Founded in 2022, the mission of the Teaching and Learning Commons (TLC) is to support the academic success, teaching excellence, and life-long learning of Swarthmore students, faculty, instructors, and staff. In this issue, learn more about: 

On Monday, Dec. 9, the TLC will officially move into our new space on the first floor of McCabe Library. We look forward to settling into a more central location on campus to host events and drop-in office hours next semester!  

The Teachers as Scholars program recognizes teachers as scholars and learners who are eager to engage with others in the process of continual intellectual growth. The program provides K-12 teachers with the opportunity to explore new ideas in the company of fellow educators through participation in seminars taught by Swarthmore professors.

This November, Associate Professor of Psychology, Barbara Thelamour taught the second installment of her seminar entitled Immigrant Acculturation and Identity Development: Implications for Education. Our Spring Teachers as Scholars program will be taught by Associate Professor of English, Lara Cohen. 

Join the TLC on Friday, Dec. 6 from noon to 12:30 p.m. in Scheuer for our final pedagogy lunch of the semester on re-imagining first year experiences at Swarthmore. In this lunch discussion, panelists from Bryn Mawr, Dickinson, and Hope Colleges will share a variety of models of first year experiences that support cohort-building and skill development. We will hear how these programs were implemented at their respective institutions including their successes, challenges, and dreams for the future. Open to all faculty and staff.

Did you know that there’s a number of assistive technologies available to all Swarthmore community members? Check out the Assistive Technology Software Swarthmore ITS page.

Student Disability Services (SDS) recently announced the implementation of their new software, Accommodate. Accommodate is an online data management system that offers a centralized, streamlined, accessible process for coordinating student disability accommodations campus-wide. The Accommodate system is fully live for students and will go live for faculty in Spring 2025.

Community Voices on Teaching and Learning highlights the many and various perspectives on teaching and learning in our community. We are seeking submissions for future issues of the Community Voices on Teaching & Learning section. 

Interested in sharing your perspective on teaching and learning in an upcoming TLC newsletter? Reach out to us at tlc@swarthmore.edu! You can respond to any of the prompts in the link below.

Reach out to us at TLC@swarthmore.edu or explore our website swarthmore.edu/tlc to learn more about the TLC and to see a comprehensive directory of academic support programs, pedagogical and curricular development resources, and life-long learning opportunities. You can also drop in and see us at the Dan West House (550 Elm Avenue), Monday— Wednesday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. or by appointment.