Recentering: Science and Global Learning in the Undergraduate Curriculum
Pre-Conference Symposium
Wednesday, January 25
One of the primary goals of today’s liberal education is to produce global thinkers—students who reach beyond the classroom to apply their developing analytical skills and ethical judgment to concrete problems in the world around them. AAC&U’s Shared Futures Initiative encourages the development of global learning curricula in which students are engaged with questions arising from some of the most pressing trends of our time: What does it mean to be a citizen in the evolving global context? And how should one act in the face of large unsolved global problems?
Answers to such questions are necessarily inadequate unless students attain a basic level of practical scientific literacy. The challenges of 21st century citizenship—HIV/AIDS, global warming, nuclear proliferation, environmental sustainability, economic development, energy policy, health care, to name just a few—require scientific understanding to inform responsible action. At the same time, such challenges represent opportunities to engage and excite student interest in the genius of scientific methods. Despite general agreement on these points, recent AAC&U research shows that global learning, when reflected in the curriculum at all, is overwhelmingly linked to the humanistic study of cultures and tends to undervalue the role of the general education science requirement. Participants in “Recentering” will explore the following questions:
• How can we ensure that our graduates possess the scientific literacy necessary to thrive in a future marked by global interdependence?
• How can we more fully utilize general education science requirements to engage students in the search for solutions to global problems?
• How can we most effectively use large global frameworks to reinvigorate introductory-level science courses?
• What are the roles of research and civic engagement in creating global general education science requirements?
Schedule of Symposium Events
8:30-8:45 a.m.
Constitution B
Welcome
Kevin Hovland, Program Director, Global Initiatives, AAC&U
8:45-10:00 am
Constitution B
Plenary
Shared Futures: Science, Global Learning, and Civic Engagement
Darcy Kelley is Professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University and editor of the Journal of Neurobiology. Dr. Kelley was a creator of “Frontiers of Science,” Columbia’s core course for all entering students, designed to introduce them to ideas at the forefront of scientific research and inculcate in students the habits of mind common to a scientific approach to the world.
Grant Cornwell is Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at St. Lawrence University. Nationally recognized for his work in defining liberal learning in a global environment, he is co-editor (with Eve Stoddard) of Global Multiculturalism: Comparative Perspectives on Ethnicity, Race, and Nation (Rowman & Littlefield, 2001); and author (with Eve Stoddard) of Globalizing Knowledge: Connecting International and Intercultural Studies (AAC&U, 1999).
10:15-11:15 am
Constitution B
Plenary
Global Science: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Learning
Robert Yuan is Professor of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Maryland, whose principle research is on the impact of biotechnology on the economic development of industrialized and developing countries. Dr. Yuan is a member of the East Asia Science and Technology (EAST) Project at Maryland, whose objective is to introduce East Asian themes into the science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum.
Richard Vaz is Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary and Global Studies and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). He helps oversee WPI’s Global Perspective Program, through which students complete interdisciplinary research projects for local agencies and organizations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Central and North America. He has also served as a Senior Science Fellow in AAC&U’s Office of Education and Quality Initiatives developing and implementing new strategies to achieve greater expectations in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Constitution B
Roundtable Discussions
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
Constitution A
Luncheon Keynote
Science and Liberal Learning: A Mandate for a Scientifically Literate Society
James Gentile is President of Research Corporation, an AAAS Fellow, and formerly the Dean of Natural Sciences at Hope College.
Introduction by Caryn McTighe Musil, Senior Vice President, AAC&U
1:45-2:45 p.m.
Featured Sessions
Connections: A Curricular Architecture for an Interdisciplinary and Integrated Approach to Global Education
Constitution C
The academy faces the challenge of preserving and transmitting core values and disciplinary traditions while at the same time preparing students for a complex, interdisciplinary world that demands an understanding of global issues, science, and technology. Wheaton College in Massachusetts has revised its general education curriculum to meet this challenge. Wheaton’s core curriculum is built around “connections” – sets of two or three courses from different disciplinary areas that explore a common topic or theme from the perspective of each discipline involved.
Harvey Charles, Dean for Global Education; and Kersti Yllo, Associate Provost and Professor of Sociology, Darlene Boroviak, Political Science and Geoffrey Collins, Geology, all at Wheaton College
Promoting Global Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Earth Resources Courses
Constitution D
Dissatisfaction with science education that abjures social context and social science education that avoids scientific understanding motivated the development of two interdisciplinary, Earth resources courses. Labs involve students in problem-based group learning using global resource case studies from Nigeria, South Africa, France, and Japan. Participants will discuss the goal of preparing students for active citizenship as well as institutional obstacles to developing and delivering interdisciplinary courses.
James D. Myers, Professor of Geology and Geophysics; and Garth M. Massey, Director of International Studies Program, University of Wyoming
Technology and Global Geography
Constitution E
The Association of American Geographers has developed three modules (Nationalism, Global Economy, and Population), written by six geography professors from the United States, Chile, Spain, and Northern Ireland. The modules, four lessons each, support international collaboration using the Blackboard e-learning platform. Though the modules address separate topics, they shared the objectives of engaging students in collaborative learning, promoting understanding of geographic concepts and international perspectives, and providing practice using geographic skills.
Michael N. Solem, Educational Affairs Director, Association of American Geographers
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Constitution B
Plenary
Identifying Solutions
Jeanne Narum is Director of Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL), an informal national alliance of individuals, institutions, and organizations working to strengthen learning for undergraduates studying mathematics and the various fields of science.
Lori Bettison-Varga is Associate Dean for Research and Grants, College of Wooster and President-elect of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). The mission of the Council on Undergraduate Research is to support and promote high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship.
4:00-4:15 p.m.
Constitution B
Closing Comments
Caryn McTighe Musil, Senior Vice President, and Kevin Hovland, Program Director, Global Initiatives – both of AAC&U
If you have questions, please e-mail us at meetings@aacu.org.
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