Workshop Details
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Workshop Title: The Solution-Problem-Solution Sequence: Integrating Courses in Computer Programming and Communication
Faculty and Institutions:
David Neumann (Department of Communication), Rochester Institute of Technology
Keith Whittington (School of Informatics), Rochester Institute of Technology
Background: For several years two professors had problems. In reality one’s problem was the other’s solution. One taught a course in small group communication, but lacked a class project that would engage students from across disciplines – a solution in search of a problem. The other taught courses in computer programming using the Team-Based Learning process, but the students lacked strong communication skill – a problem in search of a solution. Together they developed a team-taught, team-based active learning course in communication and computer programming.
Objectives: This workshop will engage participants and inform them about:
1. fostering an environment of collaborative teaching and learning
2. opportunities and obstacles when integrating two disparate curricula
3. strategies for using active learning throughout an entire course
4. sample active learning techniques applicable to many disciplines
Workshop Format:
1. The workshop will begin with an overview of this team-taught course covering aspects of internal funding, scheduling, curricula issues, and an overview of the solution-problem-solution sequence.
2. Next, in pairs, participants will engage is creative problem-solving to discover ways in which two courses from different discipline might be combined.
3. Workshop participants will then engage in a variety of classroom activities used by the presenters. These activities are powerful methods to engage students in learning while encouraging communication and teamwork.
4. As these activities have a good deal of breadth, participants will then apply them to their own disciplines. This part of the workshop will be highly interactive.
5. More detail about the course will be covered including student development of in-class activities, peer assessment and evaluation, arranging the classroom environment to be conductive for student teams, and using professionals to serve as evaluators of student work.
6. Examples of student work will be shared and critiqued by workshop participants.
7. In small groups, workshop participants will discuss ways to use the Solution-Problem-Solution Sequence relevant to their disciplines.
8.
Program Conclusion: The program will collude with a final
Q&A wrap-up.
Length of Workshop: 90 minutes
This workshop is appropriate for any experience level.
