Students as Producers: Collaborating toward Deeper Learning

Abstract

As an instructor, one can’t plan on student work being picked up by an outlet with tens of thousands of readers. However, there are a variety of choices an instructor can make when designing assignments that tap into this “Students as Producers” idea. My colleagues at the Vanderbilt Center for Teaching and I wanted to understand these choices, so we designated “Students as Producers” as the theme for the 2013–14 academic year. Through a series of workshops, panels, teaching visits, teaching guides, and blog posts, we explored with our faculty and staff ways to help students engage in meaningful, generative work in the courses they take.