Overview of the face-to-face workshop (College of the Siskiyous)

Goals

participants at CMU course design workshop

At the workshop, participants will:

  • Develop a set of goals for students in the course and choose content that will enable students to achieve the goals.
  • Develop a course plan for a set of activities, assignments, and assessments that will help students achieve the goals set for the course.
  • Make progress toward developing at least one assignment or activity using one of the teaching strategies highlighted at the workshop.
  • Develop an action plan for implementing the new course.
  • Contribute to the Cutting Edge goals/syllabus database. Participants will also be invited to participate in a email list for workshop participants.

Workshop format

  • Goals-setting sessions during which participants will be guided in setting a series of goals for the course.
  • Discussion and feedback sessions during which participants can discuss course goals and plans with individual workshop leaders and with a group of particiipants who are designing similar courses.
  • Sessions on teaching strategies and assessment techniques that participants can choose to attend to familiarize themselves with effective and innovative teaching techniques and to give themselves practice in designing assignments and activities.
  • A final informal poster session to present course and assignment plans and receive feedback from the group.

Dates

The first workshop event will take place at noon on Wednesday, May 31, and the last at noon on Sunday, June 4. Participants must attend all sessions. For those arriving on Tuesday night, an optional field trip will take place Wednesday morning, May 31.

Eligibility and application instructions

Applicants for this workshop must hold a faculty position in geoscience at a two- or four-year college or university. We welcome applications from all academic ranks. The workshop is limited to 40 participants, and the final list of participants will be established with the goal of assembling a group representing a wide range of experiences, educational environments, and specialties. Application must be made on line by March 31, 2006 and successful applicants will be notified by April 10, 2006.

Cost

On-site costs. The National Science Foundation provides funding for the operational costs of the workshop plus room, board, and workshop materials for the participants. To be supported by these funds, a participant must be either a US citizen, a permanent resident, or in the employ of a US institution. If you don't meet these requirements and are interested in participating in this workshop at your own expense, please contact the workshop conveners.

Travel. All participants or their home institutions must provide transportation to and from the workshop. The workshop will be held at the College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California. Participants must make their own way to the College of the Siskiyous in time for the first workshop event at noon on Wednesday, May 31. The nearest airport is at Medford, Oregon, about 70 miles away. Medford Airport is served by Delta, United, America West, Horizon, and SkyWest.

We will be able to offer small travel stipends to participants from institutions unable to cover travel costs. The deadline for application for travel stipends is April 15.

Facilities

Workshop sessions will take place on the campus of the College of the Siskiyous. Workshop participants will be housed in single rooms in the dormitories and will eat meals on campus.

Further Information

Contact Barbara Tewksbury (btewksbu@hamilton.edu)