2022 Conference on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment
Plenary Sessions
Conference Welcome and Keynote Address
Virtual Wednesday, February 9, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET
The Rise in College Cheating: Why, and What We Can Do
Cheating in college has gotten worse -- much, much worse. Contributors in recent years include the growth of homework help websites that aid cheating, easy online access to low-cost contractors, and real-time apps for anonymous communication among classmates. Saying "students are only hurting themselves" is inaccurate since grades are used competitively for jobs and grad school admissions. Causes of cheating include pressure (wanting good grades but being unable to achieve them), opportunity (having access to solution/contractors and believing penalties would be light or non-existent), and rationalization (convincing self -- often not incorrectly -- that a class is unreasonable). No simple solution exists, but pressure can be addressed via scaffolding, modern learning systems, and multiple paths to getting help; opportunity via dedicating time to cheat detection, using cheat detection tools, and showing tools to class in a positive way; and rationalization via discussing cheating (and not in week 1), giving an integrity quiz with concrete examples, and ensuring class is fair and relevant. Reducing cheating -- so students actually learn, students fairly compete, and university reputations are maintained -- may be the biggest challenge facing professors in the next decade.
Frank Vahid
Professor of Computer Science and Engineering—University of California, Riverside
Closing Session of Virtual Wednesday
Virtual Wednesday, February 9, 5:10 pm – 6:00 pm ET
General Education, Student Success, and Why Course Material Models Require Faculty Attention Now
Access to course materials is essential for student success. Yet, rising textbook costs and pressures on the publishing industry has left many students without the materials they need to get the most out of their education. In an effort to address this challenge, many campus leaders have moved toward a new model known as "Inclusive Access," which automatically bills students for digital textbooks through tuition and fees and can limit individual faculty autonomy regarding textbook selection. While the advertised benefits of this model are widely promoted by vendors, the challenges it creates for students and faculty deserve equal attention. This is especially true for general education programs, which serve the largest number of students. This presentation will provide background on the Inclusive Access model, including how it works, common challenges it creates, and how it differs from Open Educational Resources (OER)—a model that is truly inclusive of all students. This presentation, which includes student presenters and their experiences, will also share advocacy strategies and resources from InclusiveAccess.org.
Nicole Allen
Director of Open Education–Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC)Barbara Gooch
Student–Volunteer State Community College
Cailyn Nagle
Open Educational Resources (OER) Program Manager–Michelson 20MM Foundation
Welcome and Keynote Address
Thursday, February 10, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm PT
Why Do I Have to Take This Class? General Education’s Relevancy in Uncertain, Unprecedented Times
Students can often be confused by General Education requirements, preferring to focus on classes directly related to their major. Likewise, faculty are sometimes left wondering about how General Education classes tie into their own discipline. This discussion, featuring a panel of faculty, general education directors, faculty developers, assessment professionals, and academic and institutional leaders, will get to the heart of focusing on the value of a broad undergraduate education and its impact on student success in the classroom and beyond.
Kate Drezek McConnell
Vice President for Curricular and Pedagogical Innovation and Executive Director of VALUE
Opening Plenary Session
Friday, February 11, 9:00 am – 10:00 am PT
Co-Creating Curricula with Students: Exploring the Potential of OER for General Education
This session will focus on how to inspire and increase opportunities for deeper student engagement and learning through open educational resources (OER). When coupled with effective and culturally sustaining instructional practices, OER can both increase access to core content and encourage greater agency in learning. Participants will learn a variety of ways that OER are used in classrooms and discover tools for taking action to initiate, implement, and sustain OER initiatives at their institutions.
Angela DeBarger
Program Officer in Education–William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Closing Plenary
Saturday, February 12, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
In Other Words: Constructing Meaning in a Messed Up World
So much of what we do is driven by metaphor: we plant seeds, we nurture growth, we play devil’s advocate. We search for silver linings, and we surrender to new realities. But how do we transcend? How do we cut through the noise so our students can hear our voices… and find their own? Drawing on his decades of work in faculty development and curricular redesign, the author of “Wicked Students” and “Gen Ed Fundamentals” will push us to ask—and answer—these very questions.
Paul S. Hanstedt
Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning–Washington and Lee University