BRIDGE: COM 103 Revisited Minmin Wang & Jonathan Millen Department of Communication and Journalism Minmin Wang & Jonathan Millen Department of Communication and Journalism

The Course  COM 103 Introduction to Communication Studies: Theory and Practice  New Core and Curriculum  First Year Focus  BRIDGE  COM 103 Introduction to Communication Studies: Theory and Practice  New Core and Curriculum  First Year Focus  BRIDGE

Experience with BRIDGE  From Teaching to Learning  Backward Design and beyond (goals-assignments-assessments)  Fostering Learning Habits in Disciplinary Contexts  From Teaching to Learning  Backward Design and beyond (goals-assignments-assessments)  Fostering Learning Habits in Disciplinary Contexts

The First Time Through (2006)  Confirmation of Content  Challenges  inclusion/exclusion  pedagogical approach  Discourse Gap  student perspective  disciplinary perspective  Confirmation of Content  Challenges  inclusion/exclusion  pedagogical approach  Discourse Gap  student perspective  disciplinary perspective

The Textbook  Standard Survey Approach  Quantity Over Quality  Tension: Content & Critical Thinking  From Information to Wisdom  Standard Survey Approach  Quantity Over Quality  Tension: Content & Critical Thinking  From Information to Wisdom

Second Time Around (2007)  Primary Readings For Us  Assembly Process  Encouraged Ongoing Course Assessment  Enabled More Natural Pace  Facilitated Discussion  Highlighted the Space Between (Links)  Generated Meaningful Assignments  Primary Readings For Us  Assembly Process  Encouraged Ongoing Course Assessment  Enabled More Natural Pace  Facilitated Discussion  Highlighted the Space Between (Links)  Generated Meaningful Assignments

Second Time Around (2007)  Primary Readings For Them  More Voices  Active Reading  Preparation for Higher Learning  Requires Better Reading Skills  Polarizes Students  Primary Readings For Them  More Voices  Active Reading  Preparation for Higher Learning  Requires Better Reading Skills  Polarizes Students

Primary Reading and Assignments / Dynamics added to backward design / Goals-Primary Readings - Assignments-Assessments) / Dynamics added to backward design / Goals-Primary Readings - Assignments-Assessments)

Assignments: Searching for the “best possible” that will make teaching/learning work / “The way to save time, make every moment count, and integrate grading, learning, and motivation is to plan your grading from the first moment your begin planning the course and to consider not only how you will shape goals but how your students will.” B. Walvoord &V. Anderson, Effective Grading.

Assignments: Dynamics, Goals and Assessment 1. Reading Notes -- from focusing on concepts to developing habits of learning and thinking (Robert Leamnson) 2. Ethnographic analysis --Develop abilities to observe, reflect, and see patterns and implicit rules that govern everyday communication. 1. Reading Notes -- from focusing on concepts to developing habits of learning and thinking (Robert Leamnson) 2. Ethnographic analysis --Develop abilities to observe, reflect, and see patterns and implicit rules that govern everyday communication.

Illuminating Stories from Students  Kristen Gold (Spring 07)  From a “no-test taker” to an A student with all her classes ever after  Dimitry Chesnokov (Fall 07)  From his initial struggle with the readings to an A for his outstanding ethnographic study of the 1st date  Jamie Hall (Fall 07)  An EOP student, who went through from “a frustrated reader’ to “being enlightened’ by the readings, and made from a low C in her 1st exam to an A in the final.  Kristen Gold (Spring 07)  From a “no-test taker” to an A student with all her classes ever after  Dimitry Chesnokov (Fall 07)  From his initial struggle with the readings to an A for his outstanding ethnographic study of the 1st date  Jamie Hall (Fall 07)  An EOP student, who went through from “a frustrated reader’ to “being enlightened’ by the readings, and made from a low C in her 1st exam to an A in the final.

Moving Forward  Departmental Administration  Longitudinal Assessment  Energized & Liberated Faculty  Departmental Administration  Longitudinal Assessment  Energized & Liberated Faculty

Thank you!