Demystifying the Introductory Course in Theology and
Religion:
Evidence and Strategies for Solving the “Great Divide” Between Faculty
Objectives and Student Expectations
Sponsored by the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion
Friday March 28, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 pm
Coffee and pastries will be available at 8:15 am;
Lunch will be provided
Luther Seminary, Northwestern Hall, Room 230
2481 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108
In her book, Teaching and Learning in College Introductory Religion Courses (Blackwell, 2008), Dr. Barbara Walvoord, of the University of Notre Dame, published the findings of a two-year research project funded by the Wabash Center. She studied 533 courses whose instructors were identified as "highly effective" in helping students meet the learning goals established by faculty. Walvoord discovered a "great divide" between faculty objectives and student expectations. Faculty most frequently indicated that their goal was for students to develop critical thinking skills, while students most frequently desired to learn factual information and develop their own spiritual lives.
This is a hands-on, interactive workshop for faculty teaching introductory religion courses (of a wide variety, including introduction to world religions) to undergraduate college students. We will unpack the findings of Walvoord’s research before examining our own course goals and assignments. The workshop is intended to increase teaching and learning satisfaction by focusing on how to bridge this “great divide.” You will work on your own introductory course student learning goals, craft effective assignments, and discuss how to assess student learning. Participants should bring a copy of their introductory course syllabus (or syllabi).
Multiple faculty
from the same department are welcome. Workshop participants will receive a copy
of Walvoord's book and a box lunch. All participants
are eligible to apply for a non-competitive $2000 Introductory Course Department
Grant to host a workshop on teaching introductory courses at their school or in
their region.
There is no charge for the workshop, but advanced registration is
required.
Register at:
http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/programs/article.aspx?id=12637
For more
information about the research see:
http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/resources/article2.aspx?id=9951
Questions? Send email to Thomas Pearson, Wabash Center (pearsont@wabash.edu).
Re-cap:
Participants in the workshop will:
1. Review and discuss research data that describes a “great divide”
between faculty and student learning goals in college introductory religion
courses.
2. Develop and discuss the goals for their introductory religion course.
3. Develop and discuss strategies to achieve the course goals
by intentionally using the gap between students’ and faculty expectations of the
course
4. Develop and discuss course assignments
5. Qualify for a Wabash Center Follow-Up Departmental Grant to host
a workshop on teaching introductory courses at your school.
The workshop is independent from the conference. (It is not necessary to attend the conference to participate in the pre-conference workshop.)
Workshop Facilitators:
Lori Hale, Augsburg College (Minneapolis, MN)
Martha Reineke, University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA)
Elna K. Solvang, Concordia College (Moorhead, MN)
Kimberly Vrudny, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN)