Overview of the online workshop

For faculty who are unable to travel to Hamilton College for our face-to-face Course Design Workshop, we are offering an online version of the workshop that will be conducted as a distance learning course beginning on July 30 and concluding on August 3. All assignments and supporting material will be available on the web at the Cutting Edge web site and will be based on the Cutting Edge Online Course Design Tutorial.

Online workshop goals

During the on-line 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 techniques described in the online teaching methods module.
• 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.

Format and requirements

On-line workshop participants will:

• Complete the assignments in the Cutting Edge online Course Design Tutorial.
• Post completed assignments by the stipulated deadlines.
• Receive feedback from workshop leaders and provide feedback to other online participants.
• Consult individually with workshop leaders via e-mail or phone (optional).
• Contribute to the Cutting Edge goals/syllabus database.

Dates

This online workshop will mimic our four-day intensive face-to-face workshop over the same length of time but in a distance learning setting. Participants will need to devote full time attention to the workshop over the four days' duration and will not be accepted if they anticipate any other commitments during that time period. By applying for the workshop, a person agrees to participate fully for the four days of the online workshop.

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 online workshop is limited to 15 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 April 19, 2007 and successful applicants will be notified by April 28, 2007.

Cost

On the Cutting Edge has funding from the National Science Foundation (DUE-0127310) that helps support our professional development program. However, we are moving toward a model where participants bear some of the operational costs of the workshop, and, this summer, participants must pay a $50 registration fee for the Online Course Design workshop. This fee will be paid after acceptance to the workshop at the time participants confirm their participation. Because the workshop is still partially supported by NSF funds, participants must be either US citizens, permanent residents, or in the employ of US institutions. If you don't meet these requirements and are interested in participating in this workshop at your own expense, please contact the workshop conveners.

Further Information

Contact Barbara Tewksbury (btewksbu@hamilton.edu)