Spring 2007 Roundtables
HELD: Monday, February 12
Texana Room (DeGolyer Library)
3:00-4:00
Disinterested or Distressed: Identifying Students in Trouble
A student’s blank stare, lethargy, hyperactivity, or frequent tardiness may signal a lack of appreciation for your impeccably honed lectures, or these behaviors may indicate despair. How can you distinguish signs of detachment from signals of suicide when symptoms may masquerade as the other? Join a discussion of what to do with distressed students, both from a psychological and an academic perspective. Acquaint yourself with SMU’s trained staff and resources available to help you as well as your troubled student. Hosted by Mark Chancey/Religious Studies. Panelists include Juli Hobdy/Counseling and Testing Center, and Barbara Mohrle/Academic Advising.
HELD: Wednesday, February 28
Faculty Club
3:00-4:30
Secretary Spellings’ Ideas on Teaching Excellence: What Do They Mean For You?
Hear a webcast of this event! Go to:
http://129.119.28.44/cte/spellings.mp3
Education Secretary, Margaret Spellings, urges public colleges and universities to measure learning with standardized tests as a way to evaluate institutions on the basis of learning outcomes. Can we measure the quality of our colleges by the quantity of student learning?
Our Mission Statement proclaims: Southern Methodist University's mission is to be a leading private institution of higher learning that expands knowledge through research and teaching. Among its faculty, students, and staff, the University develops skills and cultivates principled thought and wisdom. The University is dedicated to the values of academic freedom and open inquiry and to its United Methodist heritage. Are these goals measurable?
If we are to measure learning at the college level, we must begin by measuring results in individual courses. How can you identify what you’re measuring? How does your teaching contribute to learning? With far more questions than answers at present, let’s discuss how to prepare ourselves for increasing assessment as an institution and as individuals in the classroom. Hosted by Caroline Brettell, Dean/Dedman College, Ron Wetherington/Anthropology, and Patricia Mathes, SoED.
HELD: Monday, March 5
Faculty Club
3:00-4:30
Building an Honors Community
How do we attract, challenge, connect, and retain the best and brightest students at SMU? The Task Force on Honors Programming is wrestling with these questions and invites your help. Come join a discussion about possible answers to how we might build and strengthen an SMU Honors community—that is, the several programs and initiatives (curricular or co-curricular) already in place such as the University Honors Program and others that would be worthy of pursuing. Questions include:
- Should we create an Honors track in Science?
- Should we intensify focus on residential living-learning (such as the honors residence hall?)
- What do our best students seek from our classes, and do they find what they seek?
- Should we offer additional opportunities for advanced undergraduate research and writing?
A panel of professors from the Task Force on Honors Programming will discuss these and other topics with interested faculty. Some of these professors teach “honors courses”—that is, courses offered within the University Honors Program. Others supervise departmental distinctions, mentor honor societies, prepare post-graduate scholarship applicants, etc. All are deeply knowledgeable about our students and our community.
This discussion is timely for several reasons. SAT scores for entering SMU students have risen over the past decade as admissions has become more selective. To maintain this momentum, how we attract, challenge, and retain our best students will be foundation pieces in the upcoming Centennial capital campaign. Hosted by Ellen Pryor/Law, Harold Stanley/Political Science, Tom Fomby/Economics, Bonnie Jacobs/Geological Sciences, and Janis Bergman-Carton/Art History.
HELD: Thursday, March 22
Hughes-Trigg Atrium A-B
3:30-4:30
Fieldwork that Enhances the Classroom and the Community: The Easy Way to Implement Service Learning in Your Courses
Students report positive learning outcomes when coursework combines classroom experience and community service. Real-world involvement increases topic awareness, hones critical thinking skills, and enhances classroom engagement. Think implementati
on and supervision of service learning are cumbersome? SMU’s Office of Leadership and Community Involvement helps develop and manage outreach courses, including evaluation. Join a discussion about implementing service learning on your own or with the help of the Resource Center. Hosted by Stella Mulberry/Office of Leadership and Community Involvement, Bruce Levy/English, and Cathey Soutter/Psychology.