How to Get Started
A lawyer may lead a group on Supreme Court decisions or on the history of jazz; an English teacher might lead a group on The Tempest or on global warming. Some study groups have explored concepts, like Luck, or places, like the Underground, through multiple lenses. Others are planned and coordinated by 2 or more members who work together on a subject or theme.
Coordinating is by far the most rewarding aspect of joining LP2 and all members should want to take advantage of the experience. Need inspiration? Read In Their Own Words which contains member recollections about their own positive experiences coordinating.
Support for Coordinators
The Curriculum Committee assures that LP2 offers a rich and challenging curriculum each semester by helping coordinators develop and lead study groups. To that end it offers an array of resources for both new and experienced coodinators as detailed below.
The Coordinator’s Handbook
The Coordinator’s Handbook is a guide to every aspect of coordinating. It covers Peer Learning, with a new focus on Peer Learning in a Zoom Environment, Operational Matters, Study Group Sessions, General Information, Preparing for Successful Discussion, Conducting the Session and the LP2 Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement.
A Dedicated Committee Mentor
A Curriculum Committee contact person is assigned to every potential coordinator to help with developing ideas, finding a co-coordinator (if desired), writing a proposal, creating an engaging syllabus, selecting visual aids and obtaining technical help, if needed.
Coordinator Development Workshops
Coordinator Development Workshops are offered every semester to support coordinators every step of the way, from how to propose a study group to how to lead a great discussion. Read more about them.
- More Than One Way: To Present Study Groups
- Speed Dating: For Prospective Co-coordinators
- How’s it Going: for Current Coordinators
- Research Resources: Zeroing In
- Making It Happen: Developing a Syllabus
- Engaging the Group: Ways to Encourage Participation
- Managing Media: Using Slides, Images, and Video
Tech Workshops
Tech workshops are available every semester to support coordinators who want to use the GC computer displays and other technology to share audio-visual content in their study groups and for those who need assistance with managing Zoom study groups. These workshops dive deep into the nuts and bolts of the tools that the Managing Media: Using Slides, Images, and Video Coordinator Development Workshop introduces.
- Google Slides Basics
- Power Point Basics
- Films and Videos: Making Clips and Sharing
- Zoom Workshops: Basics, Best Practices, Screen Sharing, Breakout Rooms and More
Get Inspired!
The Study Group History Table and the Study Group Grid Archive work together to help you learn more about past Study Groups. Together they are a great resource for inspiration for a future Study Group, finding coordinators with a shared interest, learning about syllabus structure and more. In the History Table, 566 Study Groups from 2014 to 2021 are listed. Search and sort by Study Group Name, General Subject Category, Coordinator, Year and Semester. The General Subject Categories are Literature, Philosophy, Drama and Film, Government Law and Politics, Science, Interdisciplinary, History, Writing Workshop, and Art and Music.
Use the Study Group Grid Archive to find a particular study group syllabus. Take note ofthe semester and year it was given in the History Table (back to 2019), select the grid for that semester, and then click on the Study Group name you are interested in to see its syllabus. We are working on ways to make additional syllabi available this way. In the meantime, take advantage of the over 300 that are there now.
Research Resources
All members have access to the Mina Rees Graduate Center Library and its online resources. Ready access to it, as well as to a number of other important online resources, and the best used book source online to assist members with research into scholarly articles, images, books, databases and other materials are available at our Library and Online Research page. The Research Resources: Zeroing In Coordinator Development Workshop focuses on the use of a variety of these tools.
Ready? Get Started
When you are ready to get down to brass tacks head over to the Study Groups Proposals page. There you can get more info about the process, access the Study Group Proposal Form and its instructions, and begin getting your plan down in writing.
Honoraria for Study Group Guest Speakers
Many Coordinators take advantage of the funding available to invite outside guest speakers to present at a study group. Each 12-week study group may have up to two paid guest speakers and each six-week study group may have one paid guest speaker. Guest speakers may be offered honoraria of up to $200. Unpaid guest speakers are, of course, not limited. The Honorarium Request Form explains the policy and the process.
