General Education Institute
University of Delaware
July 15 - 16, 2002
Perkins Student Center, Rodney Room

 

For information contact Avron Abraham, Chair, Faculty Senate Committee on General Education
(ext. 8742 or ext. 3330)

Objectives:

1.  To place the University of Delaware General Education Initiative in a national context.
2.  To highlight General Education Initiatives at the University of Delaware, especially first-year experience 
     program, capstone, writing across disciplines, quantitative literacy, and diversity.
3.  To help faculty develop and refine instructional approaches that advance General Education goals and to 
     provide them with support and resources.

                            Monday Agenda                                                               Tuesday Agenda
 
 

AGENDA

Monday, July 15
Innovations in General Education: Helping Students Get The Most Out of Their Experience

Starting at 8:00 a.m. 
Registration and Refreshments - all morning sessions will be held in Rodney

8:30 – 9:20 a.m. 
Introductory Remarks
Mark Huddleston, Dean, Arts and Science

Avron Abraham, Chair, Faculty Senate Committee on General Education

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. 
KEYNOTE  (Introduction by Dan Rich, Provost)

Richard Light, Walter H. Gale Professor of Education
John F. Kennedy School of Government and Graduate School of Education, Harvard University

Strengthening the Undergraduate Experience: Six Concrete Examples that Have Dramatically Changed Students' Engagement on Campus.

In his presentation, Richard Light, of Harvard University, will present six specific suggestions from his recent book, "Making the Most of College." The suggestions emerged from over 1,600 interviews with students on 24 campuses, and have led to some simple yet dramatic changes in teaching, student advising, homework assignments, and how campus leaders approach the increasing student diversity on campus. There will be time for follow-up questions and discussion of these specific suggestions.

UDaily Article on Richard Light

Book available for loan in the CTE Library, 212 Gore Hall.

10:45 – Noon
UD Initiatives and Programs

Pathways Courses

Hip Hop Journeys, Spring 02
Shuaib Meacham, Education

Environments and Cultures in Conflict, Spring 02
John Bartley, Biological Sciences, Parallel Program

Advanced and Emerging Technology Grants 2002: Instructional Innovations

3D Visualization of Macromolecules for Effective Instruction of Protein Structure/Function and Biochemical Evolution
Adam Marsh, Marine Biology and Biochemistry; and Brian Bahnson, Chemistry and Biochemistry

12:15 –- 1:20 p.m.
Lunch - Bacchus Theatre, Lower Level

Daniel Rich, Provost

Discovery Learning in the Context of an "Engaged Campus" 
April Veness, Geography

1:30 – 3:30 p.m. 
Concurrent Sessions (please select one)

Capstone Conversations: A Workshop on Designing Capstone Courses - Rodney 
Deborah Andrews, English

In this workshop, participants will discuss the design and implementation of a capstone experience for their students. For openers, participants will look at a capstone project in Chemistry, English, and Mechanical Engineering that aimed to make visible the communications dimension of every discipline while reinforcing the interdisciplinary nature of much professional problem solving. Then, participants will brainstorm about courses and approaches that might work in their discipline.

Concept Mapping: An Instructional Tool to Organize Content and Assess Student Learning - Ewing
Hal White, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Just because we present material in a way that makes sense to us does not mean students assimilate it in the same format. It takes time and reflection for information to acquire structure. This workshop will introduce participants to the theory and practice of concept mapping, a powerful way for students to organize and display what makes sense to them.

Student Coaches: A Model for Enhancing Learning in Large Classes - Williamson
Janet Hethorn, Consumer Studies

Undergraduate students as "workshop guides" can help to facilitate problem based learning strategies in large lecture classes. The presenter will share examples of how she has worked with workshop guides in classes of 100-200 students, and will explore both structure and content issues - some of which have been solved and others that are still a challenge.

Guidelines and Methods for Assessing Student Learning (Will be repeated Day 2) - Collins
Karen Bauer, Institutional Research and Planning; and Gabriele Bauer, Center for Teaching Effectiveness

With a focus on classroom assessment, this session will begin with a brief overview of various kinds of assessment, why assessment activities are important, and how they can assist in the teaching-learning process. Presenters will share some examples of classroom assessment activities, followed by a small group exercise in which attendees can develop or further refine an assessment plan for their course.

