Teaching methods
The course will be intellectually rigorous, including a variety of materials such as readings, convocations, presentations, and performances. Students will respond to these through discussion, writing assignments, and other projects designed by instructors. Materials will vary according to the topics of individual sections.
Do we have any money to spend?
Each instructor has a budget allocation that is administered by the Dean's
Office. Each section is allotted $150.00 to spend as they see fit. Thus, if
you have two sections, you have $300.00 to play with, and no one is picky about
how you spend it. In past years funds have been used for groups to eat out,
attend events, for Jamboree supplies, to give out food at their Jamboree
booth, and duplicated articles.
All spending must be run through the Dean's Office. Reimbursements are not
allowed due to processing costs. A purchasing card is used for items
purchased off campus and a budget number for items purchased on campus. Do
not pay for something at the Bookstore and then bring the receipt to the
Dean's Office for reimbursement and do not send your students to purchase something
and then expect them to be reimbursed.
How much work can I ask my sections to do?
This is a two-credit class, so keep that in mind while planning your course. As you know, for undergraduate courses, one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course. Earning an A would likely require more hours of work per week. So, for FYS, you can expect them to spend 4 hours a week working on the class outside of classroom time, and that includes time spent planning and working on Jamboree.
We have had extensive complaints from students who feel that the work-load
is distributed very unevenly among the various instructors (and they are right).
Use your own judgment, but try to keep the workload appropriate for a two-credit
freshman class.
What do other people do in FYS for homework?
It varies widely from instructor to instructor. However, tests are not usually
given; instead instructors tend to assign readings, presentations, projects
and papers; to require attendance at some campus activities; and to require
attendance at Jamboree. Final exams are inappropriate.
See Teaching Methods for examples and ideas.
What is Jamboree?
The 2006 Jamboree will be the Thursday after Thanksgiving break (November
30, 2006).
At some date late in the semester all the sections will participate in a demonstration
of what they have learned over the semester by presenting their work at a common
celebration. Some demonstrations in the past have included dances,
plays and skits, posters, etc. Diverse types of food are available
all day long. There is a Jamboree committee that will organize the event in
terms of equipment and space, but what you do in Jamboree is up to your individual
sections.
You can combine the two sections and do one thing, or have each section do
separate things, or have small groups do several things. Keep in mind that
part of their course load is working on Jamboree. Some people grade on Jamboree
participation and attendance. You will want to start thinking about this early
in the semester, since the Jamboree committee will be asking you for a title
and description of your activity and space and equipment requests in mid-October.
An informal survey in 2001 indicated that people spend between 1 – 4 class
periods planning Jamboree (and also time outside class). The average number
of class periods spent on Jamboree was 2.4.
Jamboree subcommittee
This subcommittee handles equipment requests, allocates space, makes arrangements
for food, publicity, brochures and advertising--basically does all of the behind-the-scenes
work to make sure this event happens. All of this work is done during fall
semester, and the space for Jamboree is reserved a year in advance.
