A Conference to Place WAC in the Context of National and International Goals.
In an era of international electronic networks, a global economy, and hemispheric trading partnerships, communication skill affects the success of individuals, companies, and countries. Mathematical or scientific literacy is vital, but without communication skills workers may be relegated to lower technical tasks. To prepare students across the Americas, writing and communication must be restored as a priority. Federal and state education policies, institutional arrangements, technologies, and funding can dramatically facilitate - or limit - outcomes. Rice University is pleased to invite you to the Sixth National Writing Across the Curriculum Conference: Writing the Future: Leadership, Policies, and Classroom Practices.
The Future Prompts a Host of Questions for Presentations.
- What goals should countries and schools set for their students to make them successful in the future?
- How can students be encouraged to write not only for their first job but also to imagine their future?
- How can students be taught to think critically and productively about problems in every field?
- How can writing across the curriculum and communication be used to help students master the knowledge they will need?
- How can legislators, policy makers, educational leaders, and scholars collaborate for faster responses to the challenges ahead?
- What policies and legislation are needed to ensure that students have access to intellectual resources and still honor the intellectual work of others?
- What technologies will help students become better writers and communicators?
- What institutional arrangements will position writing across the curriculum programs and leaders for success in schools and colleges?
- What level of funding is necessary?
- What support and training enable writing across the curriculum faculty and teachers to reach their objectives?
- What assessment practices foster program improvement?
- How can writing centers help accomplish our vision for the future?
Reading is already a recognized priority; writing or presenting one's own ideas must be as important as reading someone else's.