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Abstract
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AbstractThis two-semester professional learning project focused on ways in which we as faculty members at San José State University respond to student writing and how these responses or feedback might become more effective. For the purposes of this project, effective feedbacks was defined as a response that a student is able to understand and use to actually improve his or her writing. The goals of the project were (1) to raise faculty members' awareness of the importance of feedback as part of the dynamic relationship of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and (2) to enhance the ability of San José State University faculty members to provide effective feedback on student writing. The project was directed by Rosemary Henze and staffed by Betsy Gilliland and John Leih. To accomplish the project goals, we conducted a survey of faculty members, held a one-day symposium on campus, and funded eight projects, led by faculty members in various disciplines, to either do professional development within a department or conduct classroom research in one or more classes. The outcomes of these three activities suggest that there is considerable interest among faculty members on campus in learning about responding to writing, teaching others how to respond more effectively, and contributing more research on this topic. They also suggest that an interdisciplinary approach that places faculty members in leadership roles within their departments and provides incentives such as release time or stipends is key to the success of future professional learning efforts along these lines. ---- 1. This project was funded by the Learning Productivity Program (LPP) in Spring and Fall, 2005. In addition, the project received financial or in-kind support from the Linguistics and Language Development Department, the Center for Faculty Development, the Writing Requirements Committee. I wish to appreciate Betsy Gilliland and John Leih for their invaluable collaboration on this project, and Alice Martin for her assistance in making sure all the participants were properly paid.
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