The 4x4 Initiative
Writing-Integration Workshops for Faculty
Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the 4x4 Initiative supports faculty-development in the teaching of writing. The initiative enrolls 4 faculty members from each of 4 different departments annually. The program's goal is to help faculty redesign individual courses and departmental curricula in ways that make writing a powerful tool for student learning rather than simply a method of “generating a grade." For more information on writing-integrated courses see our page on Writing-Integrated Course Design.
The 4x4 Initiative hosts a series of workshops and events that invite faculty on the UW campus to discuss their plans for integrating writing into undergradaute course work and design effective writing assignments. Faculty from participating units take different paths to address their department’s and students' writing needs; some focus on redesigning an undergraduate course they have taught previously and others develop a new undergraduate course within an existing departmental curriculum.
Workshops in past years have focused on topics such as:
- Assignment Design and Scaffolding (including "Low Stakes" writing);
- Creating Rubrics and Assessing Grading Techniques;
- Managing the Paper Load;
- Working with TAs;
- Using Writing Centers;
- and Effective Peer Review.
Faculty participants meet three to four times during Fall, once during Winter and once during Spring quarters to discuss their progress on the design or redesign of courses, to share about success and strategies, and to reflect on what makes for their most successful courses.
The 4x4 Initiative has also sponsored half-day workshops in departments with faculty interested in working on particular issues related to writing-integration or courses offered through their departments.
Related Information:
For more information, contact us.