Designing and Teaching Effective Capstone Courses
Designing and Teaching Effective Capstone Courses
Date: 29 April 2010 (Thursday)
Speakers:
Prof. Janel Curry (Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Prof. Gray Kochhar-Lindgren (Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Bothell
Prof. Janel Curry and Prof. Gray Kochhar-Lindgren, Hong Kong Visiting Fulbright Professors in the area of general education, will lead a workshop on the pedagogical and institutional challenges of running a campus-wide or college-wide capstone seminar program. The workshop will also have relevance for discipline-specific capstone programs.
The capstone course may provide both a culminating academic experience for all students and a means of assessing several key components of whole-person education. An effective capstone can help to prepare students for some of the kinds of projects that are prevalent in today's workplace, which might involve independent and collaborative research, argumentative writing, presentation design, and presentation skills. Given the complexity of such projects and their multidisciplinary range, it is a challenge for specialized faculty members to mentor students effectively. This workshop will draw on examples from the experiences of presenters and participants to explore ways to make our capstone courses meaningful and inspiring. The presenters may also address student assessment issues.
About the Speakers
Prof. Janel Curry, currently hosted by the City University of Hong Kong, is a former dean and is presently Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has helped to shape general education programs at several U.S. colleges. Her research involves cross-cultural and institutional comparisons.
Prof. Gray Kochhar-Lindgren is Director of University Studies and Programs, and Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, at the University of Washington at Bothell. He is currently at work on a book on designing the global university. During his Fulbright year, he is hosted by the University of Hong Kong.
