Faculty to share research on writing and learning May 19

Several Western Washington University faculty members will gather May 19 to talk about their recent studies on writing at Western and the implications for teaching and learning.

The event takes place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, in the Learning Commons, Wilson Library 270.

Carmen Werder, director of the Learning Commons in Western Libraries), will share findings from a three-year study focused on expectations about academic writing across students, faculty and administrators at WWU as part of an international writing transfer study sponsored by Elon University.

Jeremy Cushman, English, will highlight findings from a study titled “Telling Stories in a Professional and Technical Writing Course” that he conducted with two student co-inquirers as part of a 2013-14 Writing Research Fellowship.

Wes Keister, English, will share his findings from a fall 2014 study of writing assignments and instruction at WWU.

The forum will also feature an opportunity to learn more about two summer events on teaching, learning, and scholarship: the Backwards by Design summer writing instruction retreat and the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning residency. The discussion, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by the Writing Instruction Support Program and the Teaching-Learning Academy, Learning Commons/Western Libraries.