Past Research Presentations
Upcoming Presentations — Spring 2019
Instrumentalizing the Online Forum: A Tool for Extending and Shaping the Leaning and Teaching Conversation
With Françoise Herrmann
Françoise Herrmann
Department of World Languages and Literature
francoise.herrmann@sjsu.edu
Discover how Discussions on Canvas might be used as an online forum tool for your class. Then, try it and share your experience!
This action research project invokes both setting up Discussions as an online forum and its exemplary use within teaching and learning contexts. In particular, tool use will be piloted within a first year, online, French as a foreign language learning class, at SJSU, during the Fall 2018 semester.
The idea is to promote extra opportunities for effective written communication within the learning and teaching conversation, using an open-ended forum tool. Educational computer tools are often programmed to deliver content, an educational forum helps shape, organize and extend the tasks of learning and teaching. Such a tool is most effective when it has "dropped out of sight", and become completely transparent, serving only the purposes for which it is being used by the various participants, whether it is to send reminders, ask questions, share resources and thoughts, complete assignments, or deliver feedback. A classroom forum tool is also a social meeting place, where everyone tunes in, every day, to build community, to organize and perform tasks.
Presentation Dates and Times
- Tuesday, February 19, 1:30PM-2:45 PM, in Clark 118.
- Wednesday, February 27, 1:30PM-2:45 PM, in IRC 101.
Theoretical Materials to Facilitate the Discussion of Ethics in Engineering Reports (ENGR 100W) Classes
With Lin Zou
Lin Zou
Department of General Engineering
lin.zou@sjsu.edu
Ethics is a very important topic in ENGR 100W. However, current 100W curriculum does not provide instructors with enough materials to engage students in in-depth discussion of ethics and value theories. This study will look into the philosophical discourse of environmental ethics in order to compile selected theoretical materials for the discussion of ethics in Engineering Report (ENGR 100W) classes. The research will focus on modern and contemporary discussion of environmental ethics, as well as the central concepts involved, such as environmental justice and equality. It will also look into the application of traditional ethical theories (such as Consequentialist ethical theories and Deontological ethical theories) in environmental ethics. The purpose of the research is to find theoretical ideas and materials that can help students think critically about the concept of ethical responsibilities, the relationship between humans and the environment, and relationship between different interest groups that can be affected by environmental policies and regulations. The research will lead to a reading list with annotations and teaching guidelines.
Presentation Dates and Times
- Monday, March 4, 12-1:15 PM, in IRC 101.
- Thursday, March 14, 12-1:15 PM, in IRC 101.
Previous Presentations, Handouts, and Slides
Best Practices for Teaching Writing in STEM Disciplines
With Shannon Bane
Shannon Bane
Department of Environmental Studies
shannon.bane@sjsu.edu
This study focused on providing information to support and enhance writing instruction and resources to students in STEM majors with the goal of helping them to prepare and be competitive for STEM internships and jobs upon graduation. I was interested in documenting current approaches to teaching writing and improving student outcomes within STEM majors at universities, including SJSU.
The presentation will include results of the study, including a discussion of the challenges faced by faculty teaching research and writing to STEM majors at the university level, and the various strategies used to improve writing and prepare their students for professions in which writing is a key skill. There are specific options that can be employed at the class, department, and/or university level, many that can be used to provide and/or achieve measurable outcomes.
Who Should Attend?
100W instructors in STEM disciplines, instructors in STEM disciplines teaching professional writing techniques, STEM department chairs.
Downloads
- Report: Best Practices for Teaching Writing in STEM [pdf]
- Report Summary [pdf]
- Presentation Slides [pdf]
Essential On-The-Job Communication Skills Business Students Should Master: A Syllabus Playbook for 100WB Instructors
Principal Investigator
Laimin Lo
laimin.lo@sjsu.edu
Technology giants like Cisco, Microsoft, and Yahoo often push the classic boundaries of teamwork and collaboration as they compete in an ecommerce dominated global economy. Streamlined communication between teams across geographies and customers and vendors worldwide require employees to adopt new tools to effectively communicate and collaborate.
This study takes an in-depth look at the leadership soft skills and business writing and communication tactics most needed by entry-level employees and those needed as they transition into junior level positions. A course playbook will be developed based on the results to better prepare our students to progress or advance in their careers.
Who Should Attend?
COMM 100W, ENGL 100WB, and LLD 100WB instructors; Business instructors teaching GWAR and other writing-intensive courses; College of Business department chairs.
Downloads
Business Students Writing on The Job: Do 100WB Graduates Have the Necessary Writing Skills for Today's Workplace?
Principal Investigator
Sharon Stranahan
sharon.stranahan@sjsu.edu
Hear from over 100 SJSU business alumni whether writing instruction at SJSU prepared them for their on-the-job writing needs.
This presentation reports on research that assessed how well the business writing instruction that students received at SJSU (e.g. in 100WB) prepared them for their writing demands at work. In collaboration with the Alumni Office, an online survey was sent to recent business alumni. Alumni were asked the frequency of different kinds of media they use, the frequency of collaborative writing, and the types of writing that they have done on the job since graduation.
Come hear the research results and discuss the implications for future 100WB classes.
Who Should Attend?
Current, past, or future 100WB instructors, as well as anyone interested in 100WB curriculum development.
