We need convincing evidence to lobby against trimming of foreign language programs and the misperception that language programs are "underproductive." Read the article below to see why we need to showcase value of FL education (with evidence!).
An article in Chronicle of Higher Ed by Gary A. Olson (Dec 1st, 2010):
"Many colleges and universities are re-examining their curricula and assessing what should be trimmed and what should be enhanced. Generally, institutions are scrutinizing three key areas of reform: general-education requirements, requirements within majors, and underperforming programs.
The dire financial situation for higher education in most states has accelerated the process of streamlining, especially the elimination of weak programs. The University of Maine created an Academic Program Prioritization Working Group to analyze which programs to cut, and in what order, to meet budget reductions while maintaining high-priority academic programs. The group's final report is appropriately titled "Achieving Sustainability."
The State University of New York at Albany recently announced that it would close programs in the classics, French, Italian, Russian, and theater. Student demand for those programs is ebbing nationally, and many institutions are finding they don't have the budget to keep marginal programs afloat."
Click here to read the whole article in the Chronicle of Higher Ed:
http://chronicle.com/article/Why-Universities-Are/125556/
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Evaluation 2010 Conference: What is the conference like?
This year was my first time attending and presenting at the American Evaluation Association's conference. Let me report you my experience as a first-timer while my memory and excitement are still fresh.
Evaluation 2010, an annual conference hosted by the American Evaluation Association, was held at San Antonio, TX between November 5th and 13th. The conference had over 2500 attendees from various sectors (education, government, health, community programs, etc.). The first 2.5 days were capacity building workshops, followed by a 3.5-day conference. What is unique about this conference is that it's not only academics presenting their work. Evaluators, academics, funders (people from the foundation), policy makers attend this conference. Amazing synergy and dynamic.
There were over 35 concurrent sessions, so you can imagine how hard it was to choose which sessions to attend. Moreover, there is a variety of session types you need to know. For example, demonstration, panel, expert lecture, skill-building workshop, roundtable (presentation + discussion), think-tank (breakout discussion), poster sessions. Be aware that some of the panel and multipaper sessions were put together by the conference organizers, and few of them had an odd combination of papers in one session. There are no abstracts in the conference handbook, so you need to guess what the papers and sessions are about from the title (AEA recommends searching the abstracts online before you attend the conference). I ended up following specific SIG/TIG strands, so I don't need to go though 35 session titles during the break.
My general impression of the conference is that evaluators are good at relating to people and are good listeners. That's what they do, professionally, when they go into programs, right? They listen and try to understand the context. Naturally, evaluators are good at (or trained at) providing constructive comments, sharing their ideas, and creating a collegial network.
Observing how people interact in sessions made me wonder about evaluator traits, because AEA conferencing culture seems slightly different from where I come from (Applied Linguistics/TESOL). One of the session I attended was, in fact, discussing evaluator competencies. What makes an evaluator a good evaluator? Social science research skills? Theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to conduct evaluation via professional development or in graduate schools? Some of the audience in the session agreed that person/communication skills and personality make a difference. I wondered what the result will be, if we administer Myers-Briggs to evaluators.
Conference highlight? The champaign toast with everyone in the auditorium at the closing remark!!
Stay tuned for some of the highlights from the sessions I attended in the next blog.
Evaluation 2010, an annual conference hosted by the American Evaluation Association, was held at San Antonio, TX between November 5th and 13th. The conference had over 2500 attendees from various sectors (education, government, health, community programs, etc.). The first 2.5 days were capacity building workshops, followed by a 3.5-day conference. What is unique about this conference is that it's not only academics presenting their work. Evaluators, academics, funders (people from the foundation), policy makers attend this conference. Amazing synergy and dynamic.
There were over 35 concurrent sessions, so you can imagine how hard it was to choose which sessions to attend. Moreover, there is a variety of session types you need to know. For example, demonstration, panel, expert lecture, skill-building workshop, roundtable (presentation + discussion), think-tank (breakout discussion), poster sessions. Be aware that some of the panel and multipaper sessions were put together by the conference organizers, and few of them had an odd combination of papers in one session. There are no abstracts in the conference handbook, so you need to guess what the papers and sessions are about from the title (AEA recommends searching the abstracts online before you attend the conference). I ended up following specific SIG/TIG strands, so I don't need to go though 35 session titles during the break.
My general impression of the conference is that evaluators are good at relating to people and are good listeners. That's what they do, professionally, when they go into programs, right? They listen and try to understand the context. Naturally, evaluators are good at (or trained at) providing constructive comments, sharing their ideas, and creating a collegial network.
Observing how people interact in sessions made me wonder about evaluator traits, because AEA conferencing culture seems slightly different from where I come from (Applied Linguistics/TESOL). One of the session I attended was, in fact, discussing evaluator competencies. What makes an evaluator a good evaluator? Social science research skills? Theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to conduct evaluation via professional development or in graduate schools? Some of the audience in the session agreed that person/communication skills and personality make a difference. I wondered what the result will be, if we administer Myers-Briggs to evaluators.
Conference highlight? The champaign toast with everyone in the auditorium at the closing remark!!
Stay tuned for some of the highlights from the sessions I attended in the next blog.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
ACTFL Convention - Evaluation related sessions and events
The ACTFL convention is coming up November 20-22. This is a great opportunity meet and exchange ideas on language program evaluation matters. We encourage you to use this space to announce any evaluation related sessions that you are aware of or connect with others who may be attending the conference.
Here are some interesting sessions we found in the ACTFL convention program related to tertiary language program evaluation. Please feel free to comment or add your own.
Evaluation and Curriculum Development:
Program Administration Training Evaluation
Outcomes Assessment
Here are some interesting sessions we found in the ACTFL convention program related to tertiary language program evaluation. Please feel free to comment or add your own.
Evaluation and Curriculum Development:
Moving Forward: Ongoing Curricular Development and Evaluation
Sunday, November 22, 8:00am to 9:00am
San Diego Convention Center, Room 8
Program Administration Training Evaluation
Language Program Administration Skills and Knowledge: What's Important?
Sunday, November 22, 8:00am to 9:00am
San Diego Convention Center, Room 22
Outcomes Assessment
Creating a College Level Arabic Skills Continuum
Friday, November 20, 6:15pm to 7:15pm
San Diego Convention Center, Room 27B
Assessing Community Service Learning: A
Practical Approach
Friday, November 20, 3:45pm to 4:45pm
San Diego Convention Center, Room 23C
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