Using Writing to Teach in Any Discipline to Promote Active Learning in an Inclusive Class Environment (Spring 2022)

Day: Mondays, starting January 31, 2022 – April 25, 2022
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Instructors: MK Keran, Emily Bouza, and Emily Hall
Location: The Writing Center Commons (6th Floor of Helen C. White Hall)
Credit information: 1 credit (0ptional)
Satisfies prerequisite toward the Delta Certificate: ΔΔ (2 deltas)

Research has shown that, when students write more in a course, they learn course content more effectively and engage more deeply with the material. At UW–Madison, many faculty and instructors across the disciplines have taken up this approach by making writing central to their courses. This approach works best when assignments are well designed and build on students’ experiences. Join the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Program to learn how to use writing to promote students’ active learning in an inclusive classroom environment!

In addition to going in-depth on how to use writing to teach in your discipline, this course will have a strong emphasis on writing assessment. Assessment can often be one of the most challenging aspects of using writing in your course. We will spend time talking about a variety of assessment practices and exploring alternative means of assessment that focus on equity in the classroom.

As participants in the course, you will use what you learn to design a final writing assignment for a current course you are teaching or one that you hope to teach in the future. This will be a great addition to your teaching portfolio when you apply for a faculty position, and you’ll leave the course better equipped to use writing to teach and help students learn in any discipline.