Advancement of Critical Thinking Institute
May 21 - 30, 2007
Background: On May 21-May 30, 2007, The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning will offer an intensive summer institute for faculty teaching core courses in SCSU’s General Education Program. This institute will feature nationally and regionally known experts in critical thinking research and pedagogy working with SCSU faculty to become familiar with current scholarship around critical thinking, to arrive at common definitions, and to learn a variety of approaches to course design and pedagogy related to teaching critical thinking. The Institute will be organized with an extended practicum component to provide an opportunity for faculty to dedicate significant time to course redesign and to receive feedback from experts and colleagues from across the disciplines.
The Institute will be organized around face-to-face instruction, including seminars, workshops, and plenary addresses aimed at providing faculty with conceptual framework for meaningful course redesign. Participants will be required to complete a range of assignments including research and writing focused on syllabus and assignment redesign supporting course content to enhance the teaching of critical thinking abilities and skills, and the construction of course assessment plans. Finally, the concluding section of the Institute will provide participants with an opportunity to solicit feedback on overall course design from their cohort, and to put ideas into practice with sample teaching sessions. Faculty will complete the Institute with redesigned syllabi and course materials for Core General Education courses across the disciplines. Faculty Participants in the Institute will receive a stipend of $1750.00 plus benefits. Our expectation is that following the completion of the Institute, faculty will be prepared to implement re-designed courses with significant emphasis on critical thinking in the Core General Education Curriculum.
Requirements:
- Applicants must agree to attend all five days of the institute (5/21, 5/22, 5/23, 5/29-5/30)
- Applicants must be scheduled to teach one of the five core courses in SCSU’s General Education Curriculum (ENGL 191, CMST 192, MATH/STAT 193, PHIL 194, and Democratic Citizenship CMTY 195, ECON 195, HIST 195, POL 195, SOC 195, SW 195 or diversity and racial issues courses during the Fall Semester, 2007.
- Applicants must agree to participate in an early assessment of learning outcomes; completed by September 30, 2007.
Other Considerations: Faculty teaching thematic or programmatic First Year Experience courses are encouraged to apply. Faculty teaching courses with common syllabi are welcomed to apply.
Application Deadline: March 26, 2007, 4 pm, The Center for Excellence in Teaching, MC 310. In selecting participants, effort will be made to provide opportunities for faculty across all Core Courses. Preference will be given to tenured, tenure-leading, and longer-term non-tenure track faculty.
For more information, contact: Frankie Condon (fvcondon@stcloudstate.edu), Debra Japp (dkjapp@stcloudstate.edu), or Marla Kanengieter (mkanengieter@stcloudstate.edu).
