January 2004 opportunities for UST undergraduate faculty

through the Bush Foundation Program Grant

            Writing assignments:  We know they’re valuable ways to get students to grapple intellectually with course content.  But we also know writing assignments can be difficult to design, and yes, to grade.  If you’ve struggled with using writing in your courses, the next workshop offered by our UST Bush Foundation Program Grant is for you.  “Using Writing to Enhance Learning” will be held Jan. 6 and 7, 2004.

            Dr. Stephen Bernhardt, the Andrew B. Kirkpatrick, Jr., Chair in Writing at the University of Delaware, will lead the workshop, which will focus on practical ideas about using writing to foster student learning.  Dr. Bernhardt, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, has worked extensively on writing across the curriculum programs, as well as on workplace literacy and communication efforts with a variety of companies, including Astra Zeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Schering-Plough.   He is past president of both the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication and the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing.

Dr. Bernhardt will cover such topics as how to write cases or problems for inquiry-based learning, how to evaluate writing assignments by using rubrics, how to use technology to teach writing, and how to teach writing as a team process.

The workshop is open to all UST faculty who teach undergraduate courses.  Faculty will receive a $200 stipend for participating in the workshop, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 6 and 7.  Dr. Bernhardt will be available from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday to consult individually with participants who want advice about a writing assignment.

To register for the workshop, send an e-mail message with your name, department and a two- or three-sentence description of your interest to Dr. Vanca Schrunk, Bush program coordinator, at idschrunk@stthomas.edu by Friday, Dec. 5.  The workshop can accommodate 35 faculty.  If you have questions, contact Dr. Kris Bunton, Bush program director, by e-mailing kebunton@stthomas.edu or phoning 2-5257.

The Bush Foundation Program Grant can fund up to five UST faculty members’ participation in the University of Delaware’s next problem-based learning workshop, Jan. 21 through 24, 2004.  The workshop will demonstrate problem-based learning (PBL) and model ways that PBL can be used effectively in all disciplines, in upper- and lower-division courses, and in all size classes.  One focus of this program will be writing effective problem-based materials; participants will leave the session with new or revised problems for use in their courses.  Another focus will be engaging students in research and communication as part of the process of PBL.  Additional information is available at <http://www.udel.edu/inst/jan2004/>. 

UST Bush funds will cover participants’ workshop registration fees, airfare, lodging and meals.  To apply to attend the workshop, send a one-page letter to Dr. Vanca Shrunk, Bush program coordinator, at idschrunk@stthomas.edu by Friday, Dec. 5.  Briefly outline how you expect to use the knowledge you’ll gain, in what courses, to accomplish what goals.  If you have questions, contact Dr. Kris Bunton, Bush program director, by e-mailing kebunton@stthomas.edu or phoning 2-5257.