SOFM Faculty Development

Thoughts on my Day w/Business Faculty:

Revisit the thread from fall 2008 called: Re: "My Students Can't Write" workshop...

Sample Posting:

I really like the idea of unpacking this notion of what students can or can't do and to think with faculty about why we couch our concerns with student writing in these terms. At the same time, I wouldn't want to get my colleagues into a "gotcha" situation. I wonder if reframing it a little might be helpful. Here's a rough version: "When We Say 'Our Students Can't Write': A Workshop in Pedagogical Translation." It's not as provocative or as catchy as your original, but it might also allow participants to hold onto (for the forces of good) some strong beliefs about what students need to learn how to do as writers in their courses. Then the workshop might be about helping participants to revise one or two class plans this semester to work on one or two things they name with their students for a very short (ten minutes) period of time, using a range of strategies that you all brainstorm together. This way, participants can do something with their concerns besides voicing them.

You've probably already thought about this, also, but I wonder if you workshop could be the first in a series in which you more directly address what students "can do" and "can't do." As others have said, many of us often find it challenging but satisfying to be able to identify strengths in student writing. Teaching "up to" strong work can be easier for us than teaching to eliminate deficits or fill in significant gaps. To create balance in the writing universe then, how about a follow up workshop called "What My Students Can Do: Shameless Bragging Across the Curriculum." (WPA List, nw2108@COLUMBIA.EDU, 9/29/08)