Instructor interview for Place-Based WAC/WID writing instruction in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, clip 6 of 18

Abstract

Brief excerpt from interview: Our metrics are often course grades, the quality of the work that's handed in, the Café [student evaluation] results . . . The last writing assignment I give my students is 'Has the class affected your behavior in some way? and if so, explain it.' And those are wonderful re-affirming essays that I get back. Without doubt, every student says something like 'I learned so much. This is a wonderful class, I wish there were more classes like this.' So when I read those, I see that it is having direct impact on students . . . Being Writing Intensive helps them check off a box in their [general education] requirements, and now it's a 300-level class, so that gives an added advantage . . . and they really enjoy the topics, and they might not like the writing, every week, but in the five years I've taught it, the quality of the student work dramatically improves over the course of the semester.