Poster Presentation/Demo Abstract
We will present the working collaborative site now running at http://math.mit.edu/ci . In particular, we will showcase the two main components of the site: (1) the semi-static selection of “good practices” and advice about running these courses; and (2) the discussion facilities for instructors currently teaching such courses.
Statement of the problem or issue
How to engage and support a community of instructors of communication-intensive courses? In parallel, how to facilitate archiving course materials and the gleaning of “good practices” for these courses?
Description of activity, project, solution, and outcome
A group of current and former instructors associated with communications intensive courses in mathematics, along with advisors from OEIT, brainstormed about an ideal platform for an online community. We generated a document of our “wishlist” criteria for such a site (see attached). After exploring various options, WordPress was found to be most suitable framework for the site.
Over the summer, several people contributed to the design, development, and content of the site. It now contains information about the goal of CI courses in the department, possible ways to structures such courses, advice on teaching writing, and advice on developing students’ presentation skills. In addition, several years’ worth of course materials are now archived on the site.
The website will be launched this semester, and will hopefully be used by the (small) cadre of CI instructors in the Fall. Many people in the department have expressed interest in this site, and it may serve as a model for similar communication tools for courses which involve collaboration amongst large groups of instructors (e.g. 18.01, 18.02, etc.).
Importance or relevance to other faculty, staff, students, departments, and programs
This online space is extremely flexible and extensible. In particular, it can serve as a model for any other group of instructors wishing to share materials, discuss strategies, and open lines of communication both while teaching a course and for posterity.
Mia Minnes, Mathematics
Violeta Ivanova, OEIT
Susan Ruff, WAC
(Presented at MIT Educational Technology Fair 2009)
Topic Area(s)
7. Others: Online Tools for Promoting a Community of Instructors