Coker-Kolo, D., Fisk, G.D., Easom, L.R., and Bryant, T., (2006). Faculty perceptions of teaching circles: A quantitative and qualitative analysis. Reaching Through Teaching, 18, 26-31.
Teaching circles facilitate faculty development through the formation of learning communities in which faculty members can discuss teaching innovations and share experiences. Although teaching circle programs are widespread, few studies to date have specifically examined how teaching circle participants perceive their teaching circle activities. The authors examined faculty perceptions of teaching circles by a survey that covered potentially positive and negative attributes of the program. The results show that most teaching circle participants have positive attitudes towards the program and feel they have obtained substantive benefits from participating in teaching circles. These findings support previous work showing that teaching circles are a beneficial means for promoting faculty development.