FYE Design 2014-15 First Year Experience Workshops 1
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Key to Transformation of Gen Ed What we need to do is move away
from teaching and learning as a private practice. Its public work
that should be learned with colleagues. - Edward Taylor, UW, Inside
the Undergraduate Teaching Experience (2014) 2
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Key to Transformation of Gen Ed Our educational practice
hasemphasized information transfer without a great deal of thought
given to the meaning, pertinence, or application of the information
in the context of the students life. - Learning Reconsidered,
ACAP/NASPA (2004) 3
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The Transformation of Gen Ed at EWU CurrentCritical Foundations
Hasnt been substantially revised in 20 years Will undergo program
review every 5 to 7 years Of the same basic type as CWU, WSU and UW
A distinctive signature program useful in recruitment 68-74 credits
for students who dont require developmental courses 47-60 credits
(some courses may be taken within the major) Owned by certain
departmentsBuilt to encourage interdepartmental &
intercollegiate curricular development Cafeteria-style distribution
list of courses Outcomes-based with cross- disciplinary content,
emphasizing synthesis abilities and connections between areas of
knowledge 4
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Outcomes-based General Education Outcomes-based general
education emphasizes the connectedness of disciplines, knowledge
and skills, and recognizes the achievement of general education
outcomes outside the traditional classroom and across university
divisions. Bloomsburg University Faculty must be engaged from the
beginning of the process of re-examining the learning goals and
writing assessable outcomes for them. --WSU 5
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Critical Foundations: 6 Key Outcomes THINK CRITICALLY
COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY ANALYZE QUANTITATIVELY ENGAGE CREATIVELY
ASSESS PERSONAL and ETHICAL WELL-BEING (BE WELL, DO GOOD) RECOGNIZE
DIFFERENCE 6
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Critical Foundations: Outcomes & Objectives Example:
Communicate Effectively Sample objective: Develop and deliver
prepared, purposeful presentations designed to increase knowledge,
to foster understanding, or to promote change in the listeners
attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors. Sample Tasks At the FYE
level: Individually present a 5-7 minute presentation incorporating
PowerPoint, Prezi, or other visually designed document that
successfully impacts an audience. For Foundation Core courses: Work
collaboratively with team members to design and present a
professional 20-30 minute presentation that instructs or explains
complex ideas to an audience. For Senior Capstone: Participate in
the greater community by presenting a poster or oral presentation
at an academic conference such as the EWU Research Symposium or by
submitting written work to a publication such as a newspaper,
magazine or journal. 7
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Critical Foundations: Outcomes & Objectives Example:
Recognize Difference Sample objective: Demonstrate a complex
understanding of history and the role of human organizations to
develop appropriate actions to solve complex problems both in human
and natural worlds. Sample Tasks At FYE level: Interview a person
with a different racial, ethnic or cultural background and identify
differing experiences and ideologies as well as new perspectives.
For Foundation Core courses: As part of a study abroad experience,
prepare a multimedia diary identifying historical, government, or
geographic landmarks and cultural sites in your host country and
explaining their importance. For Senior Capstone: Take a leadership
role in a service learning or community engagement project that
engages with issues of diversity, equity, and/or justice. 8
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Creating a FYE Course For each Key Outcome, choose objectives
& tasks that will be assessed Stress integration &
application of knowledge Stress cross-disciplinary inquiry Stress
intellectual breadth, depth, and adaptiveness Think Critically
(critical reading in every course) Communicate Effectively (must
include writing in English) Analyze Quantitatively Engage
Creatively Be Well, Do Good Recognize Difference Cohort of 25
students 3 different instructors Fall-Winter- Spring (3 cr each)
Basic considerations Each course in the sequence addresses 2-3 key
goals Build Assessment into Course Design Disciplinary Content in
Course Design 9 FALL Humanities/Fine Arts WINTER Social Sci. SPRING
Science/STEM
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Sample FYE topics Science, Technology and Society Stream:
Psychology and Social Media Chemistry and Society Morality and War
10
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More Sample FYE topics Art, Culture and Identity FYE stream:
French Language and Culture Native American Oral Traditions
Genetics and Identity 11
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Workload considerations 490/491 12 Each section of FYE counts
as 3 credits in student course load. Each section of FYE counts as
5 credits in faculty workload. The additional 2 credits of workload
are to compensate ongoing collaborative curricular design and the
involvement of each FYE quarter instructor in co- curricular and
mentoring activities taking place in other quarters.
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Brief timeline for implementation 490/491 13 AY 2014-15:
25-student pilot taught by Lynn Briggs, ENGL (F 2014), Robin
OQuinn, BIOL (W 2015), and Tom Hawley, GOVT (S 2015) AY 2015-16:
Extended pilot. 5 to 10 separate streams of FYE; 15 to 30 faculty;
125 to 250 students (In AYs 2014-15 and 2015-16, students who take
the entire FYE sequence will receive credit for one course on each
of the three current general education distribution lists) AY
2016-17: FYE for all first-time freshmen; 60 faculty maximum; 1500
students
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Resources 490/491 14 For finding apt partners with whom to
design an FYE stream: Tony Flinn, Critical Foundations Planning
Director Julia Smith, Chair, Critical Foundations Council For
approaching your chair to discuss workload: Tony Flinn, Critical
Foundations Planning Director For assistance in curricular design:
Critical Foundations Curriculum Design & Instruction Committee
For further understanding: National Resource Center for First Year
Experience & Students in Transition
(http://www.sc.edu/fye/)http://www.sc.edu/fye/ Portland State
University Freshman Inquiry pages
(http://www.pdx.edu/unst/freshman-inquiry)http://www.pdx.edu/unst/freshman-inquiry