Teaching & Learning Community of Practice (TLCoP)

Introduction to TLCoP

Purdue West Lafayette instructors and others interested in teaching and learning can join the Teaching and Learning Community of Practice (TLCoP) — pronounced “teel-cop”— a community dedicated to exploration, discussion, and creation that improves teaching and learning at Purdue. TLCoP hosts three to four 60-minute meetings each semester during the academic year.

While resources exist across campus for instructors to learn more about teaching or to refine their pedagogical practice, TLCoP serves an important peer learning opportunity for Purdue instructors who are passionate about teaching. TLCoP meetings offer instructors the unique opportunity to come together in an ongoing, flexible, and supportive environment to engage in conversation about a range of teaching and learning issues. In conversation with other instructors from across a range of disciplines, at various stages in their academic careers, and with different kinds of experiences in the classroom, instructors collectively explore pedagogical ideas and strategies that they can incorporate into their courses.

TLCoP’s 2022-2023 faculty facilitator is Dr. Lindsay Hamm, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and 2021 Excellence in Instruction Award for Lecturers winner. Hamm typically teaches large-enrollment sociology courses for early-year undergraduate students, and has found numerous ways to create student-centered classes. As TLCoP’s faculty facilitator, Hamm hopes to share the innovative tools Purdue community members are currently developing and to advance conversations about how we can grow as educators from our teaching experiences.

Spring 2023 – Artificial intelligence (AI) tools & teaching writing

During the spring 2023 semester, TLCoP will explore the emerging topic of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, particularly as they affect writing instruction at Purdue. All sessions will be held on Zoom and recorded.

If you are interested in the topic of AI generated writing but don’t know much about it yet, you can learn more by watching this brief (6.59 min.) overview video from the The WallStreet Journal’s Tech News Briefing Podcast, ChatGPT, Explained.

The following sessions are designed to help frame the conversations around this dynamic topic. But your input is welcome. Please submit questions and ideas to rfundato@purdue.edu.

We typically begin our time together by going into breakout rooms to generate ideas and questions before we bring them to the larger group and our panelists. All are invited to participate, but you are welcome to just listen in.

---

Session 1: AI-generated content & writing instruction, Monday, Jan. 23, 3-4 p.m.
Recording of Jan. 23 session

TLCoP’s first session of the semester explored what we know — so far — about AI writing tools and to share our thoughts about what this may mean for writing instructors and our students. We heard from several people who shared their insights on the subject and addressed our burning questions. This included James Mollison, assistant teaching professor, Cornerstone; Jason Dufair, lead application developer, Purdue Online; Cecilia Mun, visiting instructor, Cornerstone; Rhodes Pinto, assistant teaching professor, Cornerstone, and others.

Session 2: What do AI tools mean for student learning? Monday, Feb. 20, 3-4 p.m.
Recording of Feb. 20 session
TLCoP’s second event of the semester further explored how this new technology might affect course learning outcomes, assessment, and activities. It featured the following panel members who shared their own insights and answered attendee questions.
–Ed Berger, director of Innovation Hub, and professor of Engineering Education and Mechanical Engineering
-David Glass, managing director of Data Science, Data Mine
–Doug Pruim, Clinical Assistant Professor of Management, Mitch Daniels, Jr. School of Business

Session 3: Teaching strategies related to AI & student learning, Monday, April 3, 3-4 p.m.
TLCoP’s third session on AI will explore how some PWL instructors are incorporating this new technology in their courses. A panel of instructors will briefly share their strategies and experiences, but there will also be plenty of time for attendees to share their own ideas and otherwise contribute to the discussion. Panelists will include:
–Yung-hsiang Lu, professor, Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
–Tatiana Ringenberg, assistant professor, Computer and Information Technology, Polytech Institute
–Greg Strimel, associate professor, Technology, Leadership, and Innovation, Polytech Institute 

---

As a community of practice, TLCoP is open to any instructors who wish to learn more about teaching and learning and to those who wish to share their experiences with others. Graduate students, faculty, instructional support staff, or anyone who is passionate about teaching is welcome to attend any and all meetings. We’re thrilled to have you and to learn from one another!

TLCoP is organized by Purdue’s Innovative Learning Team, including Purdue Online, the Center for Instructional Excellence, the Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, and the Envision Center. Staff members from each of these teams make up the planning committee and lend expertise in pedagogy, educational technologies, information and research support, as well as augmented and virtual reality in the classroom. These committee members are available to advise instructors on additional resources and relevant services related to TLCoP meetings.

For any questions, please reach out to TLCoP’s staff facilitator, Rachel Fundator.

Meet the TLCoP Team
Lindsay Hamm, Faculty Facilitator and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology
Rachel Fundator, Staff Facilitator and Information Literacy Instructional Designer, Libraries
Amy Haston, Educational Technology Consultant, Purdue Online
Kate Kozikowski, Educational Technology Advisor, Purdue Online
Lakshmy Mohandas, Associate Instructional Developer Researcher, CIE
Karen Neubauer, Assistant Director for Special Projects, CIE