- Conference Name: International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference 2012
- Location: Savannah, GA
- Dates: June 6 - June 8th, 2012
Dr. Khalilah Watson (Faculty - English)
List 3 sessions you attended (Title and Description)
One significant item you learned from the conference that you were unaware of and would like to share with colleagues.
I was introduced to the Lunch Keynote Speaker, Chris Anson’s Eight Lessons that one should consider when one is Implementing, Organizing and Growing a WAC Program.
I am grateful for these lessons because it helped me to see that we are on the right track at OHC, yet we also have so much to learn and to look forward to.
What one activity would you recommend we implement immediately? (Short Term)
I am interested in receiving the support to mandate that we establish a small cohort of WAC Full-Time Faculty across the Disciplines that are willing to make their courses Writing Intensive and implement WAC Strategies. (This would swiftly move us beyond just our Brown Bags Discussions and Committee work; although, I think it is essential that continue these Faculty Development Models.) Furthermore, this implementation will include assessments before and after, so we can record the data for such as well as make the necessary improvements. In addition, there needs to be a partnership between the WAC Coordinator and The Writing Center Director to improve the writing in our overall college community, especially the students.
What one activity would you recommend we implement in the future? (Long Term)
I would like to see us bring in one of the infamous WAC Scholars that I met at this conference, so that we can receive Professional Development externally. This is highly recommended when conducting a WAC Program. Thereafter, as part of our Professional Development Week, we need funds to include a two day training for the Faculty on how to use writing in their courses across the discipline.
If we had available funds what would you recommend we implement?
Funds need to be allocated for the WAC Budget, which will include the following during the academic year:
Additional comments pertaining to how this conference supports the grant objectives or KPIs of the District.
This was probably the best conference I have attended. As a result of the conference, I have implemented several new initiatives such as peer observations, biweekly reports, monthly meetings with SI leaders, effectively utilizing SI leaders in Summer Bridge program. I have also gained a better understanding of how SI can be utilized to meet the goals and needs of the students and college.
Download Original Report
- Creating a Culture of Writing Through a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
The panel discussion for this session included two presentations that primarily focused on how to improve as well as deepen the teaching and learning of writing across the disciplines by strengthening its relationship with the Writing Center and the First Year Writing Program. Both presenters were from Elon University, so they spoke of their QEP proposal, which indicated their programs goals and strategies, in hopes that all they are requested will be fulfilled. - Developing WAC Communities
The panel discussion for this session included three presenters speaking about the various methods one can use to make sure WAC is a viable, visible and valued program on anyone’s campus. Buzz words from this session include E-Portfolios, Faculty Consultancy Model, WAC Club, WAC Mentorship and Recommended WAC Models. - Revising and Growing a Faculty Workshop for Teaching with Writing
In this roundtable presentation, the presenters shared stories as well as survey results collected over multiple years of conducting a faculty workshop for teaching writing. They were also quite frank about their frustrations, triumphs, revisions and future developments as they continue to revise their workshop and develop their individual and group experiences.
One significant item you learned from the conference that you were unaware of and would like to share with colleagues.
I was introduced to the Lunch Keynote Speaker, Chris Anson’s Eight Lessons that one should consider when one is Implementing, Organizing and Growing a WAC Program.
- You can’t mandate what matters.
- Change is a journey not a blueprint. (Student engagement=student success)
- Problems are our friends.
- Premature vision and strategic planning can blind us to other possibilities.
- Individualism and Collectivism MUST have equal power.
- Neither centralization nor decentralization works alone.
- Connection with wider environment is critical for success (learning internally and externally).
- Every person is a changed agent.
I am grateful for these lessons because it helped me to see that we are on the right track at OHC, yet we also have so much to learn and to look forward to.
What one activity would you recommend we implement immediately? (Short Term)
I am interested in receiving the support to mandate that we establish a small cohort of WAC Full-Time Faculty across the Disciplines that are willing to make their courses Writing Intensive and implement WAC Strategies. (This would swiftly move us beyond just our Brown Bags Discussions and Committee work; although, I think it is essential that continue these Faculty Development Models.) Furthermore, this implementation will include assessments before and after, so we can record the data for such as well as make the necessary improvements. In addition, there needs to be a partnership between the WAC Coordinator and The Writing Center Director to improve the writing in our overall college community, especially the students.
