September 18, 2009
Last Call for Day of Common Learning Proposals
The afternoon sessions for this year’s Day of Common Learning break-out sessions are looking lonely (or crowded, depending on your point of view). Please consider offering a session on either "Transformational Leadership" or "Abraham Lincoln." Who are the transformational leaders in your discipline? How does transformational leadership look in politics and ministry, science and art, health sciences and social work? What was Lincoln’s social, economic, artistic, political, or scientific impact? Please send me a title, brief descriptive paragraph, and names of participants by 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21.
The Snazzy Six Syllabus Statements
As you put the finishing touches on your syllabi for the quarter, don’t forget to include the Snazzy Six—policies that need to be included in all SPU syllabi for a variety of communal and legal reasons. The Snazzy Six, in case you have forgotten, are Academic Integrity, Final Examinations, Disability Accommodations, Emergency Procedures, Course Evaluations, and Inclement Weather. This year, you may want to add something about Swine Flu, too. Sample texts for each of these policies are available on the CSFD website, along with other resources for teaching. See the Sample Syllabus template at http://www.spu.edu/depts/csfd/teaching_resources.html and think about irony.
Popular Culture and General Education?
The article "TV or Not TV" in the current issue of The National Teaching and Learning FORUM argues that using popular culture offers a quicker, surer way to teach critical thinking skills than most any other 'text' available. Those who weigh in include frequent PBS Newshour guest Robert Thompson of Syracuse University. See http://www.ntlf.com/newsletter/. Do we all need to start watching TV? (If so, I recommend Lost, Mad Men, The Office, and Glee.)
Quote of the Week:
“Righteousness, justice, and equity should inform thinking and doing at Seattle Pacific University.”
-Bo Lim, at Faculty Retreat.
Cheers,
Susan Susan VanZanten |
