Spotlight
Experts Talk Writing & Speaking Pedagogy
The Spotlight series highlights faculty across the college who have developed innovative writing and speaking activities and assignments that advance literacy and language learning, discipline-specific communication skills, and culturally responsive communication.
Each year, Professors Sarah Blazer and Katelyn Burton Prager curate the series and moderate panel discussions of FIT faculty experts on novel topics in communication teaching and learning. Upcoming events and highlights from past Spotlight presentations can be found below.
Fall 2024
This Fall's Spotlight series will feature faculty from across the college discussing innovative uses of in-class writing to increase engagement with course content, facilitate analytical thinking, and support planning and revision.
Writing helps people think and discover in addition to communicate with others. But, writing is messy and hard, and our students often struggle to practice writing meaningfully and productively unless we engage them with careful planning and support. The rise of generative AI has only increased the challenge of teaching writing and using writing to support learning. In-class writing helps us address these challenges.
Join FIT colleagues for an exploration of in-class writing across a variety of disciplines: Thursdays, October 24 and November 7, 12:30-2 pm in the Writing and Speaking Studio (Feldman 612). RSVP: [email protected].
Fall 2023
This Fall's symposium responds to the rapid rise of AI text generation tools and their impact on student learning through written and oral modalities. Spotlight: Experts Talk [the age of AI] in Writing and Speaking Pedagogy will feature six faculty members: Bernard Dillard, Math and Sciences; Sonja Chapman, International Trade & Marketing; Nancy Hightower, English & Communication Studies; Evie Joselow, Art Market Studies; Alex Nagel, History of Art; and Amy Werbel, History of Art.
Spotlight will be held on Thursdays, September 28 and October 26, 12:30-2 pm in the Writing and Speaking Studio (Feldman 612). All are welcome; RSVP to [email protected].
Fall 2022
Spotlight: Experts Talk [Equitable] Writing and Speaking Pedagogy
Fall 2022 Featured Panelists
- Lolita Alford, Advertising and Marketing Communications
- Nurhayat Bilge, English and Communication Studies
- Delphine Horvath, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing
- Meg Joseph, Global Fashion Management
- Marie Lorenz, Fine Arts
- Paul Melton, Art Market Studies
Fall 2019
Fall 2019 Featured Panelists
- Jean Amato, English and Communication Studies
- Ruth Jeyaveeran, Textile/Surface Design
- Steve Keating, Writing and Speaking Studio
- Erika Rohrbach, International Student Services
- Renee Cooper, Fashion Business Management
- Meeta Roy, Fashion Business Management
- Mario Valero, Modern Languages and Cultures
Fall 2018
Fall 2018 Featured Panelists
- Charlotte Brown, Educational Skills
- Sarah Byrd, Graduate Studies
- Ann Cantrell, Fashion Business Management
- Susanne Goetz, Textile Surface/Design
- Yasemin Levine, Social Sciences/Presidential Scholars Program
- Shannon Maher, Home Products Development
- Maria Rothenberg, Gladys Marcus Library
- Ajoy Sarkar, Textile Development and Marketing
Spring 2018
Spring 2018 Featured Panelists
- Sarah Blazer, Writing Studio
- Laticha Brown, Fashion Business Management
- Dan Benkendorf, Psychology
- Kim Cunningham, Sociology
- Tara Kun, English & Communication Studies
- Katelyn Burton Prager, English & Communication Studies
- Molly Schoen, Visual Resources Curator
Fall 2017
Fall 2017 Featured Panelists
- Sarah Blazer, Writing Studio
- Todd Blumenthal, FBM
- Justine De Young, Art History
- Brian Emery, Photography
- Erica Moretti, Modern Languages and Cultures
- Katelyn Burton Prager, English and Communication Studies