Wednesday, March 9, 2005

"Only by wrestling with the conditions of the problem at first hand, seeking and finding his own way out, does [the student] think." -John Dewey

12:00-12:05 Introduction and Welcome

Dr. William Burgos

WAC Director

12:05-12:15 Defining Problem-Posing Assignments

· Traditional Assignments

"There will be a term paper due at the end of the semester. The term paper can be on any aspect of the course that interests you, but I have to approve your topic in advance."

· Connection to Freire

"[W]hereas banking education anesthetizes and inhibits creative power, problem-posing education involves a constant unveiling of reality" (355).

· What is a Problem-Posing Assignment?

12:15-12:25 Designing Problem-Posing Assignments

· Consider your teaching goals of the assignment & entire course as the first step to designing assignments

· Communicate expectations clearly.

· Use handouts explaining the assignment.

· Make the assignment concise. Don't overload with confusing language.

· Consider class size

12:25-12:40 Formal Assignments (finished-product writing)

· Short Assignments-the Microtheme

· Longer Assignments

· Top-Down, Thesis-Governed Writing

1. Present a proposition (thesis) that students are supposed to defend or refute

2. Give students a problem or question that demands a thesis

3. Ask students to follow an organizational structure that requires a Problem-Thesis pattern

12:40-12:55 Informal Assignments (unfinished, exploratory writing)

Active Learning Assignments

12:55-2:00 Collaborative Group-Work(design in practice)

Discussion/Q&A