December 10, 2003

January Conference Planned
On Teaching Honors Students

Have you ever thought about teaching honors students, but weren't sure about the opportunities? Have you wondered what's in it for you and your department?

These and other questions will be answered at a conference, "From Student to Scholar: Honors Education at the University of Connecticut," on January 15 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Rome Commons Ballroom.

The program, which is sponsored by the Honors Program and the Institute for Teaching and Learning, will offer UConn faculty and guests an opportunity to learn more about all aspects of honors education.

"It's intended to be informative and intellectually stimulating," says Lynne Goodstein, associate vice provost and director of the Honors Program. "The presentations and panels are designed to provide faculty with an understanding of the intellectual, social, and emotional attributes of the superb students in the Honors Program, as well as give information that will help faculty in their work with these terrific students."

Panel presentations will provide information to help faculty design honors courses, teach and advise honors students, and enhance honors education within academic disciplines.

The keynote speaker will be Sally Reis, a professor and chair of educational psychology at UConn, who will speak at 9 a.m. on "Challenges to High Achievement in American Students: What every faculty member should know about honors students at UConn."

From 10:05 to 11:05 a.m. there will be three concurrent panels.

In Panel 1, members of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences dean's office, the provost's office, and the Honors Program will discuss how the University views the honors program and how faculty who participate can benefit.

Panel 2 will examine methods for offering honors credit for academic work. Panelists will discuss creative strategies for mixing honors and non-honors students through "honors enhanced" classes; time-efficient ways to work with honors conversions; and ways to capitalize on existing lecture series in creating exciting honors learning opportunities.

Panel 3 will focus on crafting honors curricula for the junior or senior years; preparing and mentoring students through their theses; and creating community among honors majors.

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., there will be two concurrent panels. One will examine the social and emotional development of honors students, many of whom were involved in gifted and talented programs during their K-12 years.

The other will cover the theory and practice of participatory learning. Panelists will discuss why honors students are attracted to this approach, and how it can best be used in instructing honors and other students.

The conference will conclude with lunch and a wrap-up session for all participants from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

For more information, call the Honors Program at 860.486.4223.