Undergraduate students teaching?!
The student-coordinator is NOT an instructor. The coordinator’s role is that of a facilitator. S/he is responsible for organizing the learning resources, such as guest lectures, reading materials, and films, to be used in the class, and sets the parameters of course content, structure, and evaluation procedures in conjunction with the faculty sponsor. The participants have an important role in refining the details of all of these.
Do I have to pay for the course if I am coordinating?
Yes!
What kind of credit do students earn?
Students earn upper-level credit, either through the department of the sponsoring professor, or through an interdisciplinary credit option. This credit may not be used to fulfill program requirements, without special permission of the department head. Coordination of the class is noted as an additional non-credit item on a student’s transcript.
What are the benefits to coordinating a seminar?
This innovative learning approach provides coordinators with:
- An opportunity to work more directly with a faculty member
- Valuable facilitation and coordination experience
- Free T.A.G. (Teaching and Academic Growth) training
- Course coordination and training is recognized on the transcript as an additional non-credit item
Do faculty sponsors earn teaching credit?
Individual departments will recognize their faculty members’ contributions in different ways.
How are the students evaluated?
Students may be graded on a pass/fail basis, or according to the standard alpha-numeric scale. The grading system for each course is determined by the faculty sponsor, the coordinator and the participants and applies to both participants and the student coordinator.
Evaluation often consists of two components: participation and completed work. The in-class mark is determined by peer evaluation. Each student’s completed work, which may be a term paper, poster, or some other tangible output, is reviewed by the faculty sponsor. The faculty sponsor is responsible for assigning final grades to all students, including the coordinator.
Do course coordinators complete the same assignments as seminar participants?
Yes! Student coordinators must produce materials upon which to be evaluated on at the end of the term.
Is there a limit on how many of these classes a student can take?
A student may earn academic credit as a participant in one Student Directed Seminar, and may, in addition to this, earn credit as a coordinator for one Student Directed Seminar.
How many students can register for a seminar?
The minimum enrollment of each seminar is eight, the maximum fifteen.
Who can become a coordinator?
Students in their third year of study or beyond may qualify to coordinate Student Directed Seminars. Coordinators are selected by the Student Directed Seminars Advisory Committee based on a course proposal and academic record.
How can I start up a class?
You must submit a proposal to the Student Directed Seminars Advisory Committee. Your proposal should follow the course design format, and should be approximately 2-3 pages in length. The proposals are submitted in early May to sds.coordinator@ubc.ca. Any questions can be sent to the same address or phone 604.827.4799.
When do classes run?
Student Directed Seminars typically run in the January-April term. September to December is used to approve proposals for the year, complete T.A.G. training, order textbooks, prepare syllabus, reading lists, marking scheme, market the course and secure course / room number.
When do I apply if I want to coordinate a seminar?
The proposal submission deadline is early May. Check the website for exact date.
How can I enroll in a class?
Each course is different – check the descriptions and enrollment protocol at Current & Past Course. Courses available for January are usually posted in October. You may be required to submit a one-page statement of your interest in the class, and your academic record may be reviewed as part of the selection process.
Where can I get more information?
If you require more information about the SDS program, or would like to obtain a brochure, please contact Lydia Hol, the SDS Coordinator, at 604.827.4799 or sds.coordinator@ubc.ca.
