Integrations Co-Teaching Award Application

Requirements:

1. These awards can only apply to Thematic Focus courses
2. The co-teaching team needs to include two faculty from two different Ways of Thinking
3. This 4-credit course will satisfy two Ways of Thinking for the student
4. Co-teachers will be actively involved in every class period – interacting with each other and the students, rather than taking turns leading class (faculty co-teaching with a NW faculty member are welcome to attend labs but are not required to do so)
5. Co-Teaching counts as a 1/6 assignment for both faculty members
6. Faculty will commit to offering the co-taught course once a year for two consecutive years and will receive confirmation of this commitment from their appropriate department chairs or program directors
7. Faculty will integrate both Ways of Thinking rather than teach them in discrete units
8. Students will submit an artifact/s that demonstrates how both Ways of Thinking help students better understand, experience, and/or appreciate the theme
9. Because the assessment results from the co-taught classes will be used to make future decisions about co-teaching opportunities, co-teachers (a) need to design their assessment plan in consultation with the Director of the Integrations Curriculum and the Office of Assessment and Academic Effectiveness and (b) must be willing to conduct intensive assessment of their classes, including the possibility of small, standardized assessment measures
10. Recipients of the Award will share their experiences, insights, resources, and recommendations regarding teaching a focus class and co-teaching in a presentation that includes opportunity for questions and discussion from the audience

Co-Taught Thematic Focus Courses

Students are required to take a minimum of three same-themed courses across three different Ways of Thinking. At least one of the themed courses must be a Thematic Focus course, which is completely devoted to the theme and carries scaffolded general education learning goals. The Thematic Focus learning goals contain Intermediate level learning goals for Analyzing Texts, Collaboration, and Information Literacy (Beginner level learning goals found in Writing Foundations, Cultural and Social Difference: Identity, and Theological Explorations).

• These 4-credit, 200 or 300-level courses can count toward a major(s) or be offered as an Integrations course.
• Focus courses are dedicated entirely to a single theme (Justice, Movement, or Truth) and for co-taught sections will integrate two Ways of Thinking, based on the expertise of each co-teacher.
• Students taking a co-taught course will satisfy two Ways of Thinking in a single course.
• The Award covers the cost of having two faculty members teach one focus class together for two consecutive years.
• The size of the co-taught sections will be the same as focus courses taught by a single instructor (max 30).
• Focus courses must address the following learning goals: Analyzing Texts 2, Collaboration 2, and Information Literacy 2.
• Focus courses must include a common reading on the theme (determined by focus faculty teaching in that theme) and introduce students to the liberal arts and sciences goal of studying a diverse array of disciplinary approaches.
• One co-curricular event on the theme must be incorporated into the syllabus.

The Award Process

The Integrations Advisory Board will use the rubric, found at the bottom of this page, to review all applications for the Co-Teaching Award. Applicants will be notified of a decision by the end of April.

There will be five two-year Co-Teaching Awards starting the academic year 2022-2023 and five Co-Teaching Awards starting in academic year 2023-2024. Preference will be given to co-taught courses that demonstrate a creative or unique pairing of Ways of Thinking to address the theme and meet the liberal arts tradition of serving students from a broad range of disciplines. Preference will also be given to faculty who do not have other co-teaching opportunities through Honors co-taught classes.

Timeline for Co-Teaching Awards:

• 3-21-2021 – applications for co-teaching award due
• 4-30-2021 – notification of co-teaching award
• 10-15-2021 – Thematic focus course proposals due to the GECC
• Academic Year 2022-2023 – First round of co-taught courses offered
• Academic Year 2023-2024 – Second round of co-taught courses offered

Application Evaluation Rubric