Faculty Commons

We are open online! Our buildings may be closed, but you can connect virtually to our librarians and staff, and access services, resources, and millions of journals and books — including expanded access through HathiTrust.

Coming July 2020: The Faculty Commons is a gathering place for inter-professional development, discussion, and innovation. It connects instructors with a broad community of librarians, instructional designers, teaching experts, and technology leaders in support of educational goals.

U of M instructors can visit the Faculty Commons to:

explore new technologies,
practice active learning and other educational teaching techniques,
create course content,
engage in interdisciplinary conversation and collaboration,
and attend workshops to support teaching and learning across the health sciences disciplines.

Connect with a librarian to consult on instructional support.

Connect with an expert

Recent Faculty Commons news

3D-printed gene segment models aid in active learning

Co-instructors Michelle Henry-Stanley and Donna Spannaus-Martin wanted to teach about genetic recombination using a tactile, hands-on educational tool. They connected with our Makerspace staff to produce low-cost sets of 3D printed immunoglobulin gene segments to support new ways of teaching and learning and meet their active learning goals.

Virtual reality helps physical therapy students see new answers

Teresa Bisson works with the Bio-Medical Library to bring Virtual Reality to her neurorehabilitation classroom where students are immersed in a virtual experience. Through active learning, Bisson’s students are becoming thoughtful users of technology and leaders in a new health care environment.

Helping radiology students see 2D medical images in 3D anatomy

As a radiology resident, Mickey Hafertepe has gained insights into the challenge of translating health information into medical practice. Learn how Hafertepe is using 3D printing to help students understand spatial relationships of medical imaging when viewing 3D anatomy on a 2D screen.

Public health students from Hanoi Medical University in Vietnam

Librarian ‘Dream Team’ collaborates to create Free Access Public Health website

Elizabeth Wattenberg, Ph.D., is training students at Hanoi Medical University in Vietnam who seek to integrate public health practices into their work. Wattenberg joined with the Libraries to create the “Free Access Public Health” website, providing one-stop access to vetted resources that can support public health students and practitioners wherever they call home.

Related services

Course and instructor support

Work with your librarian to receive in-class instruction, individualized consultations for research projects, customized resource pages for courses, and guidance on resources for facilitating active learning.

Related staff

Jonathan Koffel

Emerging Technology and Innovation Strategist

Liz Weinfurter

Nursing Librarian and Teaching and Learning Coordinator