About the Undergraduate Fellows
Value Statement:
As one of the three main bodies of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, the Undergraduate Fellows strive to enhance the learner-centered environment of the classroom.
Mission Statement:
For Students:To provide and promote opportunities for interaction with Teaching Assistants and Faculty both in and out of the classroom.
For Teaching Assistants:
To offer an undergraduate perspective and to help stimulate active teaching and learning.
For Faculty:
To provide a representative undergraduate voice and to cultivate synergic dialogue among students and faculty.
For the University:
To reaffirm the academic values of the University’s mission and contribute to the enrichment of the teaching and learning experience.
Completed Tasks:
During the 2011-2012 academic year, the UF completed six programs, most of which occurred in the Spring semester. Our semesterly reincarnation of the GE Professor Meet N Greet occurred twice, bringing students and General Education professors together in the LiteraTea coffeehouse to encourage dialogue and greater interest in GE classes.
Jim Green led his event, “Encouraging Attendance and Participation,” to start the spring UF calendar, giving a short presentation to focus the presentation on a few concrete issues pertaining to attendance and participation. The panel was comprised of Joseph Dombrosky, Colby Kennedy, and Becky Courter (TA Fellow). The event was then opened to general discussion. The Daily Trojan ran two pieces on the event, one reporting it (http://dailytrojan.com/2011/02/23/cet-discusses-poor-classroom-attendance/) and one op-ed on the issue of classroom attendance (http://dailytrojan.com/2011/03/06/classroom-needs-a-creative-approach/).
Soon after, Rebecca Braun led her event “Breaking Barriers: Interdisciplinary Teaching and Relevance in the Classroom,” with Faculty Fellow Geoff Middlebrook. Rebecca facilitated a discussion among Andrew Curtis (senior lecturer in American Studies and Ethnicity), Max Glickman (Theater undergraduate), and Brenda Yang. The discussion focused on the interdisciplinary major, the incorporation of multiple disciplines and approaches for classes of varied majors, and the importance of “real world” relevance in the classroom.
Sarah Bedo led her event, “Breaking the Language Barrier,” on March 25. Working with Jim Valentine and the American Language Institute, Sarah brought together a panel of ESL graduate students and their undergraduate English tutors. TA Fellow Anna Skylar also joined the panel, sharing her own experience as an ESL student and educator. Sally Pratt and Jim Valentine were active members of the audience, helping to guide the discussion and make audience members aware of the ALI’s resources.
On March 29, Kelsey McLane led her event, “Making the Grade: Round Table on Grade Inflation.” In a roundtable discussion that included faculty, TAs, students, and staff, Kelsey led discussion on guarding against grade inflation and general grading policy at USC. The event built on previous CET events on grading. Steve Finkel provided guidance on the execution of this project.
Finally, Michelle Tomkovicz led her event, “Competing with Facebook: Regulating Laptop Use in the Classroom” on March 30. Michelle assembled a panel of undergraduates (Joseph Dombrosky, Brenda Yang) and faculty (Lisa Schweitzer, SPPD, and Tita Rosenthal). The panelists were chosen with their diverse opinions on the topic of laptop policy in mind. Michelle began by projecting several questions by PowerPoint to steer the conversation. The discussion was impassioned, and thoroughly defined the problems associated with laptop use.
Undergraduate Fellows’ Goals:
This past academic year was one of great productivity and dialogue within the CET and the University. In addition to continuing this forward momentum into the 2011-2012 academic year, the Undergraduate Fellows hope to unveil a new, formalized relationship with the Undergraduate Student Government Committee on Academic Affairs. This will enable the UFs – and the CET – to utilize unique resources to reach and enhance undergraduate academic life on campus.
The fall 2011 semester will see a follow-up event to last semester’s Regulating Laptops discussion, focusing on strategies for resolving the issues aired in the spring. The Undergraduate Fellows will also host a “Freshman Survival Guide” and the semesterly GE Professor Meet and Greet, both directed at undergraduates.