NSE Course Development Workshop

May 14, 2015

NSEs for High-Ability Students

High expectations, particularly related to grades

Burn out/complacencyMore competitive peer groupDesire for stabilitySocial awkwardnessLack of familiarity with campus/materialOthers?

Challenges Facing High-Ability Students

Academic exposureA test runBoth challenging and reassuringA legitimate and valuable academic experience

Developing college life skillsAdjusting to BaylorFostering positive social behaviors

Merging the social and academicMaking the class relevantDeveloping relationships with depth

Goals

Goal-oriented SyllabusMonday:

content deliveryWednesday:

responding to out-of-class assignments

Friday:

Informal discussion, modern application; moving the classroom

Exposing students to different styles of teachingDifferent modes of content delivery: lecture, debate, power

point, online, research, scavenger hunt, think/pair/share, student-led lecture, flipped classroom, role play, game play

Exposing students to different styles of learningGuided readingClass discussionEncouraging self-motivation

Exposing students to different styles of assignmentPapers, quizzes, exams, social media, group projects

Combatting grade inflationLots of assignmentsSome very low grades

Academic exposure

Moving the classroomCommon Grounds, locations on campus,

Cameron Park, my house, online classExtracurricular meetings

Breakfast in BrooksElevensies

Group workMe vs Them

College Life Skills

Toga! Toga!

Merging the Social and AcademicClassroom discussion (in and out of the

classroom)Debasing the coinage

“Thus it is clear that man recognizes God because, in a way, he remembers and recognizes the source from which he sprang. Moreover virtue exists in man and God alike.”

(Cicero, On the Laws 1.25; Keyes trans.)

Academic exposureBasic class skills

Use standard text as coreResearch-based learning

Independent projectsExperts

Developing college life skillsLibrary skillsPositive classroom environment

CitizenshipWeekly discussion

Goals – application to a science NSE

Student and issue-guided topicsFlexibility in the course

Go to the expertsPeer-reviewed journalsGuest lectures

Ex. Religion and Sustainability (Dr. Fulton)

Focus on current issues and eventsCase studies

Ex. NY Times expose on nail salonsEPA response

Weekly discussion based on news storiesBuild writing skills over course

Eliminate fluff!

Research-based learning

Introduce library and database queriesStart course with library training session

Christina Chan-Parkhttp://libcal.baylor.edu/profile/1433

Empowers students with access to newest research and findings

Critical for science studentsPrimary medium for current research

Necessary skill for advanced courses

Library skills

Flexible discussion time for current issues in Environmental HealthEx. Ebola epidemic in 2014, new Clean Power

plan Students choose articlesRequired participation, interaction

Professor steps back, sits with classConnection of class topics to the real issues

Lack of a clear answerGlobal community

Weekly discussion

Hello! I will not be in class today however I decided to send you my article that I planned for discussion in case there was time available in class. The article I choose is titled "Banning Lead Ammunition Could Give Condors a Chance". I would like to begin the discussion by saying that often times went it comes to toxic metals, especially lead, humans tend to only focus on the toxic effects it can have on humans and not the wildlife around us. However, toxic metals can definitely have effects on wildlife like the Condors in California. Some points I'd like to take from the article: • California becomes the first state to require that all hunting ammunition be lead-free.• The heavy metal's many harmful effects have led to its ban from sources such as paint

and gasoline. But lead ammunition remains one of the largest unregulated sources of lead in the environment

• Several studies have found that scavenging species such as golden eagles, bald eagles, ravens, turkey vultures, and pumas have been exposed to and affected by lead.

• Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death in juvenile and free-flying California condors.

• Condors aren't being shot by the lead bullets but when they eat the carcasses of animals shot with lead bullets they develop a risk of being exposed to the toxic metal. 

• After the ban was first implemented in 2007, Condor populations and other bird species showed a decrease in lead exposure and poisoning. 

Many scientist are hoping this ban will have a domino effect in other states.Questions for discussion: • With the obvious proof behind the adverse effects of lead, why hasn't ammunition

companies already made a complete switch from lead ammunition to non-lead ammunition? 

• Research has shown that condors are still being exposed to lead after the lead ban, what could be some possible ways the condors are still being exposed to? 

• Aside from benefits to wildlife populations, what would be some other benefits to a lead-free ammunition industry? 

Build research, presentation and writing skills

Independent topic selectionFoster ownership of projectCentral theme ties topics together

Mandatory use of peer-reviewed literaturePresentation with audience participation

5 minShort, reference-heavy research paper

Independent projects

Classroom discussionEncourage all participation

First generation studentsMale and female students

Baylor communityEngage with their cohortAcademic opportunities and resourcesParticipate and thrive

Beyond the classroomHow to engage with academic topics in the

“real world”

Citizenship