Third Annual Faculty Open Classroom Initiative April 29-May 4

Northwestern instructors are invited to participate in the third annual Faculty Open Classroom Initiative (FOCI) the week of April 29 - May 4. FOCI is a week-long program to promote open conversation about learning and teaching across the university by opening your classroom and/or visiting colleague's classes.
 

You Can Participate in Two Ways

  1. Volunteer to open your classroom the 5th week (April 29th - May 4th) of the spring quarter to fellow instructors who would like to experience your approach to teaching. Whether you lecture, run a seminar, teach in a lab or studio setting, use a lot of technology or none, we encourage you to open your class. There are no special requirements or expectations — just that you are open to visitors. Registration is open now through 11:59 p.m., March 18th.
  2. Visit a classroom that piques your interest. Once open class registration is complete, we will open a new registration for anyone to sign up to visit.

Please sign up to open your classroom to colleagues by 11:59 p.m. on March 18. 


Timeline at a Glance

  1. REGISTRATION FOR OPENING CLASSROOMS
    1. February 27 - March 18, 2019
    2. Click here to open your class.
  2. REGISTRATION FOR VISITING CLASSROOMS
    1. April 1 - April 19, 2019 
    2. Registration link will be sent to you on April 1.
  3. VISIT CLASSROOMS
    1. Monday, April 29 - Saturday, May 4, 2019
  4. FOCI RECEPTION FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
    1. Tuesday, May 7, 2019 in Evanston
    2. RSVP invite will be sent to participants with more details.


What Past Participants of FOCI Have to Say

As Nick Davis, Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies in Gender & Sexuality Studies, explained, “Participating in the FOCI Program was a highlight of my academic year and made me feel more connected than ever to colleagues in very different disciplines at Northwestern."

In response to a follow-up survey in 2018, participants indicated the value of FOCI:

  • “I learned of other options and techniques to teach my course.”
  • “…I wanted to experience what my undergraduate students and advisees feel as they sit in classrooms in those subject areas, most of which are totally foreign to me.”

FOCI is meant to encourage faculty to increase their exposure to different teaching styles, to explore strategies across disciplines, and to reflect on learning and teaching. Over the past two years, we've received numerous positive and encouraging comments about the FOCI experience from colleagues across our campuses. We are looking forward to continued participation and sharing our collective experience at this year's FOCI. 

Questions? Email m-harris4@northwestern.edu.