Who can participate in CRA?
Any full-time, part-time, or graduate faculty member at Mason who is scheduled to design or revise a course they will teach at least once during the upcoming twelve-month period may apply to participate in CRA. When space is limited, priority goes to faculty who have not completed CRA in the previous 5 years.
Faculty can work individually or with a partner or team as part of the Academy. Preference is given to faculty whose ReDesign supports a department, program, or university initiative (such as Mason Core, the QEP, or a focus on one or more the goals featured in Mason’s strategic plan).
How do I apply to join the next CRA?
Complete our online proposal form by the date specified each fall/spring. The proposal asks you to describe the course you will be (re)designing, some of your current plans for that course, and some of your general your approaches to course (re)design. Participants will be notified of their acceptance by finals week.
How does the Stearns Center support CRA participants?
We will provide up to $800 in direct stipends for completion of the Preparation Modules and the Collaborative Workshop. In addition, on-campus participants have lunch and coffee provided for our Collaborative Workshop days.
Participants will receive funding as follows:
- $500 for completing the two-day Collaborative Workshop (which also includes lunch for any face-to-face participants)
- $300 for completing the online Preparation Modules prior to the Workshop (about 8-12 hours of self-paced reading and responding)
Please note that adjustments to the form of the stipend may need to be made for GTAs and not-currently-contracted adjunct faculty, and that the stipend is subject to any limits that faculty/instructors already face for special or extra pay (e.g., summer income limits).
How does CRA prepare instructors for teaching in Active Learning classrooms?
Research shows us that faculty teaching in Active Learning Classrooms (ALCs) have a much higher success rate when they have completed a structured program of preparation for both syllabus design and classroom management. Since these classrooms not only provide multiple levels of technological enhancement but are carefully designed to support a particular kind of teaching and learning, faculty usually need significant time for course redesign as well as preparation for technology integration and classroom management in order to be successful. CRA leaders include ALC-experienced facilitators; our activities and discussions provide guidance (and hands-on practice) for faculty designing technology-assisted collaborative learning.
What sorts of activities are involved in CRA?
All CRA activities are designed to blend time for individual participants to plan, create, or revise their class materials with time to identify options and receive feedback from their peers and the CRA leaders. For more information, review this sample schedule for a recent CRA.
How could my department, program, or unit support or create Course ReDesign events?
We have previously collaborated with units on campus who have specific priorities for faculty development or who have a specific course-design need and wish to develop an in-house CRA sequence. CRA timing and focus can be adjusted to meet local needs and accessibility; however, we ask that the multi-stage CRA structure (including online learning and live discussion) remain a baseline for supporting faculty. For this kind of local programming, we ask that units agree on a reasonable stipend or other compensation for participants and designate a local leader/coordinator who can help design and organize the events with a member of the Stearns Center team.