Exploratory Teaching Groups (ETGs) provide faculty and instructors a collaborative framework to explore and discuss ideas, issues, and challenges in their teaching, with the aim of developing new practices, resources, or other educational interventions. The program is driven by the teaching interests and professional development goals of instructors, so proposals are welcome on any topic and the format is flexible. Faculty and instructors may use ETGs to investigate new teaching strategies, tools, or approaches; to engage in a collaborative course (re)design project; or to advance any other project related to teaching and learning in their courses or programs. Possible formats include a pedagogical reading group, a series of structured discussions or workshops around a theme, a “working group” that tackles a particular topic or project, and so on. A list of previous ETGs is available on the CCTL website.

The Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning invites groups of faculty and instructors, coordinated by one or two colleagues acting as Group Chair(s), to propose a topic and plan of activities for an ETG to run during the 2022-2023 academic year. The CCTL will support selected ETGs by consulting on their plans and activities, recommending resources and literature, providing a venue for sharing their work with a larger campus community, and lending support for implementation of new ideas as appropriate. Groups may request funds to purchase books, technology, and other resources, and to support the facilitation of group activities (e.g. materials and other costs for events, refreshments, etc.) or other activities relevant to the advancement of teaching and learning at the University. Funds to hire a student assistant to support the project are also available if merited by the project.

See the full call for proposals for more information. Proposals may be submitted here. Faculty and instructors are invited to discuss their proposals with the CCTL before submitting. Contact Sam Harris with any questions at slharris@uchicago.edu. The deadline for 2022-23 proposals is September 23, 2022.