Monday, October 10, 2011

Weeks 1 and 2 - Valerie B. at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday

Log:  each of my first circles was short: the first because I had to leave for a meeting at 10:30, the second because the attendees were busy and couldn't come until 10:30.  Even though I've only had 1 full hour so far, I think I'm going to really like this gig.

Two others came week one; two again week two, although the people changed a bit.  Week One the largest area of concern was ESL students: by what mechanism they were identified before the start of classes, how to use the Assessment essay to identify others in a regular 101 section, and how to effectuate or just strongly suggest transfer into an ESL section.  One of the attendees asked whether Drexel used a software program called "Compass" to evaluate students' need for ESL, and I did not have the answer to that.  Do we?  Do we use a similar one? 

Another question raised had to do with the rest of the classes in the sequence:  does ESL stop after 101?  In other words, are there ESL 102 (or 103?) sections, or do we assume that any student who has registered for a 102 (and thereby passed a 101) is considered competent in English?  

Anyone who has taught at Drexel longer than I have (I'm only here since Sept. 2010, so still a newbie) probably already knows the answers to these.  But I'm curious & shameless in questioning, so if you know and can respond in comments, please do.

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