US+Meeting+2010+08+30

August 30 Agenda
1. Overview: a. Old Business—Philosophy/Mission, Best Practices, Test Preparation Practices (esp. re: IDs/Terms), CARP goals Ben started the meeting by reacquainting us with old business. Do we have DVD and VCR? Yes, except for US History Room (4222) Note Cory Peppler's e-mail for set-up and advanced smartboard training. Two different types of smartboards. We have all the same. 2. Professional Development Growth Goals: // Deadline: September 7th // a. CHANGE ! Note that as per Rosie’s email on Aug 24 (during our last meeting) one of our PPGGs must be related to advising, one to technology. In addition we need to articulate one or two academic goals. One Growth Goal must be related to advising, advising, and academic. Due by next Tuesday. Joe is uncertain how advising fits in. Steve believes we need guidance in advising. We need to know what she would want us to do. Steve asked about last year's goals. Where do the reflections go? Ben noted that cut-and-paste that into reflection field on last year's professional growth goals.

3. CARP: a. Horizontal CARP Goal: We discussed an annual goal that would emphasize organizing and standardizing some of our policies. Sets us up nicely for next year’s Super-Review process
 * i) A binder that would contain syllabi and maps from all our current courses.
 * ii) Clear statement of our policies regarding rules and procedures [re-takes, zeros, cheating/plagiarism, writing/reading across the department]
 * iii) Revisit philosophy statement to reflect on what we do best and what we want to achieve as a department.

We need to come up proposals.

Zarwell, in his tyrannical fashion reminiscent of OvB or Metternich, shot down Stephen Bloch over the lack of a curriculum map.

Ben proposed taking a day for an in-service to update curriculum maps. 1/2 day on a Friday

Rishi noted that during the last in service 7 years ago, Steve broke us up into groups and these groups made changes in the curriculum.

Clear statement of our policies. We propose to review our policies and procedures regarding late papers, retakes, late homeworks, and plagerism.

Stephen, ever the contrarian, believes that rules and procedures shouldn't be CARP.

Rishi, just to be nice to Stephen, pointed out that reading and writing were CARP.

Ben rebounded that part of the curriculum are the procedures, but we do need to look at best practices.

Yet, we need to encourage greater independence.

Ben really wants to develop guidelines to regularize our policies across grade levels. Autonomy is important, but not between courses.

Joe wants a progression of difficulty and so that we can explain why it is so difficult.

Steve re-emphasized that you don't want re-take students leap-frogging other students.

What do you mean by zeros? asked Rishi in his innocence. Well, said Steve, voice dripping with sarcasm, that was the meeting you were absent...remember?

Put it in the Wiki. We will look at Ben's draft and suggests ways to improve it.

Ben ended the meeting by urging us to revisit the Philosophy.

Steve brought out his test preparation thoughts. Trying to combat fragmented learning. Also, he is concerned about use of Wikipedia rather than using reading in class. Missed points that Steve tried to make, while they want to memorize facts which is fine use of Wikipedia, but is a sure route to a C without the Bruemmer-esque spin on US History.

4. Test Preparation (terms and identifications) <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">5. Upcoming Dates of Importance:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">9/7: Professional Development Growth Goals Due
 * <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">9/8-9/9 Rosh Hashanah, 9/9-9/10 Eid ul Fitr, 9/17-18 Yom Kippur: Be mindful of these dates in designing lesson plans and be understanding of students who might not be as prepared as possile.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">10/28: Vertical CARP Meeting: Mark this on your calander.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">10/26: ASSEMBLY: UN Day
 * <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">11/15: ASSEMBLY: Current Events Club: Significance of the Election
 * <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">12/6: ASSEMBLY: Human Rights Day

<span style="background: #d9d9d9; display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217;"><span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">5. Next Department Meeting: Monday, October 18