Research and Scholarship-Intensive Courses: A Primer and Workshop

Abstract

One aspect of the Students as Scholars initiative is the Research and Scholarship-intensive course designation. At Mason, we approach teaching research from a developmental and scaffolded perspective, with students being introduced to scholarship in Discovery courses, acquiring disciplinary skills in Inquiry courses, and finally taking responsibility for carrying out a scholarly project in RS courses.In this hands-on session, faculty will learn features of RS courses, including which courses are currently RS designated; the process of applying for an RS designation for their class; how to use a curriculum map to plan their course; and strategies for teaching and evaluating an RS course. Faculty at three levels are invited to participate in this session: those who are poised to apply for RS designation, instructors who are exploring the possibility, and professors who want to understand what students are doing in RS courses.