Institute for Academic Excellence

The Diversity, Inclusion, Communication, and Education (DICE PLC) focuses on educating through communication; by enhancing positive communication principles, we improve our connections between each other and promote respect for our differences in the classroom, professional settings, and our culture. Current events have underscored the desperate need for celebrating diversity, the work of authentic communication, and acceptance and equity within our world. All administrators, faculty, staff, and students in a culturally diverse educational environment have biases and expectations that shape how they interact. Failure to communicate effectively creates negative interactions that perpetuate those biases. Therefore, this Professional Learning Community (PLC)'s primary objective is to assist all academic community members in acquiring the knowledge, motivation, and skills to communicate with one another through the following:

• Identifying the barriers to effective communication that face our students.
• Acquiring and utilizing resources to educate our community to eradicate, eliminate, or minimize the impact of identified barriers.
• Implementing and institutionalizing new programs specifically designed to enhance and promote culturally responsive teaching and classrooms to advance student learning, retention, and completion.

Website: http://c-iae-irsc.weebly.com/

For more information, contact Professor Camila Alvarez, Communication PLC Chair, at 772-462-7679 or calvarez@irsc.edu

The mission of the Teaching and Learning Professional Learning Community is to research tools that can improve instruction, leading to greater student success and faculty enrichment. As part of this mission, we will share these tools with IRSC faculty through hands-on training in the Institute for Academic Excellence.

Website: http://iae-onlineteachinglearning-irsc.weebly.com/

For more information, please contact Jessica Fulton, Chair, at 772-462-7124 or jfulton@irsc.edu.

The Professional Learning Community for Textbook Affordability and Open Educational Resources (OER PLC) leads the charge at IRSC to make an impact on student success through fair, equitable practices in selecting materials for classroom learning. Faculty are encouraged to seek out and develop open educational resources when appropriate. The OER PLC can help faculty in locating, creating, and using OER effectively in the classroom. The committee will also update the IRSC community on best practices as it concerns changes in copyright, OER initiatives, federal/state mandates, grant opportunities, alternatives to publisher-supplied content, and understanding terms of use for teaching materials.

Website: http://iae-oer-irsc.weebly.com/

For more information, please contact Professor Alexis Carlson, Co-Chair, at 772-462-7194 or acarlson@irsc.edu or Brett Williams, Co-Chair, at bwilliam@irsc.edu.

The Institute helps faculty members construct research programs that strengthen professional and pedagogical development. The Institute’s Professional Learning Community (PLC) arranges consultations with mentors who advise faculty members on a variety of issues, including contact with publishers, College services, grants, software availability, meeting timelines, and integrating research programs with teaching responsibilities.

Website: http://publication-irsc.weebly.com/

For more information, please contact Dr. Brian Freeman, Co-Chair, at 772-462-7682 or jfreeman@irsc.edu or Dr. Bodi Anderson, Co-Chair, at 772-462-7190 or banderso@irsc.edu.

Although reading comprehension is a significant predictor of college success, reading challenges many college students. The Professional Learning Community (PLC) for Reading investigates such issues as the motivation to read, concentration, concept formation, and reflection. Based on its investigations, the Reading PLC recommends reading strategies within specific courses and departments, and across the curriculum.

Website: http://reading-iae.weebly.com/

For more information, please contact Professor Molly Bottorff, Chair, at 772-462-7196 or mbottorf@irsc.edu or Emily Renschler, Co-Chair at 772-462-7142 or erenschl@irsc.edu.