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| Computer Science Chair Mandayam Srinivas speaks with CS associate professor Gilbert Young about his research on how a human sorting strategy helps students understand the perplexing logic of algorithms. |
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| Associate Dean of Agriculture Lester Young listens to Hairong Kuang, assistant professor of Computer Science, as she explains the impact of integrating small, in-class programming problems to guide students step-by-step to a deeper understanding. |
More than 40 faculty, staff, administrators and students gathered in the Bronco Student Center on May 13 to learn about new ways of representing teaching and learning. Eight junior faculty who participated in the 2003-04 first Early Career Faculty Learning Community presented course portfolios focusing on student learning as feedback to help them develop their teaching methods.
?The posters and portfolios indicated the thoroughness of the documentation and are a testament to the energy and seriousness with which the early career faculty investigated the consequences of their work with students,? said Ian Stewart, director of the Faculty Center and facilitator of this community. ?The presentation was a wonderful opportunity for these faculty members to share their work with the campus community.?
The following is a list of the junior faculty participants, departments and portfolio topics:
- Herb Fynewever, Chemistry, ?What impact does homework delivery (Web-based vs. textbook) have on student learning??
- Noel Houck, English & Foreign Languages, ?What influences students? ability to conduct an informed discussion of research claims??
- Hairong Kuang, Computer Science, ?What is the impact of integrating small, in-class programming problems to guide students step-by-step to a deeper understanding??
- Olukemi Sawyerr, Management & Human Resources, ?What are some of the ways of helping students appropriately apply the tools and techniques of strategy analysis??
- Michael Silverman, Biological Sciences, ?What is the impact of small group, problem-based learning exercises in deepening student understanding??
- Dave Tough, Music, ?What is the impact of adding more digital editing systems on student learning??
- Faye Wachs, Psychology & Sociology, ?What impact does providing students with the opportunities to grabble with simplified, sociological data sets have in deepening their understanding of the subject matter??
- Gil Young, Computer Science, ?How does a human sorting strategy help students understand the perplexing logic of algorithms??
These junior faculty are all in their second through fourth years of their probationary appointments and were chosen through a competitive process last spring by the Faculty Development Advisory Committee to be part of a cohort that met twice a month for 2 hours throughout the academic year.
?It was interesting to me to see the way members of the Early Career Faculty Learning Community started by adapting the disciplinary styles of their fields in terms of the issues they chose, the methods they used, and the way they presented their work,? said Stewart. ?As the year progressed we all came to realize how much we had in common and how much we can learn from others? questions, methods and styles of presentation.?
In addition to the poster presentations, two-hour seminars led by Cal Poly Pomona faculty, directors and off-campus guests covered the following topics: collaborative learning, discussion strategies, using reading and writing assignments to help people learn, and testing and grading.
Stewart extended appreciation to deans, chairs, the learning community members? mentors and administrators for their support in the Early Career Faculty Learning Community program.
To view the Early Career Faculty Learning Communities course portfolios, click here.