Applications for the Active Learning Fellowship are currently closed. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when applications open for our next program.

The Active Learning Faculty Fellowship helps faculty deepen learning and increase student motivation for all students in their classrooms by using active learning techniques proven successful at Duke and elsewhere. Participants will share teaching experiences with other faculty and practice with ideas from the pedagogical literature to help them redesign activities in a course.

Comments from Previous Active Learning Faculty Fellowship Participants

“The Fellowship exceeded my expectations. I did not expect … to learn about so many active learning strategies in such an interactive way, and to develop so many relationships with colleagues. It was particularly engaging to hear from a range of disciplines.”

“The community that was created in the Fellowship program was fantastic. Everyone brought a diversity of ideas that were well received and respected. It really was a wonderful program!”

“I have learned so much and the timing of the Fellowship program was perfect. I plan to implement all the new techniques as I develop my class.”

Fellowship coordinators and participants

Duke Learning Innovation consultants Andrea Novicki, Seth AndersonRandy A. Riddle, along with other consultants and guests, are coordinating and supporting the Fellowship. Guests from Learning Innovation or Duke faculty participants from previous Fellowship programs may also take part, depending on the needs and interests of the participants.

Program format

The Fellowship will consist of four parts. 

Fellows Kick-Off Week

The Kick-Off Week will consist of five meetings daily meetings. During the week, faculty will exchange ideas with colleagues and learn about methods and techniques for activities used successfully in Duke courses.

Roundtable Meetings

A total of five two-hour Roundtable Sessions will be scheduled by the fellows as a group, based on the schedules and availability of the participants.  The sessions will be held periodically through the summer and with a limited number in the fall. Participants will develop their syllabus and teaching materials throughout the summer, based on the activities of the Kick-Off Week. Roundtable meetings will be planned by participants to investigate topics from the Kick-Off Week in more depth, try out teaching techniques, and get feedback from other faculty on their plans for the fall.

Visit a Classroom

During the Fall Semester, faculty in the program will visit two classes taught by other participants in the program to reflect on their own teaching and share ideas.

Blog Post

Fellows will be expected to produce a short post for the Learning Innovation blog that looks at one or more changes made to their Fall 2018 or Spring 2019 course to incorporate active learning.  (See examples of faculty blog posts from previous Fellows programs in the Duke Learning Innovation blog.)

Eligibility and application

In support of Learning Innovation’s goal to encourage wide use of active learning in all majors and courses, this program is designed for and priority is given to faculty who teach undergraduates in Trinity, Pratt, Nicholas, or Sanford. However, other faculty may also apply.

Graduate students are not eligible for this program, but may contact the Graduate School for similar professional development opportunities.