Bucks County Community College
CATs and WTL Institute
Spring 2008
Workshop Leaders: Stephen doCarmo and Arlene Franklin
Dates
SESSION 1: 1:30-4:00 PM on Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb. 19, and Mar. 4
SESSION 2: 1:30-4:00 PM on Mar. 20, Mar. 27, Apr. 10, and Apr. 24
Goal: The faculty will understand the ways in which both Classroom Assessment Techniques
(CATs) and Writing to Learn (WTL) activities can raise student engagement and performance.
Objectives:
The faculty will be able to:
 utilize Writing to Learn activities (impromptu and “low stakes” writing assignments) to increase
the section’s mastery and “ownership” of a topic.
 develop for a future course format a description of a WTL activity to be used regularly in the
section.
 identify appropriate CATs for the course s/he teaches.
 adapt and utilize Classroom Assessment Techniques to ascertain the section’s current status with
regard to a topic.
 provide appropriate feedback to the class based on information gathered through a CAT, which
will in turn facilitate an optimal learning experience.
 mentor colleagues in the use of CATs and WTL techniques.
Description: The four-session (2.5 hours each) institute is designed to provide the background
reasons for using CATs and WTL activities, as well as methods of tailoring these pedagogical
tools to courses taught at the College. Participants will create and try out in their current sections
various CATs and WTL assignments; they will also, during workshop meetings, be asked to
respond as students to various CATs and WTL assignments.
Who should apply: Full and part-time faculty interested in raising student engagement and
performance via CATs and WTL activities.
Requirements: Be an active participant of the program: engaging in discussion, completing
assignments and exercises, and using CATs and WTL assignments in the classroom. Faculty will
also serve as advocates of CATs and WTL assignments to other faculty in their departments,
mentoring those faculty when possible. Assignments created will be used as models for other
faculty. Faculty accepted must attend all sessions.
Compensation: $500
Bucks County Community College
Application for the
Writing-to-Learn and Classroom-Assessment-Techniques Institute
(Applications must be received in your Assistant Academic Dean’s office by 4:00 PM on
Monday, Dec. 10)
Name of Applicant
Academic Department
Course in which you plan to use Writing
to Learn and Classroom Assessment
Techniques
Session 1: Tuesdays 1/29, 2/5, 2/19, 3/4
Session 2: Thursdays 3/20, 3/27, 4/10, 4/24
Session you would like to attend:
Do you agree to attend all workshop
sessions as listed above?
Do you agree to actively participate in all
sessions?
Do you agree to complete all assignments
and exercises?
Do you agree to have your completed
Classroom Assessment Techniques and
your course-format description of a WTL
activity serve as models for other
instructors in your area?
Do you agree to serve as a mentor to other
faculty with regard to outcomes assessment
and Writing to Learn activities?
Signature of Assistant Academic Dean:
Signature of applicant:
Course:
Session 1 _____
Session 2 _____
YES ____
NO ____
YES ____
NO ____
YES ____
NO ____
YES ____
NO ____
YES ____
NO ____