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Update on the plan to revise Virginia Tech’s general education curriculum
This presentation provides an overview of the current draft curriculum, Pathways to General Education as well as the planning stages that are underway. Please direct any questions and suggestions to Jill Sible ([email protected]; 231-0372) or any member of the curricular planning teams listed on slide 12.
A Brief History of General Education at Virginia Tech
1985 University Core Curriculum established, 5 areas of study 1992 UCCLE established, Core expanded to 7 areas,
Writing Intensive requirement added 2002- Core was studied, recommendations were made, 2004 pilot pathways were launched
2005 Core Curriculum renamed Curriculum for Liberal Education,
VIEWS replaced WI 2010- AAC&U symposium; ½ time Director for CLE,
UCCLE, and task forces examined the CLE, accreditation requirements (assessment), national trends and
best practices in general education, student and employer perspectives
Why fix it? Is it even broken?
Student perspective: http://youtu.be/LeaAHv4UTI8 Assessment – and a shifting focus from teaching to learning Employers and 21st Century Skills
Why fix it? Is it even broken? Top 10 qualities employers want from our graduates (from AAC&U): 1. The ability to work well in teams—especially with people different from yourself 2. An understanding of science and technology and how these subjects are used in real-world settings 3. The ability to write and speak well 4. The ability to think clearly about complex problems 5. The ability to analyze a problem to develop workable solutions 6. An understanding of global context in which work is now done 7. The ability to be creative and innovative in solving problems 8. The ability to apply knowledge and skills in new settings 9. The ability to understand numbers and statistics 10. A strong sense of ethics and integrity
A Brief History of General Education at Virginia Tech
Since last May….. • Review of blog posts and other feedback • Additional research and benchmarking • Consideration of challenges • State Transfer Policy and Transfer students • Opportunity for Exploration • Time to Degree • Changes of Major
Pathways to General Education freshman
discourse
quant/comp thinking
scientific reasoning
aesthetics, creativity and design thinking
human thought, behavior and relationship
transfer student
core outcomes met through VCCS or other institution
two Pathways courses Pathways
minors
alternative Pathways
integration
ethical reasoning
inclusive, intercultural global knowledge
Pathways to General Education Virginia Tech will offer pathways that engage students in a hands-on, minds-on
approach to general education with the goal of training graduates with a lifetime commitment to curiosity, initiative and reflection as learners.
Core learning outcomes (met through specific coursework; may double-count with major requirements) LO1) Engage in discourse effectively both as professionals and citizens (9 cr) LO2) Apply quantitative and computational thinking (6 cr) LO3) Utilize scientific reasoning (6 cr) LO4) Utilize the principles of aesthetics, creativity and design thinking (3 cr) LO5) Investigate human thought, behavior and relationship with the world (6 cr) Comprehensive learning outcomes (met through coursework, minors, or alternative pathways) LO6) Integrate knowledge across the domains in which students will live and work LO7) Reason ethically LO8) Apply inclusive, intercultural and global knowledge
Next steps
1. Share current proposal across campus with colleges and departments { department heads { deans and VPs { associate deans for undergraduate education
{ vice provosts for resource considerations/implications (human resources and commitments from assessment and evaluation, CIDER, TLOS)
{ UCCLE
{ students!!!
2. Construct planning teams to detail outcomes
3. Build consensus and move to governance
4. Prioritize and call for pilots
Tasks for Curricular Planning Teams
| Phase I (by February 1):
{ Attend charge meeting
{ Articulate 3-5 learning indicators that explain and detail the broad learning outcome
{ Determine appropriate evidence of learning for these outcomes
{ Identify existing courses and minors that meet these outcomes (or could)
Tasks for Curricular Planning Teams
| Phase II (by Spring Break?):
{ Describe potential pedagogical approaches that will effectively foster relevant student learning and support the identified outcomes
{ Describe features of the learning environments that will best support these outcomes
{ Describe opportunities to create integrated instructional environments designed to foster deep learning and support the identified outcomes.
The Support Team
Jill Sible UG Ed
Peter Doolittle CIDER
Kate McConnell Assess& Eval
Stephen Biscotte CLE
Shelli Fowler TLOS
Marlene Preston UCCLE
Willie Caldwell UG Ed
Pathways curricular planning teams Pathways Admin Team Jill Sible Stephen Biscotte Willie Caldwell Kate McConnell Shelli Fowler Marlene Preston Peter Doolittle
UCCLE Marlene Preston Ann-Marie Knoblauch (Visual Arts) Renee Selberg-Eaton (HNFE) Marie Paretti (Eng Ed) Sheila Carter-Tod (English) Don Orth (FW) Carolyn Meier (Libraries)
Scientific Reasoning Richard Walker (BIOL) John Chermak (GEOS) Jeannine Eddleton (CHEM) Ann Kilkelly (PA) Mark Barrow (HIST) Sarah Karpanty (FW) David Schmale (PPWS) Renee Selberg-Eaton (HNFE) Stephen Biscotte
Discourse Marlene Preston Patty Raun (Performing Arts) Quinn Warnick (English) Willie Jester (PCOB) Alma Robinson (physics) Vickie Mouras (CEE) Carolyn Meier (Libraries)
Quantitative Thinking Peter Haskell (math) Art Keown (finance) Mike Ellerbrock (AgEcon) Nicholas Polys (ARC) Eric Lyon (Music) Jane Robertson (stats) Don Orth (FW)
Arts/Design Thinking Kathryn Albright (Arch) Ben Knapp (ICAT) Alan Weinstein (Music) Greg Justice (TA) Jack Lesko (Eng) Barbara Leshyn (Kraft) (Hort) Ed Dorsa (Industrial Design) Matthew Volmer (English) Ann-Marie Knoblauch (Visual Arts) Willie Caldwell
Social Sciences and Humanities Anisa Zvonkovic (HD) Kurt Hoffman (Psyc) Matthew Gabriele (Religion/Culture) Kwame Harrison (Sociology) Greg Tew (Interior Design) Brian Murphy (FW) Sheila Carter-Tod (English) Jill Sible
Computational Thinking Barbara Ryder (CS) Tom Ewing (History) Dennis Kafura (CS) Liesl Baum (ICAT) Tom Martin (ECE) Lydia Patton (philosophy) John Simonetti (Physics) Marie Paretti (Eng Ed) Shelli Fowler (TLOS)
Potential Pathways minors (list not exhaustive)
| Diversity and Community Engagement
| Sustainable Natural Environments
| Science, Engineering and Law
| Leadership and Social Change
| Peace Studies and Violence Prevention
| Humanities, Science and Technology
| Civic Agriculture and Food Systems