Core Education Committee

Voting members present: Aidas Banaitis, Geoffrey Barstow, Abigail Crowell, Daniel Faltesek, Colin Johnson, Brian Mills, Rene Reitsma, Randy Rosenberger, Kari-Lyn Sakuma, Paula Weiss
Voting members absent: Kelsey Emard, Matthew Kennedy, Lori McGraw
Ex-officio members present: Academic Affairs – Heath Henry; Ecampus – Katherine McAlvage (v. Watte); Difference, Power & Oppression – Natchee Barnd; WIC – Sarah Perrault
Guests: Pat Ball, Stephanie Baugh, Kristin Nagy Catz, Michael Jefferies

Course reviews

• GEO 101 – Planet Earth
  • The course overall was good, but a few difficulties with Learning Outcomes (LOs) being met.
  • LO3 was not well met – “consequences for science in society” via a reflection video. The actual video instructions didn’t speak to those (topic was hypothesis testing).
    • The student listens to other students and takes those viewpoints and synthesizes them, not sure why this has those consequences for society.
    • Seems like they are overloading the assignment.

Action: Motion to roll back for more specific language on the LO3; seconded. Motion passes with no objections.

• ENG 215 – Classical Mythology
• Provides a rich reading of the ways that the course works through mythology.
• Strong alignment between modalities
• Exemplary

Action: Motion to approve; seconded. Motion passes with no objections.

• COMM 111Z – Public Speaking
  • This will be discussed during the next meeting.
• MTH 111Z – Precalculus 1: Functions
  • This will be discussed during the next meeting.

Policy: Seeking Solutions and 30-minutes ‘Mentorship’

• The mentorship clause was a way of resolving the question of high impact practices, preventing mass lecture and passive modes.
• Ecampus typically would not advise a synchronous component.
• Teaching Assistants were considered for mentors, but they would need professional development.
• The College of Engineering’s COE concern with the teamwork aspect is that not every student is willing to be a team player, how can mentors educate them and create accountability?
  • Group accountability is important, “substantive engagement” the requirement is to see that people involved know there is an additional expectation.
• Don’t play down 30 minutes, but 30 minutes means “substantive engagement”.
• Define ‘supervision’.
  • Instructor should be engaged so that the internal dynamics of the groups can be resolved.
  • The instructor is there for conflict resolution, the instructor is required to intervene weeks later to deal with that conflict.
• Discussion tabled until next week.