Pre-COVID-19 Institute Program
PLEASE NOTE: The details below are for the Institute that was planned before the COVID-19 crisis. Find details on the updated Institute format here.
Higher education in the late sixties and early seventies experienced a wave of innovation brought on by general skepticism toward longstanding institutions and the changing demographics of the college-going population. It was in this spirit that, fifty years ago, Colorado College developed the Block Plan, an intensive and immersive course schedule in which students take, and faculty teach, one course at a time for three and one-half weeks. Emerging from more recent disruptions in higher education in the US and internationally, Quest University developed its own block plan schedule and welcomed its first class in the fall of 2007.
While most institutions still adhere to traditional academic calendars, colleges around the country and the globe have demonstrated a growing interest in offering courses that are shorter than traditional semesters or quarters. Known variously as intensive, compressed, condensed, time-shortened, or accelerated, these courses are often offered in the summers, as part of a 12/3 academic calendar, over breaks-J-terms or May-mesters-on weekends, and through study abroad experiences.
Co-hosted by Colorado College and Quest University, this Institute on the Block Plan and Intensive Teaching & Learning will bring together faculty and administrators from across different campuses and sectors in higher education to explore the questions: What do we know about block plan and intensive courses and how they work? What do we want to know? The goals of this Institute are to:
- Share research on block and intensive courses and campuses
- Identify challenges and exchange effective practices in teaching and learning
- Increase understanding of block and intensive courses through an equity framework
- Develop questions that can guide future research and exchange resources
Questions? Comments? Contact us!
|
Traci Freeman, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colket Center for Academic Excellence tfreeman@coloradocollege.edu |
Jane Murphy, Ph.D. Associate Professor of History | Director, Crown Faculty Center jmurphy@coloradocollege.edu |
Brett Gray Administrative Assistant bgray@coloradocollege.edu |
Monday, July 6, 2020 |
|
|
5
-
7:30
p.m. |
Opening
Reception Screening of Block Plan Film |
Tuesday, July 7, 2020 |
|
|
8
-
9:15
a.m. Bemis Great Hall |
Breakfast,
Welcome,
and
Teaching
Talks Bethany Blankenship, University of Montana Western Alice Ganzel, Cornell College Nicole Gresham, Colorado College Cate Guenther, Colorado College Leslie Mackie, Colorado College |
|
9:30
-
11
a.m. Bemis Great Hall |
Keynote
Panel The Big Picture: Institutional Case Studies Kyle Dell, Guilford College Trish McKlusky, Victoria University Greg Ruiters, University of the Western Cape Kathryn Shields, Guilford College Rob Thomas, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee |
|
11:15
a.m.
-
12:15
p.m. Multiple Locations |
Inclusive
Teaching
and
Learning
in
Block
Plan
and
Intensive
Courses Worner Student Center, WES Room Ben Anderson, Duke Kunshan University Marcia France, Duke Kunshan University Stephanie Hargrave, Guilford College Cynthia Nearman, Guilford College Felicity Rafferty, Victoria University Rachel Riskind, Guilford College Maria Rosales, Guilford College Sonalini Sapra, Guilford College Daisy Zhang Negrerie, Duke Kunshan University |
|
Innovation
and
Best
Practices
in
Intensive
Format
Study
Away Cossitt Hall Michael Artime, Pacific Lutheran University Cori Benz, University of Oregon Allen Bertsche, Colorado College Joan Ericson, Colorado College Rodney Harris, Study Abroad International (SAI) |
|
|
Moving
from
Semester
to
Block:
The
Challenge
of
Content-Heavy
Courses Tutt Library Event Space Susan Johnston, Victoria University Jai Shanata, Cornell College |
|
|
12:30
-
1:30
p.m. Bemis Great Hall |
Lunch
and
Keynote
Address Susan Ashley, Professor Emeritus, Colorado College |
|
1:45
-
3
p.m. Multiple Locations |
Faculty
Wellbeing
and
Balance Worner Student Center, WES Room Christopher Hagan, Cornell College Jai Shanata, Cornell College Craig Teague, Cornell College |
|
Case
Studies
in
the
Field:
Exemplars
of
the
Field
Study
Courses Cossitt Hall Drew Cavin, Colorado College Craig Kappes, Victoria University |
|
|
The
Science
of
Learning
in
Block
and
Intensive
Courses:
What
the
Research
Tells
Us Tutt Library Event Space Heather Fedesco, Vanderbilt University Mahtab Zaerilolmani, Victoria University |
|
|
3
-
3:30
p.m. Tutt Library Event Space |
Coffee
and
Posters Teaching Discussion and Learning through Discussion Jane Murphy, Colorado College Using Experiential Field and Laboratory Courses as a Scaffold to Long-Term Research Krista Fish, Colorado College |
|
3:30
-
5
p.m. Experiential Sessions |
Block Plan Wikipedia Edit-a-thon |
| Mini-Block Experience at the FAC - Social Perspectives Through Art | |
| Explore the Outdoors | |
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 |
|
|
8
-
9:15
a.m. Bemis Great Hall |
Breakfast
and
Teaching
Talks Neil Fernandes, Victoria University Christian Gilde, University of Montana Western Katrina Kennett, University of Montana Western Alex Lau, Carthage College |
|
9:30
-
11
a.m. Bemis Great Hall |
Keynote
Panel What Works in Block Plan and Intensive Teaching and Learning? Estee Aikin, University of Montana Western Catherine Lau, Carthage College Craig Teague, Cornell College |
|
11:15
a.m.
-
12:15
p.m. Multiple Locations |
Faculty
Collaborations
Across
the
Blocks Worner Student Center, WES Room Tori Barnes-Brus, Cornell College Craig Teague, Cornell College Rebecca Wospil, Victoria University |
|
Managing
Content-Heavy
Courses Cossitt Hall Pranesh Bhoodhoo, Victoria University Sally Gauci, Victoria University Kostas Kastis, Victoria University Patrick McLaughlin, Victoria University Gayathri Rajaraman, Victoria University Angela Salcedo, Victoria University Puspha Sinnayah, Victoria University |
|
|
Engaging
Communities
in
Block
Plan
and
Intensive
Courses Tutt Library Event Space Estee Aikin, University of Montana Western Jennifer Esperanza, Beloit College Laura Strauss, University of Montana Western |
|
|
12:30
-
1:30
p.m. Bemis Great Hall |
Lunch
and
Keynote
Address John Weldon, Victoria University |
|
1:45
-
3
p.m. Multiple Locations |
Focusing
on
the
First
Year:
Supporting
First-Year
Students'
Transitions
to
Block
Plan
and
Intensive
Schedules Worner Student Center, WES Room Alan McWilliams, Victoria University Jai Shanata, Cornell College Craig Teague, Cornell College |
|
Focusing
on
Assignments
and
CTL
Supports Cossitt Hall Jen Rouse, Cornell College |
|
|
Challenges
&
Opportunities
for
Cultural
Immersion
on
Intensive
Format
Study
Away Tutt Library Event Space Julie Alexander, Worldstrides-International Study Abroad (ISA) Jamie Andrew, Academic Experiences Abroad Tori Barnes-Brus, Cornell College Allen Bertsche, Colorado College Phillip Motley, Elon University Dara Wegman-Geedey, Augustana College |
|
|
3
-
3:30
p.m. Bemis Lounge |
Coffee and Conversation |
|
3:30
-
5
p.m. Bemis Great Hall |
Reflections and Next Steps |