What one activity would you recommend we implement in the future? (Long Term)
I would like to see us bring in one of the infamous WAC Scholars that I met at this conference, so that we can receive Professional Development externally. This is highly recommended when conducting a WAC Program. Thereafter, as part of our Professional Development Week, we need funds to include a two day training for the Faculty on how to use writing in their courses across the discipline.
If we had available funds what would you recommend we implement?
Funds need to be allocated for the WAC Budget, which will include the following during the academic year:
- A Small Stipend for Faculty who want to be a part of the (initial) cohort and agree to make their course Writing Intensive.
- WAC Week Supplies: Yearly Advertisement: Campus Visibility, Art Supplies, Paper Supplies, Flip Camera
- WAC Website—Online Visibility
Additional comments pertaining to how this conference supports the grant objectives or KPIs of the District.
This was probably the best conference I have attended. As a result of the conference, I have implemented several new initiatives such as peer observations, biweekly reports, monthly meetings with SI leaders, effectively utilizing SI leaders in Summer Bridge program. I have also gained a better understanding of how SI can be utilized to meet the goals and needs of the students and college.
Download Original Report
Sharon Silverman (Library)
List 3 sessions you attended (Title and Description)
One significant item you learned from the conference that you were unaware of and would like to share with colleagues.
---Brain-storming Techniques that can aid students with writing/starting thesis statements/assignments:
What one activity would you recommend we implement immediately? (Short Term)
Team teaching in the form intro binding disciplines. These courses could possibly become regarded as a next level of "learning communities". These interdisciplinary course would require WAC and courses correlating can range from English with Philosophy, African-American History with Social Science, Child Development with Psychology or Social Science.
What one activity would you recommend we implement in the future? (Long Term)
The recommendation and implementation of purchasing video creating software (Camtasia, Jing) and professional development workshops for faculty to learn and create, also, please refer to question #3.
If we had available funds what would you recommend we implement?
Refer to question #2, the college could offer student workshops to assist students prior to taking the English Exit Exams.
Additional comments pertaining to how this conference supports the grant objectives or KPIs of the District.
Download Original Report
- Social Support for Undergrad Thesis Writers & Supporting Students Through the Research and Writing:
Discussed the theories, philosophies, and rationale behind the development of a thesis preparation course that will provide explicit instruction in the academic research writing process.
- Enlarging the Future: Studying the Art of Apology in the Cross-Disciplinary Writing Class:
The presenter has students study interaction, the catalyst for forgiveness which can enlarge and inform students in multi-disciplinary writing courses. - Creating Multimodal Resources to Support Writing Across the Discipline:
This presentation focused on various uses of technologies (Camtasia, Jing, and Voicethread) to produce multimodal resources to support the teaching of "Writing Across the Curriculum".
One significant item you learned from the conference that you were unaware of and would like to share with colleagues.
---Brain-storming Techniques that can aid students with writing/starting thesis statements/assignments:
- Describe your topic
- Keywords related to your topic
- The purpose of your project
- What do you know about their project
- What do you plan learn from your project
What one activity would you recommend we implement immediately? (Short Term)
Team teaching in the form intro binding disciplines. These courses could possibly become regarded as a next level of "learning communities". These interdisciplinary course would require WAC and courses correlating can range from English with Philosophy, African-American History with Social Science, Child Development with Psychology or Social Science.
What one activity would you recommend we implement in the future? (Long Term)
The recommendation and implementation of purchasing video creating software (Camtasia, Jing) and professional development workshops for faculty to learn and create, also, please refer to question #3.
If we had available funds what would you recommend we implement?
Refer to question #2, the college could offer student workshops to assist students prior to taking the English Exit Exams.
Additional comments pertaining to how this conference supports the grant objectives or KPIs of the District.
Download Original Report