SLOAC Announcements
Check here for additional timely information.

Posted: 09/18/05

Some details about the September 23rd SLOAC Workshop:

Prepacket from Bakersfield

A letter from the coordinators

Directions to San Mateo Marriott

Schedule for the Day

Instruction Workshop Description

List of Participants - View this list to see who will be attending the workshop. You are encouraged to contact your colleagues to plan to collaborate in the workshop.
(Note that this list will be removed after September 23, 2005)

 

Posted: 08/18/05

Hands-on workshop at the San Mateo Marriott
Friday, September 23rd from 9-3.
(Breakfast will be provided prior to the workshop, starting at 8 am).

The workshop will be led by three Bakersfield Community College faculty-- two instructional faculty and one counselor-- who are experienced with the SLOAC and have led SLOAC workshops at many California community colleges. Two strands-- instructional and student services-- will be held simultaneously, and so faculty and student services staff in particular are encouraged to attend. This practical workshop will deal with the development and assessment of SLOs at the course level, a meaningful activity not only to address WASC standards but also—and more importantly—to improve student learning.

 If you wish to attend, please email me your name and department by Tuesday, September 6, noon, so I can reserve a space for you. But because space is limited, priority will be given to those taking a lead on the initiative (the assumption being that the "leaders" can train members of their division). So please also include a brief description of your degree of involvement (i.e., SLOAC Steering Committee) in case more people apply than can be accommodated. Every effort will also be made to ensure representation across the campus.

 Q & A's About the upcoming September 23rd workshop.

Why is this workshop important? Why do we need to write SLOs?
The new accreditation standards require colleges to provide evidence for student learning and then use the results of the evidence to improve learning. In these standards, a student learning outcome describes the knowledge, skills, abilities, or attitudes that students have attained by the end of a college experience; a college experience is defined as a course, a program, a degree or certificate, and interactions with Student Services and the Library. Clearly faculty must play a central role in articulating these outcomes. Through this workshop, we will begin to understand SLOs, gain confidence in writing SLOs, and explore ways to assess them for our courses. The benefits of this workshop are a greater understanding of SLOs, a means to educational improvement, and a constructive dialogue with colleagues about student learning.

For whom is this workshop designed?
The workshop is designed specifically for faculty members who teach one or more courses, counselors, and student services staff.

What will I get out of the workshop?

• This practical workshop will deal with the  development and assessment of SLOs at the course level, which all of us  eventually will have to do. You can develop drafts in concert with your  colleagues during the workshop, or you may opt to bring the drafts you  generate in the workshop to subsequent departmental meetings for further  discussion.
  
• Our colleagues from Canada and CSM also will be attending  this workshop. Thus, you may be able to collaborate with colleagues in your  discipline from our sister schools.
  
• All hours for this workshop beyond your usual  teaching hours on this day can count toward flex credit.
  
• You will be able to break bread with your  colleagues since both breakfast and lunch will be provided.
  

What do I need to do to prepare for the workshop on September 23?
You will need to (1) review a brief prepacket entitled "Getting Started with Student Learning Outcomes," and (2) complete the Angelo and Cross Teaching Inventory Test online (it’s a quick inventory) before September 23. Once the participant list is finalized, these materials and the URL will be emailed to you.

In addition, you may want to bring official course outlines to the workshop so that you can generate SLOs from what was already articulated.

Are there provisions for substitutes for my classes that meet that day?
Yes, you can request provisions for substitutes for your classes through your deans, who can forward the request to VPI Regina Stanback-Stroud's office. Include the quantitative information you generally list on a short-term professional development application: how many hours you will need a substitute, a calculation of the amount of money needed, and your dean's approval. (Or you may want to  assign students an out-of-class assignment for the day.)

Can I get flex credit for this activity?
Yes, hours for this activity beyond your teaching hours on this day can be counted toward flex hours.

Karen Wong
Professor of English
SLOAC Chair
Skyline College
3300 College Drive
San Bruno, CA. 94066
650-738-4369
wongk@smccd.net
http://smccd.net/accounts/wongk/

Posted: XX/XX/05

Additional Announcement 2

Student Learnrning