Tuesday, July 16
Facilitating Competencies: Communication, Quantitative Literacy, Global Citizenship, and Leadership

Starting at 8:30 a.m.
Registration and Refreshments - all morning sessions will be held in Rodney

9:00 –9:20 a.m.
Review of Day 1 and Expectations for Day 2

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
KEYNOTE

Deborah Bosley, Director of the University Writing Programs, University of North Carolina-Charlotte

Writing in the Disciplines: Keys to a Successful Program

Deborah Bosley will discuss what needs to happen to move writing instruction into the disciplines: why it is useful to approach writing as disciplinary practice, how to establish a productive guiding philosophy, and how to build campus initiatives. Based on her experiences directing such an initiative over the past several years at UNCC, she will describe what good practice look likes (and share example of non-productive approaches), while discussing what it takes in training, resources, and support to mount a successful program. She will also address issues of program evaluation: how do we know when a program is successful?

10:45 – Noon
UD Initiatives and Programs

LIFE Clusters: Best Practices, Reflections, and Aspirations

Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Cluster 01-02
Florence Schmieg, Faculty Contact, Biological Sciences

Animals, Science and Society Cluster 01-02
Lesa Griffiths, Faculty Contact, Agriculture and Natural Resources, International Programs
Lauren Brohawn, Peer Mentor, Agriculture and Natural Resources

American Race Relations Cluster 02-03
Raymond Wolters, Faculty Contact, History

Advanced and Emerging Technology Grants 2002: Instructional Innovations

Use of an Asynchronous Learning Network Tool (CAPA) for Homework Problem Assignments in Engineering Technology Courses
Carmine Balascio, Bioresources Engineering

12:15 – 1:20 p.m.
Lunch - Bacchus Theatre, Lower Level

Global Citizenship and Leadership - General Education Outside the Classroom
Ralph Begleiter, Edward & Elizabeth G. Rosenberg Professor, Communication

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions (please select one or two)

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Creating Living-Learning Communities--Connecting the Residence Hall and Academic Experiences - Ewing
Kathleen Kerr, Director; Jim Tweedy, Assistant Director; Keith Edwards, Complex Coordinator; Karrie Mitchell, Complex Coordinator, Residence Life

Numerous studies have shown the powerful impact of the educational experience of students outside of the classroom. Purposeful and structured residence hall environments have consistently been observed to increase student academic success and persistence, both primary goals of the General Education Initiative. Come to discuss opportunities for the residence halls to better meet your specific goals as a faculty member and contribute to the overall academic mission of the University of Delaware.

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. 
Quantitative Reasoning Skills and College Education - Williamson
Gilberto Schleiniger, BettyAnn Daley, and Margaret Donlan, Mathematics

This workshop will highlight the role that quantitative literacy and, therefore, quantitative reasoning courses should play in general education at the college level. The focus of the discussion will center on a new course to be offered in Fall 02, which attempts to introduce students to mathematics in the context of current events, addressing students' needs and concerns. The session will also address possible ways of integrating quantitative skills throughout the curriculum.

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Writing in the Disciplines - Rodney
Deborah Bosley, Director of the University Writing Programs, University of North Carolina-Charlotte; and Stephen Bernhardt, UD Kirkpatrick Chair in Writing, English

Deborah Bosley and Stephen Bernhardt, will co-lead a workshop that challenges UD faculty to envision new initiatives wherein programs, majors, departments, and colleges take charge of writing and communication in their disciplines. The workshop will help programs begin to map the kinds of skills they hope to see in their graduates, consider what is particular to specific disciplines, and stimulate thinking about effective ways to work toward our shared goal of helping all students gain effective skills in oral and written communication.

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Guidelines and Methods for Assessing Student Learning (Repeat from Day 1) - Collins
Karen Bauer, Institutional Research and Planning; and Gabriele Bauer, Center for Teaching Effectiveness

With a focus on classroom assessment, this session will begin with a brief overview of various kinds of assessment, why assessment activities are important, and how they can assist in the teaching-learning process. Presenters will share some examples of classroom assessment activities, followed by a small group exercise in which attendees can develop or further refine an assessment plan for their course.