Writing Assignment Design: Start to Finish (Working Group)

Event Date & Time

Event Description

This three-part working group is offered by the Writing Across the Curriculum Program (WAC). The WAC is a TLEF-funded collaboration between the Faculty of Science and the Writing Centre designed to support the teaching and learning of writing in the sciences (http://scwrl.ubc.ca/wac/).

This summer, the WAC community of practice (CoP) will operate a three-part working group to support educators in developing or redesigning writing assignments for their science courses. During the working group, participants will have the opportunity to interact with guest speakers from the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) and the Science Centre for Teaching and Learning (Skylight), as well as the WAC team members. Sessions will include peer review and a sharing and question and answer section. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch.

Session I. Suggestions for writing assignment design
Tuesday, June 14th, 12-1 pm
Description: During the first session, our guests speakers will introduce topics to help educators start developing or redesigning their science writing assignment, including:
-general things to think about when starting an assignment;
-matching your assignment to your objectives;
-building process or scaffolding into your assignment;
-assessment of your assignment;
-integrating indigenous content and issues affecting indigenous communities into your assignment;
-writing to learn (especially to assess prior knowledge and work through knowledge gaps); and
-places to get additional resources and support.
Guest Speakers:
Dr. Gillian Gerhard, Faculty Liaison (Science), Flexible Learning Project, Skylight & CTLT (http://ctlt.ubc.ca/about/people/flexible-learning-project-office/)
Janey Lew, Educational Developer: Indigenous Initiatives, Aboriginal Initiatives Unit, CTLT (http://ctlt.ubc.ca/about/people/aboriginal-initiatives/)

Session II. Guided peer review of the writing assignment
Tuesday, July 12, 12-1 pm
Description: During the second session, participants will bring their writing assignments and conduct a guided peer review of the writing assignments.

Session III. Sharing session
Wednesday, August 10th, 12-1 pm
Description: During the third session, participants will share their revised writing assignments and receive feedback from the group. Participants will also have the opportunity to pose questions to the guest speakers from the first session.