Dear Janet, Let me start with an honest answer, "I have no idea whether SUCO does this at this time." I assume that "strategic programmatic experimentation" goes beyond what an individual instructor does in his or her class. The word strategic implies that the experimentation is embedded within some institutional process that provides at least a small amount of funding to encourage the creation of these experiments, evaluates the individual efforts, and then determines whether any of these efforts is successful enough to be given financial support and rolled out to a broader audience. Over the years, I participated in a number of projects, usually (but not always) started by individual faculty, that expanded enough to indicate that they were successful. At one time I remember that there were five or six different programs in operation that were designed to improve the first year experience. Several of these were quite successful, but none ever was given real support, and eventually all of them died. In each case the missing step was the last one; there was no mechanism to institutionalize change to make it part of the ongoing programs of the college. It is my understanding that this is a common failure among most colleges, so this should be no surprise. Cordially, Harry Harry E. Pence SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus SUNY Oneonta ________________________________ From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nepkie, Janet ([log in to unmask]) Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 9:40 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: First Meeting of TB Group Next Wed. Sept 7 Harry and all, One question in the article you sent us interested me. That question was: Does your institution engage in strategic programmatic experimentation? Is that question asking whether our college includes planned programmatic experimentation in its Strategic Plan? Or does that question simply mean that there are no serious impediments placed in the path of people who wish to try programmatic experimentation? And does "programmatic experimentation" refer to experimentation that goes BEYOND what a specific teacher might do in his/her class, and extend to entire programs, curricula or degrees? As you know, I am interested in considering changes that may lead to demonstrable improvement. I imagine this goal is shared by others, but perhaps not. The Teaching Breakfasts have often shown me that I have a lot to learn!! Thanks Janet Dr. J. Nepkie SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Professor of Music and Music Industry Fine Arts 145 State University College Oneonta, NY 13820 tele: (607) 436 3425 fax: 607 436 2718 [log in to unmask] From: "Pence, Harry ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>)" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 08:52:32 -0400 To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Subject: Re: First Meeting of TB Group Next Wed. Sept 7 Here's an interesting story about innovation that asks each of us to explore how and why we try new things. http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/student_affairs_and_technology/what_s_your_dragon_fruit Any interest in discussing this tomorrow? Harry Harry E. Pence SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus SUNY Oneonta ________________________________ From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Greenberg, James ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 7:45 AM To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: First Meeting of TB Group Next Wed. Sept 7 TBers, This email is a reminder that our first get together will be next Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 8 AM outside Starbucks in the Hunt Union. I'd like to talk about what kinds of ways we can ensure quality in our online course offerings? Of course, any burning issues you may be having as the semester starts are also welcome. A remarkable story that might be used in a variety of teaching contexts can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/world/asia/02india.html?_r=1 Mr. James B. Greenberg Director Teaching, Learning and Technology Center Milne Library SUNY College at Oneonta Oneonta, New York 13820 email: [log in to unmask]<UrlBlockedError.aspx> phone: 607-436-2701 fax: 607-436-3677 Twitter: greenbjb "Ignorance is curable, stupidity lasts forever" To be fair and balanced I offer the following two perspectives on printing this email: PThink before you print! Please consider the environment before printing this email Notice: It's OK to print this e-mail. Paper is a biodegradable, renewable, sustainable product made from trees. Growing and harvesting trees provides jobs for millions of Americans. Working forests are good for the environment and provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat and carbon storage. Thanks to improved forest management, we have more trees in America today than we did 100 years ago.