“Students as Producers” Course Design Institutes for Faculty and Graduate Students

Posted by Rhett Mcdaniel on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 in Events, News.

The CFT invites Vanderbilt faculty and graduate students to apply to its 2019 Course Design Institutes on the theme of “Students as Producers.” During the three institutes in May, participants will design (or redesign) courses that engage students not only as consumers of information, but producers of knowledge.

Short videos created to explain computer algorithms. A radio drama exploring the future of gene editing. Proposals for museum acquisitions of African-American art. A water conversation education program aimed at children. A virtual reality simulation of protein-protein interactions. A candle-making device developed through human-centered design for a local nonprofit.

These are just some of the products of student learning created in courses at Vanderbilt using the “Students as Producers” approach to course design. Through this year’s Course Design Institutes, the CFT continues helping instructors build these high-impact practices into their courses.

Course Design Institute participants will…

Learn and apply a process for designing courses in which learning objectives, activities, and assessments are aligned;
Enhance their understanding of how students learn and apply that understanding to teaching in their disciplines;
Design assignments that foster deep learning by engaging students in meaningful, generative work; and
Expand their network of educators, connecting with peers with similar teaching interests.

Participants will leave the institutes with plans for courses to be taught in the following academic year.

The Faculty Course Design Institute will be held May 6-8, 2019. The faculty institute is open to all Vanderbilt faculty members, and faculty participants will receive $500 in research funds to be used to enhance their teaching. Preference will be given to faculty intending to (re)design courses approved to be taught in 2019-2020. Faculty who are team-teaching courses should submit a joint application.

The Graduate Student Course Design Institute will be held May 1-3, 2019. This institute is open to both graduate students and postdocs. Preference will be given to applicants starting faculty or teaching positions in 2019-2020, at Vanderbilt or elsewhere. If you’re leaving Vanderbilt to take a faculty position, the CDI is a great way to launch your new faculty career.