UW News

February 19, 2009

“Meet, Greet, Teach” Feb. 26 focuses on interdisciplinary environmental education

The opportunities and limitations of team teaching is the subject of “Meet, Greet, Teach” Thursday, Feb. 26.

Launched last quarter by the Program on the Environment, “Meet, Greet, Teach” sessions give postdoctoral fellows ¬¬and graduate students interested in interdisciplinary environmental education a chance to interact with faculty who are willing to share their enthusiasm and experience, according to its Web site.

“We realized there aren’t many resources for post docs interested in teaching. Building up this part of the UW community is a priority for the Program on the Environment,” says the director of the program, Julia Parrish, who also is a professor of aquatic and fishery sciences and who came up with the idea for “Meet, Greet, Teach.”

Twice a quarter, participants gather over a glass of wine and light appetizers, listen to a 30-minute “fast panel” of four faculty members giving their insights on a topic such as “What is Truth?,” followed by a conversation involving everyone in the room.

The session Feb. 26 on interdisciplinary teaching is free and runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in 258 Mary Gates. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by Feb. 20 to poe@u.washington.edu. Questions to be considered include: Are large courses best delivered by a single individual or an interdisciplinary team? What is the most effective delivery: blocks of lectures, a weekly switch of instructors, daily fisticuffs in the classroom?

Panelists will be Tom Hinckley, professor of forest resources; Karen Litfin, associate professor of political science; David Domke, professor of communications; and Mike Wallace, professor of atmospheric sciences.