I will be co-facilitating some of the Camp Teach & Learn workshops next week.  See below for details about these workshops.  The two Wednesday afternoon workshops – Growth Mindset and Metacognition – will go into more depth about a blog topic from several weeks ago.  Please come to learn more and participate!

Cultivating a “Growth Mindset” in Your Students

Wednesday 24 May 1 PM to 2:15 PM

One’s motivational mindset affects how much effort we expend and the expectations we have for ourselves.  Carol Dweck, a researcher at Stanford University, has studied the impact of “fixed” vs. “growth” mindsets on learning.  Those with fixed mindsets believe that their talents, abilities, and intelligence are fixed traits, that there is no way to change their allotment, and that these traits alone determine success.  Alternately, people with growth mindsets believe that talents, abilities, and intelligence can be developed through dedication, effort, reflection, and revision; they view challenges and failures as opportunities to improve.  A robust body of research suggests that students with growth mindsets are more persistent in the face of challenges and achieve at higher levels in the classroom than their fixed mindset peers.  Come to this workshop to find out what mindset you hold, how that impacts your students’ learning experiences, and how to support the development of growth mindsets in your students.  Please bring a laptop, tablet, or phone to participate in a brief mindset assessment.

Because growth mindset provides the foundation and buy-in to use metacognitive strategies, we recommend that you attend both this workshop and the following Metacognition workshop to maximize the benefits to your students.

Interactive workshop led by Loren Marulis, Jessica Naecker, and Melissa Shafner

Co-sponsored by Student Accessibility Services & Counseling Services

Helping Students Learn about Their Learning:  Strategies for Cultivating Metacognition

Wednesday 24 May 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM

A basic definition of “metacognition” is thinking about your own thinking for the purpose of improving your learning.  Think of it as having a Super Brain that directs your brain.  Research has shown that metacognitive awareness of one’s own thinking and learning is a unique predictor of achieving learning outcomes.  What we think of as “smart” is really the use of metacognition in coming up with effective strategies to successfully accomplish these learning goals.  Some students use these strategies innately and intuitively, while others need to be taught what they are and how to use them.  Come to this workshop to learn more about helping your students to plan, monitor, and evaluate their own thinking, as well as how you can be metacognitive about your own teaching.

It is highly recommended that you attend both this workshop and the Growth Mindset workshop as a growth mindset is what provides the foundation and buy-in to use metacognitive strategies.

Interactive workshop led by Jillian Marshall, Loren Marulis, and Melissa Shafner

The New Language Requirement:  Advising, Accessibility, & Other Implications

Friday 26 May 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Sixty-nine percent of the class of 2020 engaged in language study in the 2016-17 academic year, a significant increase over past years that can clearly be attributed to the new Connections language requirement.  Faculty and staff in various corners of campus have faced new challenges as a result of increased class sizes, the presence of students previously exempt from language study, and a noticeable shift in enrollment to the less commonly studied languages.  How do we effectively advise students on their choice of language as they start their academic journey?  What supports are needed to make language courses accessible to all students?  This session, geared toward both advisers and foreign language faculty, will review and summarize enrollment data for the class of 2020, describe challenges, and invite listeners to discuss approaches moving forward.

Session led by Amy Dooling, Laura Little, Emily Morash, & Melissa Shafner

Co-sponsored by the Language and Culture Center, Office of the Dean of First-Year Students, and Student Accessibility Services

The SAS office wishes you a wonderful summer!!!