Concretizing the Abstract: “Poetic Challenges” As Practical Application in the Blended Classroom

Event Date & Time

Event Description

Pillar: Transformative Learning

Please note: Experience teaching in a blended learning environment is not required. Poetic Challenges are appropriate for all levels and learning modes.

UBC Creative Writing’s Minor program offers a selection of large lecture courses across a broad range of genres at the 200 –level, with student enrollment varying between 100 – 400 students. In keeping with the university’s strategic plan to offer flexible learning experiences, and due to limited availability in large lecture halls, UBC CRWR ran two pilot blended learning courses in the Fall and Spring of 2018/2019 academic year.

Ian Williams and Sheryda Warrener, instructors of CRWR 201: Introduction to the Writing of Poetry collaborated over the summer of 2018 to re-design iterations of their lecture courses to include a weekly online module component to replace one of the in-class weekly sessions.

At the outset of redesigning CRWR 201 lecture as a blended learning course, we were set with the challenge of creating a whole learning experience for our students from, essentially, two halves: online and in-class components. As we developed scripts and created modules from our combined lecture notes, we reflected on assessments that would connect these materials to meaningful in-class learning experiences.

We learned, during this process, that just as poems root abstract emotions in a sensory world, the in-class portion of a blended learning course must take concepts covered in the weekly online materials and make practical applications that are useful, relevant and concrete for learners. Some of the pedagogical questions that began to arise: How do we create a seamless relationship between what students are doing on their own (i.e. online) and the active learning component in the classroom? What makes a meaningful learning experience? How do we boost higher-order thinking while practicing authentic application of skills? What followed from many conversations was the creation of what we have come to call Poetic Challenges.

In this interactive workshop, we will engage participants in a group Poetic Challenge based on a short video and reading component. We’ll then reflect on “real world” practical applications of skills relevant to the different disciplines/subjects of the individuals present, and use this information to support the design of meaningful, creative group or individual challenges for the classroom. Participants will integrate a range of cognitive complexities (e.g. curation, synthesis and evaluation) into their design that is relevant to their disciplines and aligns with assessments/course objectives.

Facilitators:

• Sheryda Warrener, Lecturer, Creative Writing Program
• Ian Williams, Professor, Creative Writing Program