>
>I didn't see mention of class-size restrictions in your W courses. Traditional
>WI course structures limit class size in order to facilitate the teaching of
>writing and revision. It was this factor that killed off the idea in
>Engineering at U of Toronto. Are your numbers restricted? If not, how do/will
>the faculty cope?
>
>Rob Irish
At 01:56 PM 5/20/2004 -0400, you wrote:
Rob, yours important question and one we are wrestling with and will
determine the success of the writing - intensive implementation process
over time.
In many respects at SFU large classes are the targeted courses -
especially at the lower division level.
Class size has been one of the largest hurdles to overcome with regard to
the implementation of the writing-intensive learning courses.
The Writing Support Group (WSG) which is an elected cross-disciplinary
body has developed a proposal process for identifying the requirements and
commitment of resources for supporting writing-intensive learning in large
classes -
so now there is a requirement for faculty orientation, education and
consultation prior to the course development stage, a detailed proposal
process and adjudication of a process through development of a
syllabus, possibly at at this point (rare) granting of release time to
develop a new W course, allocation of resources and training for the number
of TA's required, an increase in TA funding for more hours for feedback
and evaulation of "W" assignments, and then pre-semester and during
semester training for TA's in w courses. For the Faculty also
consultation over the semester, and post-course assessment. Up until
recently our Centre was responsible for all of the above in pilot courses
and now we are more involved in assisting in the development of proposals
and courses, working with Faculty in individual courses TA
training, assessment and research, and developing better workshops.
Since the beginning of this fiscal year April 1, 2004 the WSG
adjudicates the W proposals and the funding - the rest of the details are
also works in progress but we are making headway.
I can pass along the Undergraduate Taskforce website so that people can get
the history and background on how the University has come to its
definitions and criteria.
http://www2.sfu.ca/ugcr/
So far, there is a strong commitment - both financial and institutional for
these changes to occur and I think that is at the heart of our success,
apart from the incredible vision and commitment from individuals like
Wendy. We have been the little centre that could - but now it is in the
hands of a larger university infra-structure and how the requirements are
upheld and negotiated across the University community.
K
>Quoting Kathryn Alexander <[log in to unmask]>:
>
> > At 01:14 PM 5/19/2004 -0600, you wrote:
> >
> > Hello all - as you might know from Wendy Strachan and my presentation
> > at INKSHED - SFU has now passed in Senate as of last monday the "W"
> > requirement for writing-intensive learning across the entire undergraduate
> > curriculum.
> >
> > I can pass along our web-site for the Centre for Writing Intensive
> > Learning (CWIL) and links to faculty resources that have a list of
> > pilot courses and some assignments and syllabi.
> >
> > These are the criteria that new "W" courses will be expected to integrate
> > into their existing curricula and they define what SFU means by a "W"
> > course. I have posted them below.
> >
> > I have also provided a link to the Centre for Writing Intensive Learning
> > web-site where you can find these guidelines
> >
> > http://www.sfu.ca/cwil/facrespg/wguidelines.html
> >
> > and also discipline specific resources that have been developed in pilot
> > courses since the FALL 2002 semester.
> >
> > http://www.sfu.ca/cwil/facrespg/wil_courses.html Here you can look at
> > syllabi and some assignments from pilot courses that have already begun to
> > integrate w criteria.
> >
> > The general rule of thumb will be that as of Sept. 2006 new students
> > will be required to take 6 credits ( 2 courses) of w courses in
> > total, one at lower division and one at upper division.
> >
> > This is a work in progress ( as is the web-site) - but after two years of
> > really hard work - the criteria and the infrastructure is in place. Let
> > the games begin!
> >
> > cheers
> >
> > kathryn
> >
> >
> > >I'm putting together a workshop on the state of WAC and I want to update
> > >myself on what other people are doing. I'm especially interested in
> > >which universities use a writing-intensive course model. I'd be even
> > >more grateful for specific resources such as the criteria used for WI
> > >courses, how many of them must be taken, how this is enforced -- the
> > >logistical nitty gritty.
> > >
> > >If everyone is willing, I'd suggest replying to the list rather than to
> > >me personally -- there have been a number of such discussions that
> > >started on CASLL and then moved off-list, and I for one would have liked
> > >to follow the conversation; I'm sure many others will be interested
> > >too. Nice break from viagra ads.
> > >
> > >Thanks, all!
> > >
> > >Doug
> > >--
> > >Dr. Doug Brent
> > >Associate Dean (Academic)
> > >Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary
> > >2500 University Drive N.W.
> > >Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
> > >Voice: (403) 220-5458 Fax: (403) 282-6716
> > >http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dabrent
> > >
> > > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> > > To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
> > > [log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
> > > write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >For the list archives and information about the organization,
> > > its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
> > > http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
> > > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> >
> > "A Writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for
> > other people." Thomas Mann
> > _________________________________________
> >
> > Kathryn Alexander, Ph.D.,
> > Centre for Writing Intensive Learning (CWIL),
> > Simon Fraser University,
> > Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
> > Office: AQ 6207
> > Tel: (604) 268 - 6799 Fax: (604) 268 - 6915
> > email: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> > To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
> > [log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
> > write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
> >
> > For the list archives and information about the organization,
> > its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
> > http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
> > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> >
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
> [log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
> write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
>
>For the list archives and information about the organization,
> its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
> http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"A Writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for
other people." Thomas Mann
_________________________________________
Kathryn Alexander, Ph.D.,
Centre for Writing Intensive Learning (CWIL),
Simon Fraser University,
Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
Office: AQ 6207
Tel: (604) 268 - 6799 Fax: (604) 268 - 6915
email: [log in to unmask]
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
[log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
For the list archives and information about the organization,
its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
