Department Days Develop Educational Methods For Faculty
By Alexandra Huttler ’11
News Reporter
For Choate students, department days usually mean nothing more than one fewer class on a given day. To Choate faculty, on the other hand, these days are far from a day off. The five department heads—Elisa Currie from Math, Cyrus Cook from English, Lawrence Stowe from Science, Scott Mattoon from Language, and Thomas White from HPRSS—commented on their busy schedules on the days on which students gain an extra free period, perhaps some extra sleep, or more time to study for a test the next block.
Department days are used to address the curriculum of a department, through activities such as lectures, lessons, visits to other schools, and visits of guests to Choate. Some faculty members feel that these are valuable for professional development. While students relax, roles are reversed, and teachers become the ones that are learning that day.
The Science Department had not been given a department day in seven consecutive years when in March, 2006, it held one. This year, it has had what Mr. Stowe considers the equivalent of two department days. On January 17, 2008, the department spent the day together sorting and reorganizing equipment. Some equipment had been left unused for decades, but thanks to this productive day, it is now organized and more available for use in the classroom. The Science Department has been using a second series of days for teachers to visit other schools. Teachers travel in small groups, each group going on a separate day to accommodate both the teachers’ busy schedules and the tight schedules of the visited schools. Mr. Shanahan has urged all departments to visit another school either this year or next, and the Science Department has chosen to travel this year.
Mr. Stowe feels that department days give the department a chance to accomplish tasks it could not accomplish in any other way. They unify the department or sections of the department and provide a sense of collaboration rather than individuality amongst colleagues.
This year, the Language Department has held two department days. Language teachers also chose to travel to another school this year. During their first department day in December, they took a trip to Exeter to observe the language program there. It is rare for an entire department to visit another school on one day, but the language department thought it would make the most sense.
The second Language department day occurred on Wednesday, March 26th. For this department day, the department decided to divide itself by language so that each section could explore specific questions, some of which arose as a result of the Exeter trip on the first department day.
In the Language department, the discussion topics that are brought up on department days tend to vary significantly from department day to department day according to what is of interest that given year.
When asked why he felt these department days are held, Mr. Mattoon said that they allow colleagues an opportunity to take a “breath” and that they give them some of the uninterrupted time needed for productive thought. Mr. Mattoon, like Mr. Stowe, felt that these days are essential to the ongoing health of the department.
The Math Department held one department day this year in the fall, on an Academic Saturday, September 24, 2007. On this department day, instead of taking a trip to another school, Choate math teachers brought in Mr. Kurt Mederer from the Convent of the Sacred Heart School in Greenwich, CT. The day focused on incorporating more technology into the math curriculum. Mr. Mederer was a positive inspiration to many math teachers, and as a result, many of them have incorporated more technology into the classroom. Specifically, Mr. Mederer demonstrated the use of the Geometer’s Sketchpad software in precalculus and calculus as well as the use of the Smartboard. The Math department expects to use a department day next year to explore the math programs at other schools.
The English Department will not be having a department day this year, but it has had several in the past. In past years, English Department days have brought in visiting scholars and teachers from other schools to give lectures about various topics including how to teach Shakespeare and how to teach strong writing. The English Department has not taken any recent trips to other schools on its department days. Mr. Cook agrees with the other heads that these department days have a positive impact.
The History, Philosophy, Religion, and Social Sciences Department (HPRSS) held a department day last spring. The department focused on talking about teaching 3rd form skills, discussing with what skills seniors should leave HPRSS when they graduate, and determining the best methods to teach these skills throughout the curriculums. The department followed-up the discussion with a conversation on Marille Sprenger’s book How to Teach So Students Remember. Department Head Thomas White stressed the importance of discourse among teachers whether formal or informal.
Most teachers concur that department days are necessary if teachers want to continue to improve upon their teaching skills. Math teacher Velma Dean, for example, feels that they can provide valuable professional development and time for the members of a department to share their specific concerns and work together.
