Structuring Learning Environments for Teacher Education Candidates to Elicit Dispositions as Habits of Mind: From Conceptions to Praxis The Growth and Focus of our College of Education Faculty Learning Community The College of Education awarded the Frost Professorship to Professor Erskine S. Dottin for the academic year , and he initiated the first Faculty Learning Community in the College of Education. There were ten initial members of the Learning Community

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC The group held a preliminary session on March 5, 2010 that was facilitated by a leading expert on faculty learning communities Dr. Milton Cox. The Learning Community held other learning sessions on April 16, 2010, May 14, 2010 and May 21, 2010, and then shared its learning with members of the College of Education and the larger University community on August 28, 2010.

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC Some Outcomes of the August 28th Session The August 28th gathering strengthened the commitment of the FLC to it’s three goals: Goal 1: To understand how dispositions as habits of mind may be used to promote good thinking in the COE faculty. Goal 2: To appreciate how dispositions as habits of mind can enhance the COE faculty teaching and [candidates] learning. Goal 3: To understand, document, and support individual and group learning.

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC Some Outcomes of the August 28th Session The August 28th session demonstrated the power of creating faculty learning communities. Participants, especially the school principals in attendance seemed to be impressed with the benefits of opening the classroom doors to allow teachers to learn from each other. The feedback from the participants definitely favored (1) the nurturing of follow-up activities, (2) the development of other Learning Communities within the COE and (3) partnerships with local community schools and other departments and Colleges at FIU.

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC The community was selected by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education's Task Force on Teacher Education as Moral Community to share its ideas and work at the Association's annual meeting in San Diego in February In 2011, the FLC grew to 13 members. The community members participated actively in the Visible Thinking Conference held at FIU in March 2011.

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC During , the community provided some guidance to faculty of Youngstown State University in its development & assessment of teacher dispositions. Drs. Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick, leading experts on habits of mind, conducted a 1-day workshop on February 25, 2012 at FIU. The workshop was attended by teachers from the local school districts, faculty members and students at FIU.

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC During fall, 2011, members of the FLC submitted a proposal for a new book titled "Structuring Learning Environments in Teacher Education to Elicit Democratic Habits of Mind [Dispositions]: Strategies and Approaches Used and Lessons Learned by Unit Faculty at Florida International University." University Press of America/Hamilton Books (Lanham, MD) has offered the group a contract to publish the book in Authors of the book completed chapters in the spring & summer 2012 and submitted the completed manuscript to UPA on July 29, Drs. Costa and Kallick have written the Foreword to the FLC’s book.

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC In , the FLC grew to 17 members. On January 4, 2013, Drs. Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick again conducted a 1-day workshop at FIU. The workshop was attended by teachers from the local school districts, faculty members and students at FIU. In , the community has been participating in the Habits of Mind Online Workshop sponsored by the Habits of Mind Institute and developed by EduPlanet21.

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC On January 4, 2013, Drs. Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick again conducted a 1-day workshop at FIU. The workshop was attended by teachers from the local school districts, faculty members and students at FIU. In , the community has been participating in the Habits of Mind Online Workshop sponsored by the Habits of Mind Institute and developed by EduPlanet21. In , the community has been participating in professional development workshops for teachers and administrators at Charles Wyche Elementary School in Miami, FL

Some Key Events and Activities in the Growth of the FLC In 2013, the FLC is updating its website at FIU with URL: In 2013, FLC members are preparing a manuscript for submission to the Learning Community Journal. In 2013, FLC members are participating again in the expanding IV Visible Thinking Conference held in Miami on April 4-6, For information go to: