Critical Thinking

This morning 17 of the English faculty gathered to discuss what we teach and how we can continue to improve. There were 9 fulltime and 8 part-time faculty. We were together for 2 hours and could have seriously used another hour of time.

We had gathered to discuss the 5 levels of writing that are offered by the English department. We offer two levels of Developmental Writing; one level of Basic Writing; and then Freshman Composition and Freshman Critical Thinking/Information Competency.

One issue that we are focusing on currently is the reality that not many of the students who begin at the beginning level, Developmental Writing, ever find their way to Freshman Writing. I've thought for a long time that many of the people who enroll into community college (and take the assessment test to learn what level of math, science, and writing they are qualified for) start attending the lowest level classes and discover within the first or second semester that they are not truly interested in being a student, just like they weren't in high school. I believe the students who have a burning desire to obtain a college degree find ways to overcome the obstacles , they discover how to become a student--how to study, how to read critically, how to reason and analyze, but our department is believing that if we could condense the three semesters of writing classes that students must take before they can enter freshman comp, condense those into one semester, that more students would find their way to freshman comp and would be successful when they arrive there.

So this morning we got into small groups according to what level of writing we are currently teaching and then each group discussed the entrance skills a student should have when entering the level of writing that they teach and then what should the exit skills be. Each group wrote their thoughts on a small write board that was then taken to the front. The small groups had to then present their findings to the entire group and discussion began.

It was a morning filled with energy, enthusiasm, and a move toward teamwork that includes the full, as well as the part-time instructors.

That's rather boring, I know, but that's what my morning included. Best of all my headache has subsided. Hooray!

The weekend is here and the enormous temperatures here have decreased.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol