Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

Freshmen Seminar Sub-Committee

Meeting Notes
(To Do List Bolded)

 Bordentown Feedback from Kathy & Dan

 Pros
o Positive Speakers: Life Skills, Anti-Bullying, Motivational Speakers,
Planned Parenthood, Testimonials
o Community Building for Freshmen-All Met at the Same Time
o Staff Wrote the Curriculum
o Special Education Teacher Involved
o 75 Minute Classes, 1 Semester
o Brief Research Component
o Project Adventure Component
o Teen Pep – Peer Mentors Trained to Deliver Curr.
 Cons
o Fulfills a Phys. Ed. Requirement/Delivers Minimal Phys. Ed.
o Rotates Daily on a 5 Day, 5 Teacher Schedule
o Administrators Love It, Teachers Dislike it
o No Grade-Pass/Fail Based on Participation & Behavior
o No In-Depth Academic Preparation

 Survey Results
o Not Enough Responded (Around 40 people)
o Reading and Writing Emphasized by Most (Related to Open-Ended Responses &
Persuasive Writing/Research across the Curriculum)
o Peer Mediation Recognized as Unnecessary Component for Fr. Seminar but
Behavior and Anti-Harassment and Character Ed. Noted?
o Clarification Needed Re: Tech Course = No New Elective Will Be Introduced
o Problem Based Learning
o Technology: Math Applications & Basic Training to Eliminate Redundant
Training/Intro. Podcasting and More Advanced Applications
o Public Speaking

 Questions:
o Mike Parent has sent out a reminder to the faculty for further feedback; what do
other colleagues have to say about this?
o Where are there exemplars or just examples of freshmen seminar?
o Could the department heads have discussions with their departments re:
foundational skills and general academic requirements by the end of
January? (Ryanne will bring up at the next A.C. meeting)

 Ryanne and I decided not to attend the Hackensack visit since their curriculum was more
 focused on business than technology. Tom went for the Economics committee so we'll
still get some feedback on them in February.

 The Brainstormed Topics from last meeting did show up in the survey.

 Qs for Guidance (Dan will invite them to our next meeting):

o Effect on Staffing?
o # of Teachers Involved and Their Certifications?
o How Do They Break Down (Marking period v. semester?)
o Curriculum?
o Common Prep Time?
o Peer Leadership Component?
o Linked to Other Courses or Not?
o Research on Its Success/Challenges?

 Still need to poll all sophomores and seniors regarding their needs in a freshmen
seminar –Meredith will work with Ryanne/Student Government to get student
feedback.

 Northern Highlands will send their info. & set up a visit for January. Who wants to
go?

 January's meeting to be devoted to bringing all of our results and suggestions together in
a tentative proposal for the curriculum committee.

 Next Meeting: MLK Day TBA 