Atlanta Regional Network

The Atlanta Regional Network continues to move toward identifying its vision and goals. At the spring 2008 meeting, participants proposed the following areas of emphasis for the Network:

  • Organizing a regional workshop where faculty could showcase, share, and discuss ideas and experience
  • Forming teams of faculty from different institutions who teach similar courses to collaborate on new pedagogies
  • Bringing in high profile speakers
  • Interdisciplinary initiatives based solving a specific problem or working on a common interests
  • Rotating open-houses to show off what is being done at different campuses.

From the spring network meeting, the next steps are:

  • PKAL Atlanta will survey the region to discover areas of expertise and interest in pedagogies of engagement – send 1-page description of each pedagogy
  • PKAL liaisons from each campus will report for that campus by May 30
  • Based on the findings of the survey, two 1-day workshops will be planned. One will be for Fall and the other for the Spring term. [To qualify as a PKAL Regional Network, PKAL Atlanta is obligated to hold at least 2 workshops per year].
  • Part of PKAL Atlanta membership requirement is willingness to share/host other members at an institution’s STEM events
  • A web presence with a wiki site will be established.

PKAL will assist with the workshops:

  • Participants will experience the pedagogy
  • Participants will discuss “what works” and “how we know”
  • Participants will have the opportunity for disciplinary discussions.

    • Atlanta Network Regional Co-Chairs:
    Peter C. Chen, Professor of Chemistry- Spelman College (F21 Class of 1995)
    Ronald J. Henry, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs- Georgia State University

    Co-Chairs elect:
    J.B. Sharma, Professor of Physics- Gainesville State College (F21 Class of 1999)
    J. Lynn Zimmerman, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Programs & Professor of Biology- Emory University