Faith integration can feel organic and natural in certain classes and can feel contrived and challenging in other disciplines.
In an Adams Center session this fall, a panel of faculty from a wide variety of disciplines shared what faith integration looks like in their classes. This rich time of collaboration and learning led us to develop Teaching Squares focused on faith integration for Spring 2023.
Consider joining a faith-integration Teaching Square this semester. We are blessed with many gifted teachers at ACU, and this program creates a formal structure for gleaning the wisdom and experience of your peers in order to improve your own teaching.
Teaching Squares Description:
- Participating faculty will be organized into interdisciplinary groups of four.
- The teaching square will work together throughout the semester to encourage one another in faith integration. This will include sharing practices and assignments (if applicable) for feedback and observing one another’s classroom teaching.
- Those who successfully complete all of the expectations below will receive a $200 stipend from the Adams Center.
Teaching Squares Expectations:
- Each group member will identify their faith integration intentions and current practices. In an initial meeting at the beginning of the semester, they will share these with the other group members for feedback.
- Each member will consider new ideas and practices based on the initial feedback from the group. Before implementing the change(s) in their class, they will share their revisions with the other group members for additional feedback.
- Each member will visit one class session for each of the other members. This means participants will visit three other classes throughout the semester along with having the three group members visit their own class.
- The teaching square will meet after all of the class visits are complete to discuss observations. The goal of these meetings is mutual learning and growth. Groups are encouraged to meet over coffee or a meal. Groups are welcome to use the Adams Center spaces or swing by and pick up a bean voucher.
- The observations are formative and feedback will only be shared within the group.
Admittedly, inviting a colleague to hear and provide feedback about faith integration and visit your classroom to watch you teach can feel intimidating; but, the vulnerability it requires often opens us to significant growth. We hope that you will join us as we enjoy the interdisciplinary magic that happens when faculty from departments around campus come together to collaborate and learn!
Participants should email amy.boone@acu.edu to sign up by Friday, January 27th.