You’re Invited: Faculty Seminar on Remote Communication-Intensive Teaching

June 11, 2020

From: Meechal Hoffman, Director, Bernard L. Schwartz Communication Institute 

In the transition to remote learning due to the COVID-19 crisis, it can be more challenging than ever to meaningfully support active learning, and to maintain manageable teaching workloads. This Seminar will provide strategies and resources for remote communication-intensive instructional design at the course, lesson plan, and assignment level, with a focus on balancing deep learning through writing and speaking with efficiencies for the instructor.

Each participant will work on adapting an existing course for remote teaching this Fall, from syllabus and assignment design, to weekly learning activities, to strategies for feedback and evaluation.

In three 2.5-hour days, in a small cohort that will meet on Zoom, we will focus on:

• Identifying your learning goals around communication skills-development, writing- and speaking-to learn, and participation

• Identifying opportunities for students to write meaningfully, without increasing your grading load
• Identifying opportunities for students to speak meaningfully, whether you’re teaching synchronously or asynchronously
• Facilitating virtual classroom communities, whether synchronous or asynchronous, with opportunities for low-stakes writing, speaking, and group work
• Designing assignments that clearly communicate learning goals, expectations, and protocol
• Supporting equity for students regardless of access

Full- and part-time faculty are invited, and you need not be teaching a course that is officially designated “communication-intensive” to participate.

Seminar participants will be compensated $500; space is therefore limited. If you’re interested in joining the Seminar, please complete this online registration form by June 19. The form seeks information on your availability in July, and we will schedule according to your responses.

Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions: meechal.hoffman@baruch.cuny.edu

We look forward to working with you in this challenging time.

All the best,

Dr. Meechal Hoffman, Director, Bernard L. Schwartz Communication Institute

Dr. Julia Goldstein, Associate Director, Bernard L. Schwartz Communication Institute