September 12, 2012

  • Pre-TYCA Thoughts.

    At the TYCA-Midwest conference in less than a month, I'm presenting with someone cool about how our instructional guides, as English teachers, need to be tweaked from time to time.

    Our proposal looked something like this:

    Title: "If we write it well, will they do the same? Aworkshop on improving our writing assignments instructions"

    Abstract Information for Conference Program:
    What is the worst assignment you ever had as a student and why was it the worst?  Often, it is because of the assignments themselves.This workshop is to provide positive, critical feedback so this does not happen to us. If possible, bring copies of assignments, but this is not required. 

    Session Abstract for Presentation:
    Students were asked this question: What is the worst assignment you ever had and why was it the worst?  Some of their answersfor why it was the worst had to do with vague directions, inaccurate assumptions about student abilities, and the assignment giving the perceptionof busy work.  The purpose of this workshop is to provide positive,critical feedback to our peers about each others' assignments in a supportive,nurturing environment.  Participants are urged to bring copies of their assignments to the workshop, but this is not required.  Please join useven if the assignment is in the brainstorming stage. 

    ---

    So, today when I find some time (and in the days to come), I should dig up various drafts of assignments/projects/papers I've used. The big one that I revise constantly is the Shortfolio in English 120. I could bring that one to the conference for sure. I "get" what the project asks for, but students always struggle with it. I think I've revised the GBP in Eng120, too. And I'm sure I have Eng110 assignments that I could look through, too, for various drafts (what did I use back in 2005 and 2006 when I first started teaching here? I wonder if I use anything that's the same? It'd be a fun "look back in time" for me for sure!). 

    #tyca
    #tycamidwest