August 17, 2009

Dear Colleagues:

The UNL Faculty Leadership for Writing Initiative (FLWI) invites you to participate in a 2009-10 Writing Inquiry Group (WIG) focused on ACE courses. These two groups of five interdisciplinary faculty members will offer an atmosphere of support for needs that arise at the intersection of ACE Outcomes and writing. Possible topics for WIG exploration might include the following:

• creating or revising a capstone course that features writing to enhance learning and research
• developing writing reinforcement practices for a current course
• designing new writing assignments
• developing writing assessment practices
•  integrating “writing to learn” into classroom activities.

WIGs meet seven times throughout the year, giving participants an opportunity for cross-disciplinary dialogue. Jessica Rivera, FLWI Project Assistant, and I will act as resources to help you design a curriculum, suggest reading material, and/or help facilitate discussion.  The outcome for this WIG will be a completed project (i.e. new or revised course syllabus, discussion of new practices, new assignments, etc.  and, if applicable, the ACE course certification proposal). We will also ask you to share this material with other teachers at a gathering in May 2010.  Upon completion of the project, you will receive $700.

Faculty who have participated in WIGs in the past say these groups enrich their teaching practices and also provide a much needed opportunity to discuss teaching with colleagues. (For a list of these groups and their projects, see http://flwi.unl.edu/projects/writinginquirygroups.html) In addition, WIG participation may prove valuable as you compile a file for promotion, tenure, or a teaching award.

We hope you’ll consider joining this ACE-focused Writing Inquiry Group this fall.  If you are interested, please contact Shari Stenberg (sstenberg2@unl.edu) with the following information:

Name:

Department/Program:

Focus of your ACE/writing interests:

Sincerely,

Shari Stenberg
FLWI Coordinator
Associate Professor of English