Moving forward in the decision to reform general education, members of the Reimagining General Education advisory group have outlined three different models for consideration for the new curriculum.
The model continuum consists of three proposed models: integrated, blended and distributed.
The integrated model would be the model that would require the most amount of reform, and distributed is the model most similar to what is in place now. The blended model falls in the middle of the spectrum.
Three members of the Reimagining Gen-Ed leadership team gave a presentation to Faculty Senate last Monday, offering more information on each model, according to a previous Post report.
The Gen-Ed advisory group outlined the reasons that the reforms are needed, which included the need to update a 40-year-old program and align general education to Ohio’s common goals.
The new general education model will also align with OU’s new statement of intent for all classes. The statement of intent is branded by the Bricks model. Bricks stands for bridge, reason, integrate, communicate, know and synthesize, according to a previous Post report.
Beth Quitslund, co-chair of University Curriculum Council individual course committee, spoke about the integrated model at a Faculty Senate meeting. Quitslund said it would be the most challenging model to implement but would stand out and provide competitive advantages in recruiting.
Implementing that model would require faculty to redesign existing courses or create new courses to fit into the program in order to align the courses with the desired learning outcomes. It would also be less-friendly to College Credit Plus, or CCP, students transferring into OU.
Todd Eisworth, a member of the gen-ed leadership team, presented the blended model to members of Faculty Senate.
The blended model has several advantages, such as being more friendly to CCP students.
Eisworth said he is in favor of the blended model because it allows for evolution.
“This particular model lies in the middle of the spectrum, with the distributed and the integrated … at the endpoints of the spectrum,” Eisworth said. “So, if we decide we want a change somehow, we kind of have two directions to go, depending on what the faculty and students want.”
Eisworth discussed some limitations to the model as well, such as requiring faculty to redesign courses and requiring faculty to coordinate with others to develop multi-disciplinary clusters of coursework.
“In my opinion, the second limitation is actually an advantage,” Eisworth said. “It would be a good thing to have faculty work together to create better coursework for students."
The last proposed model is the distributed model, which was described by Quitslund as a buffet-style model. The distributed model is most similar to what is currently in place right now, where students add courses based on which outcome they want to achieve.
Although each model has clear advantages and disadvantages, they all form an outcome-based model. Currently, OU’s Gen-Ed courses are on a menu-based model.
Once the model is decided on, which is set to happen spring 2020, the General Education leadership team will decide the exact outcomes that should come from the new model.
“Once we have the outcomes, we can map those to a model that includes courses that we will share with students,” Elizabeth Sayrs, a member of the Gen-Ed leadership team, said. “But you have to know what you want them to get first before you can see which courses fit into those outcomes.”
The new model and all of its details are expected to be completed by fall 2020 and implemented by fall 2021.
“I would just emphasize that I don’t know if we’re going to hit the target right the first time,” Eisworth said. “But part of what we’re doing is trying to build something that can evolve over time so we don’t end up with something now that stays in touch for 40 years.”
