ITS 365: Applied Topics in International Studies
Dr. Hey's goals were to enhance critical thinking in 1) students' weekly writing summaries of the readings, and 2) students' in-class participation content. Students wrote "briefing books" about a case study each week. In the briefing books students summarized and analyzed each case. The briefing books also detailed their questions and comments on the case. Dr. Hey posted questions on blackboard each week to guide students' briefings of each case. She also read and commented on them before each class session, during which time the class engaged in an extensive discussion of the case.

The main outcome of Dr. Hey's participation in ACT was to include critical thinking goals in the syllabus (see below) and to assess them with a rubric. Throughout the ACT workshop, Dr. Hey developed a rubric for the grading of the weekly briefings. Each rubric question is aimed at critical thinking and the grade is attached to specific writing content. Dr. Hey reported that the rubric allowed her to specify her comments and grades. Students had a better sense of what types of issues they should address in both their written and oral work. Dr. Hey's goal for the next time she teaches the course is to develop a rubric for the oral work as well.

Course Goals (Syllabus)

Briefing Books Assignment

Rubric