Faculty invited to writing, service-learning retreat at Shannon Point

Western Washington University faculty members who teach with writing or service-learning are invited to participate in “Backwards by Design: A Working Retreat for Faculty Who Teach With Writing and/or Service-Learning” Aug. 29 to 31 at Western's Shannon Point Marine Center.

The Center for Service-Learning and the Writing Instruction Support programs are offering two tracks in this late-summer professional development opportunity for faculty. One cohort of attendees will focus on strategies for integrating academic service-learning into their courses, while another cohort will focus on practices for enhancing writing instruction. As these two topics complement each other well, groups will collaborate throughout the week.

The three-day retreat runs from Wednesday, Aug. 29 through Friday, Aug. 31, at Shannon Point Marine Center nestled in the woods and near the water in Anacortes. All expenses for travel, lodging, food and materials are covered. An additional stipend will be available to participants who submit a brief follow-up survey identifying what specific ideas/practices they gained from the retreat followed by a brief write-up within the 2012-2013 academic year tracking the results of how those practices resulted in improved student learning.

Those whose main interest in attending is related to service-learning should see this link for more information and email April McMurry to reserve a spot in the program. Those with a main focus on writing instruction should email writinginstructionsupport@wwu.edu to pre-register or click here to learn more.

Ten spaces are available for each track (for a total of 20 participants).