Design Forward: Preparing to Teach INCP
Welcome to a Strategic Plan Alignment module of Design Forward. In this module, participants will work on aligning course design with the institution’s mission, vision, values, and strategic plan. Specifically, the topic and scope of this module is “Preparing to Teach INCP.” The Integrated Capstone is a culminating experience in which students from a variety of majors come together to demonstrate their development of the Habits of Mind while working on a collaborative project that has a real world impact. We are excited you are going to be joining our INCP faculty community!
Completing This Module
This Design Forward module is self-paced and designed to fit your busy life. Move through this page one section at a time. After each section, you will answer the corresponding question in your workbook (you will receive access to your own copy of the workbook after registering for this module). When you complete all six questions, please submit your workbook as instructed, and you will be contacted by the CoLab to set a meeting with an INCP mentor to discuss your learning and answer any questions you might have about teaching INCP before your semester begins.
Workbook Questions
Throughout this module, you will encounter workbook questions, indicated with this question mark icon. You should use your personal workbook to record your answers to these prompts.
Introduction to INCP
INCP is part of PSU’s HoME program and, together with its bookend first-year course “Tackling a Wicked Problem,” is a place where students will hear about and have opportunities to practice the goals of our General Education program. These goals, which we call “Habits of Mind,” are purposeful communication, problem-solving, integrated perspective, and self-regulated learning. In this student-driven capstone course, students collaborate across disciplines to create signature projects that address a significant problem, issue, or question. These students (generally seniors) bring disciplinary expertise from their respective majors to a team environment, craft and implement their projects, and demonstrate their ability to motivate, design, and undertake their own learning. To begin your journey, read these posts by two of PSU’s INCP pioneers: Cathie LeBlanc’s 2019 pilot report about that documents how we got started, and Sarah Parrish’s blog post on her first INCP section.
Workbook Question #1
After reading Cathie's 2019 pilot report and Sarah's post about her first INCP section, and watching the videos by Robin and Abby, how would you describe the course to a friend or family member who is unfamiliar with PSU and with higher education in general? What do you think makes this course unique? worthwhile for students? exciting or challenging to teach?
The Habits of Mind
A “Habit of Mind” is a way of thinking or way of engaging with the world. The 4 Habits of Mind that form the backbone of PSU’s HoME Program are also central to the learning outcomes for INCP It is essential that you know and understand the Habits of Mind if you will be teaching INCP, and it is essential that they are at the heart of the activities and approach of your section. To learn more about the Habits of Mind,
- Start by reading this description;
- Next, take a look at the benchmarks in the slides to the right (also available here);
Workbook Question #2
Which Habit of Mind seems most important to you as you think about teaching this course? (We realize they ALL matter, but choose one and tell us why you think it’s crucial! Don’t overthink it—just have fun with this question.)
INCP Toolbox
Explore each of the topics in the Toolbox to learn more about approaches to teaching INCP. Whenever you encounter a Workbook Question that corresponds with a topic, make sure to record your response in your own personal workbook
Learning Outcomes
Hey! Guess What? You already know these! One of the nice things about TWP and INCP is that when you are thinking about the learning
The Signature Project
Your INCP has a topic, which you selected based on your own passions and what you think will engage students across multiple disciplines. Students have
Emergent Design & PBL
The INCP is fully engaged with all three aspects of Cluster Learning: interdisciplinarity (the course asks students to use their perspectives from their major fields
Additional Resources for INCP
There are many, many resources and supports here at PSU to assist you as you embark on teaching this exciting and challenging course. Workbook Question
Finishing Up
To complete your INCP preparation, submit the form below to let us know you’re done with your workbook and ready to meet with a INCP mentor.
