This initiative uses a team-teaching model to address writing in the sciences efficiently and lastingly. We work with three science faculty members in the physical and natural sciences each semester. In time, we envision extending the model into other disciplines. Ultimately, the CIS Science Writing Pilot seeks to nurture a university-wide culture of writing at Channel Islands.
Please note that this is not about providing an English faculty member to grade or "correct" papers. Rather, the aim is to integrate writing with course content and to enable science faculty to teach writing in their disciplines with the effective tools and pedagogical strategies.
Because this "roving" team-teaching model can reach multiple classrooms each semester, we believe it can have a significant and transformative effect on faculty preparedness and student learning in a relatively short time.
If there are more than three requests to be part of the pilot, the CIS committee will choose among the volunteers according to the following criteria:
The volunteers will be chosen as soon as possible after that so that planning for the following semester can begin.
The CIS Science Writing Project launched during the spring semester of 2010. Longtime English faculty member Sean Carswell worked with two faculty members in Biology, Rachel Cartwright and Nitika Parmar, and one faculty member in Environmental Science and Resource Management, Sean Anderson. He worked with each faculty member for five weeks. During that time, he observed several classes; reviewed course documents such as syllabi, writing prompts, quizzes, exams and writing rubrics; worked with faculty to further develop prompts, rubrics, and activities geared toward fostering writing; and prepared an informal report offering feedback. The reports are available below.
