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Teaching Circles

Teaching Circles Initiative

 

Teaching Circles Overview

A teaching circle (TC) is a supportive community of about 3-5 instructors who come together to explore a specific topic or theme related to best practices in teaching and learning. TC members will experiment with new instructional approaches, engage in collaborative research, and participate in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) related to the group's specific topic. All TCs will be paired with a larger community of individuals with a common goal or topic (see below).

Participants in UHD Teaching circles will enjoy opportunities to:

  • Experiment with new teaching and learning strategies.
  • Network and interact with colleagues who share an interest in a specific pedagogical question or issue.
  • Collaborate within and across disciplines.
  • Increase student learning and academic success.
  • Access resources and funding for TC activities such as attending a webinar, purchasing materials, cost for a QM course review, etc. (Up to $1,000/year/TC)  
  • Receive a $500 stipend upon completion of the preliminary report (see important dates below) for professional development needs, such as travel to present findings.

Approximately 35-50 faculty participate in 10-12 Teaching Circles each academic year, with some yielding productive Course Innovation Initiative awards or even external grants, such as the Steelcase Education Active Learning Center Grant earned through a collaboration of the CTLE and a mathematics faculty teaching circle. UHD was one of four institutions nationwide to receive this grant in 2019, which includes installation of a new active learning classroom. For other examples of circle projects, please use the left menu to navigate to a list of descriptions and deliverables organized by academic year. 

 

Application Process

Note: The due date for 2026-27 applications is May 1, 2026.

View more details on the Call for Applications and use the Application Web Form to apply.

Eligibility: Any full-time or part-time instructor at the University of Houston-Downtown may apply. If you are interested in renewing funding for an active teaching circle, it is important that your application address the results of the previous year and outline new goals or a rationale for continued focus on previous goals. 

Application: (see below): Complete by recruiting a group of 3-5 colleagues and proposing the formation of a TC that fits within one of the topic groups described (topic groups change each year). A team lead should be designated.  Additional individuals can be added but it is recommended that teaching circles not get too large (less than 8-10).  Proposals should outline specific goals/tasks, deliverables, and a detailed budget, as outlined in the application form.

Budget: The application form includes a template budget that can and should be modified. The standard template includes a $500 stipend for five TC members plus fringe benefits (20% of stipend) plus $1,000 for TC related expenses. Applicants can modify this budget for their purposes while keeping the total amount less than or equal to $4,000. For example, you may want to have a 6 member team and include a stipend for the extra member by reducing the TC-related expenses category. Or, you might provide a larger stipend for members that carry a greater responsibility. 

Signatures: All applications must be accompanied by a signature page with the signatures of all TC members, and the signatures of the department chair and dean for the college in which the team lead resides.

Responsibilities of TC Members:

  • Prepare for, attend, and actively participate in all TC meetings.
  • As part of the final report due June 30 each year, submit an individual deliverable such as a teaching activity description, peer observation approach, revised course syllabus, etc.
  • Submit a reflective analysis of the TC experience and respond to a CTLE survey.

Responsibilities of the TC:

  • Using the approaches and tools described in your TC proposal, evaluate the effectiveness of a given teaching and learning strategy related to the TC topic in terms of student outcomes (e.g. learning, engagement, academic performance, retention, etc.).
  • Attend and contribute to discussions during monthly gatherings of TC groups that are studying the same topic.
  • Submit a preliminary report on the group's results and findings by the given due date.
  • Share the group's work with a larger audience by giving a presentation (either on the UHD campus or at an external forum), by providing resource materials on the topic of the TC for the larger teaching community, by publishing findings, or by some other means to be agreed upon with the CTLE Director.
  • Submit a final report due June 30 each year.

Responsibilities of the CTLE:

  • Provide and host workshops and training related to the TC topic groups.
  • Provide resources and meeting space for TC activities.
  • Provide funding for requested TC-related training and materials, and continuing individual professional development.
  • List active circles on the CTLE website and highlight TC accomplishments.

 

Contact

Please direct all questions about teaching circles or the application process to the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, ctle@uhd.edu.

 

Teaching Circle Topic Groups 

  1. Online Teaching Design & Delivery:
    Teaching Circles in this group will focus on implementing and evaluating specific evidence-based online teaching and course design strategies. These might be strategies for effective online group work, utilizing instructional video, encouraging academic integrity, or creating an intuitive and well-organized course design. A review of the Quality Matters Rubric and the workshop topics offered by the Online Learning Consortium is a good way to identify other possible circle ideas in this topic group. 

  2. AI-Enhanced Teaching & Learning:
    Teaching Circles in this topic group will explore how generative AI and related tools can be thoughtfully integrated into teaching and learning. Circles might focus on designing AI-supported assignments, developing guidelines for ethical and transparent AI use, or using AI to support feedback, tutoring, or content creation. Faculty may also investigate how AI is reshaping disciplinary practices and student learning expectations, as well as how to design assessments that emphasize critical thinking, originality, and process. Whether exploring AI as a teaching partner or as a subject of inquiry, we welcome innovative and practical approaches that support student learning in an AI-influenced academic environment.

  3. Deliberative Dialogue & Civil Discourse:
    Teaching Circles in this topic group will focus on fostering meaningful, respectful dialogue in the classroom, particularly around complex, controversial, or multifaceted issues. Circles might explore strategies for structuring deliberative dialogue, facilitating inclusive discussions, or helping students engage with diverse perspectives in constructive ways. Faculty may also examine how to design assignments and learning experiences that promote critical thinking, empathy, and evidence-based reasoning. Whether integrating dialogue into a single course or developing broader approaches to civic engagement and discourse, we welcome ideas that support thoughtful and productive classroom conversations.

  4. Career-Connected Learning & Transferable Skills:
    Teaching Circles in this topic group will focus on designing learning experiences that help students develop and articulate transferable skills such as communication, decision-making, professionalism, and technology use. Circles might explore ways to integrate real-world applications, project-based learning, internships, or industry-informed assignments into their courses. Faculty may also investigate strategies for helping students recognize and communicate their skills through reflection, ePortfolios, or micro-credentials. We welcome approaches that connect course learning to career readiness and long-term student success.

  5. Innovative Course Design:
    Teaching Circles in this topic group will develop, implement, and/or assess best practices and innovation in course design that support improved student engagement, motivation, and learning. These efforts might provide a foundation on which to organize a larger scale course redesign project, grant proposal, or scholarly publication. TCs in this group should focus on integration of evidence-based teaching strategies into specific target courses to address specific challenges.

 

Past Circles