Cocurricular Learning Group

The Penn State Cocurricular Learning Group (known by its membership as 'PEP 2.0') is focused on improving the quality, impact and scalability of the cocurricular learning programs at the Pennsylvania State University. The group includes staff representing Student Affairs and other Penn State departments that offer workshops, educational programs and other out-of-class learning interventions for students. The Cocurricular Learning Group's primary goal is to share best practices in cocurricular learning interventions, understand the full scope of cocurricular programs at Penn State, and to develop assessments to measure cocurricular student learning. The group works to align Penn State cocurricular programs and workshops with the University's cocurricular learning outcomes and first year learning outcomes. The group also implements strategies to market and promote workshops, programs and online learning. The group examines the use of emerging technologies to deliver cocurricular learning. Its membership includes staff with expertise in a variety of areas -- including educational programming, assessment, instructional design and information technology.

During the 2009-2010 academic year, the Cocurricular Learning Group will be expanded to include colleagues from selected other Penn State units that also offer cocurricular learning programs. Other goals for 2009-2010 include:

1.  Develop a communications plan to regularly share information with all University Park
     student affairs staff whose work includes educational programming

• Update the staff roster in the Student Affairs Educational Programming Record
  
• Work with campus DSA's/DSES's and members of the campus CAST group to develop a similar communication plan for campus student affairs staff

2.  Encourage all student affairs programming staff to complete the online                
    "Improving Educational Programs" workshop

• Explore the feasibility of offering this online program to staff outside of student affairs
  
• Re-examine strategies for improving the essential competencies for cocurricular program presenters
  

3.  Continue the process of  cataloguing all cocurricular programs in Student Affairs

• Develop a detailed curriculum map aligning cocurricular outcomes with current cocurricular programs
  
• Work with staff to create clear learning outcomes for all programs that are aligned with the University's cocurricular or first year learning outcomes.

4.  Discuss new strategies for assessing student cocurricular learning

• Promote the use of the Student Affairs Educational Programming Record and periodically review data from that record

5.  Continue to share new ideas about emerging technologies that will improve the creation  
     and delivery of cocurricular learning programs

• Expand the use of ePortfolios via the Penn State Blogs project to help students document and express their learning
  
• Work in partnership with ITS to learn about emerging technologies that are available at Penn State

6.  Develop a plan to improve the marketing of cocurricular programs

• Help students understand the full range of cocurricular learning opportunities available to them at Penn State
  
• Explore shared-marketing strategies
  
• Improve the utilization of Penn State's events calendar

7.  Explore ways to link the assessment of cocurricular programs and the student learning
     associated with those programs to the University's accreditation process, strategic
     planning and diversity framework planning

For more information, contact:

Philip J. Burlingame, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Affiliate Assistant Professor of Education
The Pennsylvania State University
206 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802-1503

TEL: (814) 865-7661
E-mail: pvb7@psu.edu

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