Explore Impactful Teaching
Lumen Circles Fellowships: Learning Communities for Effective Teaching
Point of Contact: circles@lumenlearning.com
Lumen Circles Fellowships provide opportunities to connect with fellow faculty members as you explore effective instructional practices that support student success and apply them in your own teaching. Through the fellowship you can learn, share ideas, and develop professionally in areas you want to grow.
You should participate in this fellowship program during term(s) when you are actively teaching students, so that you can benefit from cycles of practice, reflection, and feedback as you teach. Lumen Circles work well for any faculty member, in any discipline, at any stage of career.
Read on to learn more and apply for a Lumen Circles Fellowship.
What is this Fellowship about?
This fellowship helps you grow as a teacher, with a supportive community around you.
Lumen Circles Fellowships invite you to collaborate with fellow faculty members through virtual learning circles. Together you explore evidence-based teaching practices, reflect on your teaching experiences, and share ideas and feedback. The cost per fellowship is $750.
Fellowships include:
- 9-week community of practice with faculty peers
- Weekly activities to explore, apply, and reflect on effective teaching practices (~2 hours/week)
- Build on your strengths and develop skills to expand your teaching repertory
- Set goals and track progress expanding your teaching practice profile
- Work asynchronously in a virtual platform (website) to fit your own schedule
- Earn a Lumen Circles Fellowship Certificate in Effective Teaching Practice
Choose a Theme:
How would you like to develop as a teacher?
Lumen Circle Fellowships connect you with faculty members interested in growing professionally in the same direction you want to grow. Upcoming themes include:
- NEW! Evidence-based Teaching with Generative AI
- Active Learning
- Belonging & Inclusive Teaching Fundamentals
- Course Design for Student Success (Note: you do not need to be actively teaching during the duration of this fellowship)
- Evidence-based Teaching
- Online Teaching Foundation (Note: You should be scheduled to teach a fully online class during your fellowship)
- Teaching with OER & OER-enabled Pedagogy (Note: Prior to the fellowship, you should identify OER content you plan to use with students during your fellowship term.)
Visit this page for brief descriptions of each fellowship theme.
Interested? Apply for a Lumen Circles Fellowship
Complete the form below if you are interested in a Lumen Circles Fellowship. If your application is approved, you will be asked to commit to participating fully during the term(s) when you are accepted to this program. A limited number of seats are available, so apply now!
The information you provide in this form will be shared with our point of contact at your institution. From time to time, we may send you additional information about Lumen Circles, your application, your fellowship program, and related events.
FAQs: What is the Lumen Circles experience like for faculty?
How does the virtual learning circle work?
Lumen Circles use a purpose-built platform designed to help faculty grow professionally by participating in virtual communities of practice. Members of your circle will log into a website. On that site you'll connect with your circle-mates and participate in activities designed to help you explore evidence-based teaching strategies, share what you're learning, and provide feedback to your peers. A facilitator helps guide circle members, or "fellows," through the process.
How much time does it take?
Lumen Circles Fellowships take place over nine weeks. When your professional development program is under way, you'll spend on average about 2 hours per week with fellowship-related activities. You'll work asynchronously, fitting the fellowship activities into your own schedule. On a week where circumstances prevent faculty fellows from participating fully, there is an option to “take a break.”
Who's in my Lumen Circle and how will we interact?
You'll join a virtual circle of 10-12 professors who have selected the same circle theme, along with an expert facilitator. Where possible we work to align similar disciplines within the circle. Together you reflect on your classroom work, connect it to evidence-based instructional practices, and provide feedback to each other. This supportive community becomes your sounding board, thought partners, and cheerleaders as you make gains in your teaching.
What do I need to participate?
You need to be teaching a class during the fellowship. You'll also need a computer or mobile device with internet access.
Who are the facilitators?
Lumen Circles facilitators are current and former college or university faculty members who have a strong interest and expertise in evidence-based instruction. They are trained through a rigorous, community-of-practice based regimen similar to the fellowship experience. Their purpose is to guide members of the circle through learning and reflection processes as you explore and apply effective teaching practices.
How do Lumen Circles Support Faculty?
