The 2009 Communication Symposium at Carnegie Mellon University: June 29, 30, and July 1

A brief synopsis of this year’s schedule of events

After my brief visit in Doha last October, it became clear to all of us that this year’s symposium theme needed once again to be broad enough so that faculty from several disciplines could represent their work teaching our culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Dudley Reynolds came up with this year’s theme, “Global Teaching, Global Learning,” and it has allowed us to explore three questions surrounding three subthemes of culture, pedagogy, and literacy. 

To help us discuss these themes, we have two distinguished guest speakers, Jodi Crandall and Vivian Zamel, both of whom will give talks on Monday 6/29 and Tuesday 6/30 respectively.

The three key questions that structure each of the symposium days are listed below, along with a brief chronological listing of the related presentations and speakers.  (For a more detailed listing of the schedule, click on the link for a PDF version of the schedule.)

(1) How do concepts of culture shape our teaching in the global university?

Recognizing culture in the computer science classroom
                      Presenters:  Iliano Cervesato, Khaled Harras

Communicating about gender in the global university
                      Presenters:  Amal Al-Malki, Gloria Khoury, Emily Klein

(2) How are our pedagogical assumptions challenged in the global university?

Teaching the personal essay in a summer pre-college program in Doha
                        Presenter:  Meaghan O’Keefe

Teaching architecture in Doha
                        Presenter:  Kelly Hutzell

Teaching writing style in Doha
                        Presenter:  Dan Baumgardt

Teaching entrepreneurship in Doha
                        Presenters:  Art Boni and Renna Alyasinni

Perspectives in Pittsburgh and Doha:  Information Systems
                        Presenters:  Selma Limam Mansar and Jeria Quesenberry

Globalizing the Classroom: Lessons Learned from QF Teleconferencing Classes
                                                Presenter:  Ben Reilly

(3) How can we understand English literacy in the global university?

Expectations for reading at CMU-Q: Reading assignments across the curriculum
Presenters:  Dudley Reynolds, Andreas Karatsolis, Ben Reilly, Hope Rodefer

Academic writing development among Carnegie Mellon-Qatar students
                        Presenter:  Silvia Pessoa

Using Classroom Salon for visualizing reading and annotation practices in
CS classes – Data from a pilot study at CMU-Q
                        Presenters:  Ananda Gunawardena and David Kaufer
 

Let’s come together ready to discuss new and old ideas, remembering that David Kaufer has said that our campuses “need to be the same, except when we need to be different.”

Looking forward to seeing everyone,

Danielle Zawodny Wetzel
Coordinator, June Communication Symposium
Director, First-Year Writing Program
Assistant Teaching Professor of Rhetoric and English
Carnegie Mellon University

**For more information, please contact Danielle Wetzel.

**To make sure we have a space for you at this year’s symposium, contact Emily McCall, the Co-Coordinator of the symposium.