Critical & Creative Thinking Graduate Program

Annual report to Graduate Studies, 2010-11

by Peter Taylor, Program Coordinator, June 15, 2011

 

Contents

Overarching Goals for '10-11

Capsule summary (in relation to these goals)

Numbers

Objectives and Developments

Relationship of Goals, Objectives, and Developments to UMB Strategic Goals

Other Items of Interest to Graduate Studies

 

Overarching Goals for '10-11

A.    Support the intellectual, professional, and personal development of CCT and other students, through teaching, advising, mentoring, a coherent program of study, and post-graduation activities and community-building.

B.    Attract applicants to CCT and advise them through to matriculation.

C.    Establish sustainable, non-exploitative operations and planning.

 

Capsule summary (in relation to these goals)

A.    The program offers a rich, innovative, and expanding range of courses, monthly public events, online forums, internet-based documentation, occasional workshops, and other resources for pedagogical innovation and reflective practice. Through an expanded partnership with University College (UC), it is now possible to complete the MasterÕs degree (both the regular track and the Science in a Changing World track) entirely through courses offered through University College as well as entirely through state-funded courses.

B.    Recruitment needs improvement (but this year preparing the AQUAD review took precedence). Through the expanded partnership with UC and the continuing partnership with the Learning, Teaching, and Educational Transformation (LTET) non-licensure M.Ed. program, the total number of course registrants remained at the high level of the previous year.  The backlog of students who had finished all course work, but not their capstone syntheses, was mostly cleared by graduating them with a Certificate.  The core faculty continues to explore ways to address the needs of students who need writing improvement and reduce the number of overdue syntheses.

C.    Through the expanded partnership with UC, CCT now has a full-time Assistant Coordinator and a half-time Assistant Coordinator for the Science in a Changing World track who are sharing the administrative burden with the Program Coordinator/Director. Day-to-day program costs (guest speakers, events, etc.) continued to be covered by course "dividends" from UC.  For the foreseeable future, the roster of required courses and electives can be maintained by the core faculty and UC-funded assistant coordinators and part-timers (i.e., without drawing on the DepartmentÕs part-time budget).  M.A. matriculation numbers can increase without additional State-funded resources—provided capstone completion can be improved in ways that do not consume all the energies of the core faculty.


Numbers

6 M.A. students and 5 certificate students matriculated in 10-11.

As of May Õ11, there were 30 students in M.A. program and 7 in certificate program (including students who were behind paying late program fees but are still actively working on syntheses and being advised by the faculty).

7 of the 31 graduated in June and 4 more plan for August degrees.

In addition, 5 M.A. students and 8 certificate student graduated in August and December Õ10.  (7 of the Certificate graduates were students who had completed all course work, but because of significant life/family interruptions have not been able to complete their capstone syntheses.)

Synthesis topics ranged from ÒCreative Consciousness: Becoming A Reflective DesignerÓ by graphic designer Renessa Ciampa Brewer, to "ÕMutual MondaysÕ, PTSD and Dialogue Process with Veterans of Armed Conflict: Becoming a facilitator, and healing along with participants," by Michael Johns, a veteran and Veteran Services Officer.

Anticipated matriculants for Fall Õ11 = 5-7 in the M.A. tracks plus 1-3 certificate students.

 

Through regular, online, other UC, and cross-listed sections and a cross-campus course, CCT instructors served 258 course registrations in CCT and SICW courses, made up of 63% non-CCT to 37% CCT students.  59% of these registrations were in sections taught by core CCT faculty and the UC-funded assistant program coordinator; 41% were taught by part-timers through UC.  The total number of registrations and percentages of non-CCT students and students taught by core faculty are an increase on the previous year.

 

Objectives and Developments in '10-11 [in relation to the overall goals][1]

 

1 [A].   Maintained a multi-year course schedule that ensures that, now that the CCT lectureship position has been discontinued, matriculated students can still be served by regular CCT faculty and they have a maximum number of electives to choose from over a two-year cycle.

