1104: AU Signature Skills Demo: Developing Communication, Curiosity, Collaboration & Community in First-Year Students

Date: Wednesday, August 26

Time: 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM

Presenters: Derrick Cogburn (Professor, SIS | Environment, Development & Health and KSB | Information Technology & Analytics), Emily Peterson (Associate Professor, Baker School of Education), Krisztina Domjan (Senior Professorial Lecturer, CAS | Literature) & Moya Malcolm (Postdoctoral Fellow, Baker School of Education)

Moderator: Rebecca Comfort (Assistant Director, AU Core)

Session Description:

Join us for one of eight sessions where faculty will discuss the process of integrating AU Signature Skills into their course assignments and classroom activities. Panelists will present example assignments and activities that can be used to support the development of AU signature skills in first-year Core classes.

Presenters will model and share assignments for potential use in Complex Problems and Encounter AU, with an emphasis on Signature Skills of Communication, Curiosity, Collaboration & Community. Krisztina Domjan will present how to preserve the learning process: evidence gathering, communication, collaboration, reflection, and responsible AI engagement, while tailoring the content and deliverables to one’s own course objectives. Derrick Cogburn will present four examples of how to implement the 4Cs to align selected Signature Skills with Complex Problems learning objectives. Moya Malcolm will present a values clarification survey and peer advising & accountability group model that foster students’ self-awareness, sense of belonging, and collaboration skills. Emily Peterson will present sample in-class activities and assignments that seek to leverage social connection and social contagion to support curiosity. Participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm ideas with presenters and fellow participants for use in their own classes.

The AU Signature Skills were developed by a group of AU faculty and staff this spring to operationalize AU’s goal to help students develop into thoughtful and engaged professionals, and are an extension of AU’s Meet Our Moment Strategic Plan.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Define exemplars of the variability in what communication, curiosity, collaboration, and community skills could look like in first-year students
2. Generate an idea for how to create or modify at least one activity or assignment for their own class