Anne Phillips, Professor of English, is quick to remind people that assessment in the English department is far from a one person job. Her coworkers are more than happy to work together to create measurable results. “I have the best colleagues in the world,” said Phillips.
There is a huge sense of community within the English department, which carries over into assessment work. Phillips, Naomi Wood, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department Head Karin Westman, and the Undergraduate Advisory Committee were the driving force behind creating ENGL 698, the capstone course. Wood and Instructor Anna Goins played an instrumental role in the department’s discussion-based student learning outcome, which reads, “Participate in discussions by listening to others’ perspectives, asking productive questions, and articulating original ideas.” Wood and Goins utilized oral examinations to meet this outcome, but Phillips said other methods have included online message boards, or Associate Professor Kimball Smith’s approach which involves tracking how often students speak in class. Continue reading “Faculty Spotlight: Anne Phillips, English”