2 [B].   Maintained the coordination with the Learning, Teaching and Educational Transformation (non-licensure) track of the M.Ed. program, continuing to draw M.Ed. students into CCT courses.  (Peter Taylor was again coordinator of CCT and co-coordinator of LTET this year.)  Initiated weekly lunches for discussion among the non-licensure programs.

3 [B].   Continued to address the main challenge for the CCT curriculum, namely, some students get to the capstone synthesis course but are not well prepared to write a major paper and/or do not finish during the synthesis semester.

The Program:

a) continued an entrance interview and formalized a mid-program check-in, both of which draw attention to a series of measures designed to support students through to timely completion of their degree;

b) continued a weekly writing support group and ÒMarathon daysÓ each semester for project completion;

c) maintained an expectation of completion of capstone synthesis within a year of taking the synthesis seminar; and

d) explored new Òcreative habitsÓ in one synthesis section and prepared an enhanced syllabus for future offerings.[2]

4 [A].   Continued the CCT Network, a series of monthly activities involving alums and the wider CCT community (with recordings made available as podcasts) (in conjunction with CrCrTh688, Reflective Practice) and the online social network site, and monthly CCT News to the wider CCT community.

5 [A].   Continued the use of the CCT wiki for documenting CCT activities, tools and resources, and enhanced course interactions through creation of wikis for each CCT student.

6 [A, B].            Promoted CCT's "Science in a Changing World" track in both the Certificate and M.A. Program by:

a) maintaining a reliable schedule for the four alternative core courses, which began in Spring '10;

b) hosting "When the Social, not the Medium, is the Message: A Workshop on Community-building and Research Collaboration in Virtual SpacesÓ[3];

d) using the SICW wiki for documenting SICW activities; 

e) maintaining an online social network site;

f) continuing the Inter-college faculty Seminar on Humanities and Sciences both semesters; and

g) participating in activities around the ÒRace: How different are we?Ó exhibit at the Museum of Science.

7 [B].   Continued to build recognition at UMB, in the Boston/New England area, and internationally for CCT-centered work in the SICW area.

a) See #6 above;

b) In 10-11 CCT provided some funds for the 8th annual New England Workshop on Science and Social Change;

c) the UniversityÕs Office of International and Transnational Affairs funded Peter Taylor and two studentsÕ participation in an allied workshop in Portugal.[4]

8 [B, C].           Expanded the partnership with University College (UC) with the goals of increasing online and other UC offerings and enrollments so as to fund a full-time Assistant Coordinator for CCT and a 50% assistant to promote the SICW track.  It is now possible to complete the MasterÕs degree (both the regular track and the Science in a Changing World track) entirely through courses offered through University College as well as entirely through state-funded courses.

9 [A].   Continued a CCT-style course evaluation for online courses to supplement the official ones, making these visible to prospective students when the instructor agreed.

10 [A].               Students and commentators on student presentations, and CCT Network participants were brought via skype into regular CCT classes and events from a distance.

11 [A, B, C].   Completed the self-study and site-visit for the AQUAD review.[5]


Areas that need more development

 

12.     Efforts to boost M.A. recruitment (to complement and build on overall course enrollment growth).  (Precedence was given to preparing the AQUAD review, establishing the expanded partnership with UC, training the assistant coordinators, establishing the core offerings for the SICW track, advising students through to graduation who had completed all course work.)  A plan to partner CCT alums working in community colleges will be launched soon.

13.     Coaching students to assemble a "Reflective Practice Portfolio" during the course of their CCT studies (now a program requirement).

14.        The administration of CCT and preparation of the AQUAD review demanded much more of the Program CoordinatorÕs time during the summer, winter, and regular semesters than compensated by the single course release.  UC-funded program assistance is beginning to share the administrative burden, but consistent time and attention will be needed during the Program CoordinatorÕs sabbatical (especially given #12).

15.     A significant fraction of students finish their final capstone seminar without completing the capstone paper.  The completion contract for students who do not finish their synthesis in a semester needs tighter enforcement and follow up.

16.     Consideration of moving the formal home of the Program out of Curriculum and Instruction (as recommended by the AQUAD Review Committee and as proposed in the Department as it seeks to focus solely on Teacher Education).    


