Special Topics vs. Workshops
01 Feb 2019 16:31
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Special Topics vs. Workshops
Please review and offer comment on the following characteristics of special topics courses and workshops.
Characteristics of a Special Topics Course
- Textbook or discussion-based
- Meets at a standard, regularly-recurring class time
- Content deals with emerging issues, special interests, or experimental topics that are not regularly offered
- Not part of the degree requirement; therefore it may only be used as elective credit
- Covers content not represented in the main program curriculum
- May not be used as a course substitution
- Should contain the same amount of work per credit hour as a standard course
- Graded A-F
Characteristics of Workshops
- Faculty-guided instruction
- Merriam-Webster definition of workshop: “brief, intense educational program for a small group that focuses on techniques or skills in a particular field”
- Experiential learning/hands-on
- Practical application
- Not at a standard class-time
- Could be either graded A-F or P/NP
Comments: 5
page revision: 0, last edited: 01 Feb 2019 16:31
J.C. thanks. As I rework the language I'll incorporate your suggestions. I'll come back to this in a little bit to address your questions in more detail, but let me throw this out there: should the only differentiation between S/T and W/S be that a workshop is more experiential/hands-on? Should we even have a differentiation? Just a thought…
Clarifying the difference between S/T and workshops is a good idea. I have some experience with S/T, but am not as familiar with workshops.
I agree with Jackie on some of these points. #1 and #2 seem a bit too limiting. For the sciences, if we offered a lab with a special topics course (as we often do), then #1 and #2 could be read to rule out a lab since it is not textbook or discussion-based and likely wouldn't meet at a "standard" class time, especially if the lab involved field work and/or trips.
In #3, could we eliminate "experimental" and add a "generally"? It would then read "Content generally deals with emerging issues, special interests, or topics that are not regularly offered."
#4 seems to make sense, but S/T can count for major elective credit for those majors that have them. Do we need to be more specific about "elective credit"? Also, Jackie brought up good points with #4 and #6 that may negatively impact some programs.
#5 might be redundant with #3. It could also be read to limit courses that might go into more detail on content already in the curriculum. Perhaps change to "Covers content and/or scope that is different than the main program curriculum"?
For #6, I don't believe I have come across an exception recently, but is there a specific reason we don't want S/T to possibly be P/NP?
Is there a distinction in how load hours are determined for S/T vs. workshops? Does that need to be addressed?
Shelley- every major has workshop course numbers listed in the course catalog. Historically, communications, history, music, art, and theatre have regularly offered workshops. I can only speak for music, but our advanced music ensembles are under the workshop category. I also offered an instrument repair workshop two summers ago that involved hands-on, instructor-guided, repair methods.
Jackie- Can you please describe how the above characteristics of special topics effect your ST courses such as performance art, bio art, mixed media, etc.? Where did you place these courses on student's degree checksheets? I think that will help me figure out how to better word things.
I am very concerned for the limited scope being pushed for the Special Topics?
What is the reasoning?
Why only textbook based?
Why specify content?
Why not allow substitutions?
Historically Special Topics courses have been utilized for "Experimental courses", open to any content in any area.
With the new narrow scope, Art will no longer be able to offer Special Topics courses.
Art needs to offer Special Topics courses that allow flexibility in the program, i.e. increase interdisciplinary. Workshops do not accomplish this.
I do not believe it is a good idea to limit our opportunities to offer content to students.
Special Topics courses we have offered cannot be satisfied with a workshop.
With the new system that tracks required courses, Special topics courses will die, as it will be come more difficult if they can only be allowed as electives.
With course rotations, a substitution is necessary with Special Topics to allow a student to graduate on time.
I am against the following characteristics: 1, 4, 6.
It is not a good idea for faculty to limit what faculty can do or cover in any course option.
Jacquelyn Knapp
Seems reasonable to me, and now I'm interested in an example of a workshop that someone has offered recently. I didn't even know they were a thing. Are people doing them?