seminar activities

Seminars

All seminars have a brief “get-acquainted” session at our Official Convocation.

The First Meeting (the first regular two-hour session) of the seminar decides questions of each seminar's conduct and syllabus and acquaints seminar members with the projects they will pursue individually. Bibliographies prepared by seminar leaders may be distributed and reading assignments or suggestions may be discussed. The seminars have the related and equally important purposes of increasing Fellows’ background in, and developing new curricular materials on, the seminar subjects. The First Meeting will allow Fellows the opportunity to begin to form a more clear definition of the curriculum unit they will ultimately produce.

By the Second Meeting, Fellows should have completed a number of readings associated with their seminar and curriculum unit. The Second Meeting should include a discussion of the curriculum unit topics Fellows have chosen. The seminar will also make final decisions on common readings to be discussed at subsequent seminar meetings. At Weekly Meetings, Fellows study the general subject of the seminar and consider work in progress on the individual curriculum units by discussing common readings, including each Fellow’s own writing. They also explore teaching strategies and classroom activities.

Reading Period

Fellows read extensively on the seminar subject and intensively on the topic of the curriculum unit being developed. Fellows are expected to begin curriculum unit research early in this period, and also to complete readings in preparation for each seminar meeting. Readings are drawn from the bibliographies prepared by the seminar leader and from the Fellows’ own research as they refine their topics. Fellows should not hesitate to call on their seminar leaders for guidance in their reading and research.

Curriculum Unit Writing

The stages in the writing process outlines these dates in the context of the whole spring program:

Saturday Curriculum Unit Writing Workshops

Fellow's Individual Meetings with Seminar Leaders

Fellows are expected to meet individually with their seminar leaders three times; once while deciding on unit topics and readings, once midway through the term while writing the unit (after the first draft is returned with the seminar leader’s comments), and finally in late May, when seminar leaders return second drafts with their written comments. Fellows are encouraged to discuss the development and teaching of their units with other Fellows and Institute faculty throughout the seminar period.

First meeting: Enable Fellow to take advantage of this private conference as he or she prepares to submit the prospectus.

Second meeting: At a time when the Fellow has his or her returned draft in hand. The intention of this scheduling is to allow Fellows to use the information garnered in conference with the seminar leader as they prepare their second drafts.

Third meeting: will be held for the return of second drafts along with the seminar leader’s written comments. Final guidance for Fellows as they complete their units will be obtained at this meeting. Meetings may also be by appointment at another time mutually convenient to Seminar Leaders and Fellows.

Seminar Coordinators

A teacher acts as Coordinator of each seminar to provide teacher leadership and assist with the establishment of collegial rapport within the group. Coordinators are selected in November and serve through July, resolving any scheduling or administrative problems, and facilitating the smooth operation of the seminars. On the recommendation of the Coordinators, the Director may withdraw from the Institute any Fellow whose continued participation they deem to be detrimental to the program.