Relationship of Goals, Objectives, and Developments to UMB Strategic Goals

Increase student access, engagement, and success.

á        7.5% increase in registrations, but no increase in matriculated student numbers

á        Completed AQUAD self-study and site visit.  Review team recommended that the Program Òshould be nurtured and supported and used to make a distinctive mark on the University,Ó and were Òastounded as to what this program has been able to accomplish, the quality and innovative teaching and learning that occurs in the classroom and on-line, the co-curricular learning networks of students, faculty, and alumni, and the ÔoutreachÕ done to advance collaborative knowledge generation and reflective practice among faculty across the institutionÓ

 

Attract, develop and sustain highly effective faculty

á        The administration of CCT and preparation of the AQUAD review demanded much more of the Program CoordinatorÕs time during the summer, winter, and regular semesters than compensated by the single course release.  UC-funded program assistance is beginning to share the administrative burden, but consistent time and attention will be needed during the Program CoordinatorÕs sabbatical.

 

Create a physical environment that sustains teaching, learning and research

á        CCT has a single office that accommodates meetings, faculty seminars, and small classes.

 

Improve campus-community engagement through improved organizational structures

á        Skype was used to bring students and commentators on student presentations into regular CCT classes and participants into regular CCT community events.

á        Science in a Changing World track hosted a day-log workshop on Community-building and Research Collaboration in Virtual Spaces.

á        UniversityÕs Office of International and Transnational Affairs funded a science and public engagement workshop in Portugal led by a CCT faculty member.

 

UMB Strategic Goals 2011

Advance student success and development.

á        Continued to address the main challenge for the CCT curriculum, namely, some students get to the capstone synthesis course but are not well prepared to write a major paper and/or do not finish during the synthesis semester.

 

Enrich and expand academic programs and research

á        Additional sections schedule so it is now possible to complete the MasterÕs degree (both the regular track and the Science in a Changing World track) entirely through courses offered through University College as well as entirely through state-funded courses.

á        Continued the Inter-college faculty Seminar on Humanities and Sciences both semesters

 

Improve the learning, teaching and working environment

á        Skype was used to bring students and commentators on student presentations into regular CCT classes and participants into regular CCT community events.

á        Weekly writing support group

á        ÒMarathon daysÓ each semester for project completion

á         Monthly CCT News to the wider CCT community

á        Hosted weekly lunches for discussion among members of the non-licensure programs in the Department

 

Establish a financial resource model consistent with the universityÕs vision statement

Develop an infrastructure supportive of preceding goals

á        The partnership with University College now funds a full-time Assistant Coordinator for CCT and a 50% assistant to promote the SICW track courses.

 

 

Other Items of Interest to Graduate Studies

 

1.           Goals: See #A, B, C and #1-11 above.

 

2.           Program development: See #1-11 above.  Possible governance actions: none.

 

3.           Faculty Achievements related to CCT: See #6g and 7c above.

 

4.           Program Strengths: See #1-11, which indicate that CCT provides a model for pedagogical innovation, reflective practice, program documentation on the internet, and planning that makes the most of limited resources.

 

5.           Weaknesses: See #12-16 above.

 

6.           Collaborations: See #2, 7b&c, 8, 10 above.

 

7.           Student support outside OGS: none.

 

8.           OGS stipends:  One ¼-time GAs earmarked by the Department for CCT plus one faculty member's RA (also funded by OGS) allowed for two CCT 4.5 hour/week assistantships.

 

9.           Additional services needed from OGS: Response to these annual reports; Informative notes from GPD meetings; Initiation of a practice of minutes and/or timely informative feedback from GSC on proposals; and Negotiation with Deans to arrive at equitable CLRs for GPDs (or track coordinators) based on workload after allowing for staff support (or lack thereof).



[1] Links to relevant websites and wikipages can be found on last yearÕs annual report, files/AnnualReport10.html

[2] http://www.faculty.umb.edu/pjt/694-xx.html

[3] http://sicw.wikispaces.umb.edu/SMworkshop

[4] http://www.stv.umb.edu/newssc11a.html

[5] files/aquad10appendices.html