A Hearty Thanks

Thank you to all those who contributed or curated the original GE Foundations Handbook, especially these trailblazers: Michael Salitrynski, Melanie Jenkins, Bradley Cook, Greg Wright, David A. Allred, Nathan G. Caplin, W. Scott Jackson, J. Weston Jamison, Adrian Peterson, Sheryl Bordrero, Andy Flinders, Kari Arnoldsen, Josh Hales, Jed Rasmussen, Mike Snyder, Andy Nogasky, Andrew Bahlmann, Katie Justesen, Jason Springer, Nick Marsing, and Laura Faatz.

It's been a privilege to study such an innovative text. The handbook itself speaks to the power of interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.

Our Purpose

We had several goals in mind in approaching this project:

Diversity and inclusion
1. Reviewing our authorship ratio to be both more inclusive and more representative of our student body.
2. Including gender pronouns (optional)
Including resources/tools for students in each section:
1. chapter(s)
2. videos/links/readings
3. discussion questions
4. actionable steps
Streamlining each chapter, section, and module for both aesthetic and teacher/student ease
1. revisions: cutting exclusionary language, cutting down length, removing some images, uniform tone, and uniform design
Reorganization of sections (including new proposed sections)

These changes allow the opportunity and invitation to take more ownership of the program.

Our Plan/Timeline

You might have noticed that we're using some different terminology ("sections" instead of "chapters"). With our new outline, we are building sections (modules). These sections will include a chapter(s), videos, links, readings, discussion questions, and actionable steps. [A mockup of a section will be available soon.]

Because of our new section model, original handbook chapters may be conjoined or subsumed; this could be part of the original chapter or the whole chapter. (This does not speak to the quality of the original chapters but of our goal for a coordinated, streamlined handbook.) Again, thank you to the creators of the original handbook: you broke ground, and we are only building on your foundation.

Teacher Resources

This handbook is focused on student resources, but we have a lovely Canvas for Teacher lesson plans, tips/tricks, and other resources.

One beautiful aspect of this new section organization system is that teachers will be able to copy and drop the entire module into their Spring 2022 course. It will be entirely malleable and accessible.

Revisions

Anyone can revise and resubmit their chapter; their new chapter will be posted under its link for the original handbook. (Please note: due to how sections are arranged, even if the chapter is revised, it may not be included in the 2nd ed. of the handbook.)

If you are interested in revising, thank you! We are not offering stipends for revisions, but polishing and perfecting will have immediate benefits for those using the original handbook (until Spring 2022).

Stipends and Handbook, 2nd Ed.

We will offer a stipend for those who will build new sections (including a chapter(s), videos, links, readings, discussion questions, and actionable steps). This may include existing content that remains in the control of the original author and/or generating new content.

If desired, you may split a section contract with someone else: one person could generate chapter content while another generates video links/readings, discussion questions, and actionable steps.

Timeline

2021: contracting faculty

September-October 2021: draft of sections, meetings about drafts

November 2021: final section drafts in review

December 2021: all sections live by the end of December 2021

Spring Semester 2022: Handbook 2nd ed. is live and ready to be used

Example

The beauty of building these sections in modules is that as a Foundations instructor, you can grab specific modules and upload them directly into your Canvas course. Each section (Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, etc.) is its own module.

The sections will all follow a uniform design and pattern:

1. Chapter(s)
2. Additional Videos/Readings
3. Discussion Questions
4. Actionable Steps

Please view our sample module: "Section 1: Lifelong Learning."

Building a Section

Fall 2021: If you have any interest in the handbook or concerns, please contact Lauren Matthews: lauren.matthews@snow.edu.

Via Zoom or in-person, we can schedule a meeting to talk about what sections you're interested in and what that section would entail. (Since the sections are so distinctive, you may be responsible for creating content, revising content, or both.)

Fall 2021, W 8:20-9:20am [changed from previous time] will be reserved for such meetings, but we can also meet at your convenience.