Presented By: Monica VanKlompenberg, University of Maryland, College Park

Many Animal Science faculty members receive limited training in curriculum development and student-centered teaching pedagogies during their graduate training. Yet, they are expected to develop and teach undergraduate courses that receive positive student evaluations for their career progression. Studies have shown that student-centered teaching practices increase student learning, retention, motivation, and skill development. These approaches can improve the potential for success in the classroom for students from marginalized identities and first-generation students. However, faculty can be hesitant to try new approaches for various reasons. The presenter aims to highlight the lessons learned in developing a department-based Faculty learning community focused on teaching practices to enhance student learning outcomes in one department. The Animal Science Faculty Learning Community was established at a Land Grant Institution in the 2023-2024 academic year. Members of the community included both professional-track instructional faculty and tenure-track faculty. Participation in the group was voluntary for all participants. The presenter will discuss the approaches taken during the year, modifications made, and future ideas related to establishing and maintaining the community within the department. The group varied their approaches during the year, including activities such as reading and discussing journal articles, informal discussions based on current classroom scenarios, and member-led tutorials on different teaching approaches. The presenter also plans to highlight some of the success stories of participants in the group. Lastly, the presenter will share ideas about how to start your own discipline-based faculty learning community.