The staff teaching and learning community (STLC) is a fun and engaging learning community dedicated to nurturing thoughtful teaching practices at the University of Washington-Seattle.
The community, developed and nurtured in Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA), welcomes staff members from across campus who teach, or those interested in teaching.
If you are interested in joining the staff teaching community, please join the listserv.
Why is this community dedicated to staff?
- Staff often teach courses that serve broader university interests beyond disciplinary knowledge, such as institutional and career navigation and academic transitional support. While diverse in nature these courses often have kindred course designs and learning outcomes.
- Staff have to wear “many hats,” as classroom teaching is not their primary role. Creating space for thoughtful reflection about teaching, as well as strategies for juggling a variety of work responsibilities, undergirds this work.
- UAA manages the university’s General Studies curriculum. To support this work, the STLC holds space for course instructors with varied backgrounds in teaching to learn from and support one another.
- This community utilizes resources from Teaching@UW
Participation
We invite any staff member teaching or interested in teaching to participate in any gathering. Some departments encourage specific staff members who teach to attend the gatherings.
Hourly commitment per quarter for members:
- 1 hour per month to attend gatherings
- Members often connect individually if they want to share curriculum and ideas
What members can gain from participating
- Learn and workshop teaching ideas from colleagues often doing kindred work
- Develop an intentional learning community in and beyond your unit
- Deepen teaching pedagogy and curriculum design skills as a form of professional development
- Example(s) of Topic-Specific Resources from Monthly Gatherings
Examples of Activities during Monthly Gatherings
- Reflection on curriculum and course design
- Sharing teaching resources, such as syllabi and assignment ideas
- Exploring successes or challenges in courses
- Problem-solving scenarios and creating solutions
- Facilitating cross-campus introductions and collaborations
- Occasional guest content expert presentations
Staff Teaching & Learning Community Goals
- Students taking general studies (and other staff led) courses engage in dynamic learning environments grounded in best-teaching practices
- Students experience a stronger sense of academic and social belonging at the university
- Staff feel supported in developing, realizing and promoting their curriculum
