Teaching Circles Program

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is currently seeking RIT faculty and other instructors of record who are interested in proposing a topic and facilitating a teaching circle in Fall semester 2026. 

To learn more about the purpose and organization of RIT teaching circles, including how to prepare a successful proposal, we encourage you to consult our Teaching Circles Facilitator Guide.

Please submit this Qualtrics proposal form as early as possible but no later than August 10, 2026. Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis.

CTL will begin announcing the roster of Fall 2026 teaching circle facilitators, topics, and meeting scheduling details to the RIT community during the week of August 17-21, 2026.

Teaching circles can be about just about any topic related to teaching and learning. For example, some teaching circles might focus on teaching about/with AI or methods to integrate undergraduate research into teaching and learning, while others may focus on a specific cohort (e.g., new faculty or students in gateway courses). Some circles may explore relatively narrow pedagogical topics (e.g., contemporary research on student motivation), while other circles may select broader topics (e.g., alternative assessment or universal design for learning).

Teaching circles can take a variety of forms to stimulate conversation and help members investigate teaching/learning topics. Teaching circle members may make use of one or more approaches for discussing and interacting with the topic, including, but not limited to:

• Guided discussion: Members come prepared to discuss an item (article, book chapter, technology, etc.) or issue selected by the facilitator or group.
• Round-robins: Members share personal experience and knowledge on a topic of interest to the group.
• Ask the expert: An “expert” (or small panel) is invited to share insights on a topic. This can include an outside guest speaker or bringing in experts from across RIT and beyond.
• “Progress” reports: Members report on experiments they have conducted with new ways of teaching while the circle is running. This can be especially helpful as a support mechanism while trying a new teaching strategy or project.

Each teaching circle will be organized by one or more facilitators drawn from the RIT community, with support from the Center for Teaching and Learning. The facilitator(s) is more of a champion of the circle topic than a expert with specialized knowledge to impart.

Once formed, circles should devote sufficient time to discuss and confirm their collective goals, member responsibilities, organizational structure, and sharing of findings (if so desired). Circles strive to be egalitarian with all members playing a role in their success.

Circles can be as large as 15-20 members (though 6-12 is typical, and ideal), or as small as 3-5 members. Everyone is expected to attend and contribute to the majority of meetings. 

The Center for Teaching and Learning supports facilitators and participants in many ways, including:

• Supporting circle facilitators in creating compelling titles, descriptions, and scheduling options, as outlined in our Teaching Circles Facilitator Guide.
• Matching circle facilitators/topics with prospective circle participants through RIT-wide communication channels.
• Orienting and advising facilitators on group scheduling, communications, and logistical matters (e.g., reserving appropriate and available meeting spaces within CTL).
• Inviting facilitators and participants to evaluate the program at the end of every semester.

 Complete List of Previous Teaching Circle Facilitators and Topics Going Back to 2018