In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the traditional methods of teaching and assessment are being challenged by the increasing complexity of real-world problems. Paul Hanstedt's "Creating Wicked Students: Designing Courses for a Complex World" offers a compelling framework for transforming our approach to higher education. This faculty learning community will explore how we can design courses that not only convey content knowledge but also develop students' capacity to tackle "wicked problems" – complex, interconnected challenges that resist simple solutions.

Through collaborative exploration and discussion, we will examine how authentic assessments can bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application. Our focus will be on creating learning environments that empower students to become adaptive, creative problem-solvers capable of addressing the multifaceted challenges they will face in their professional lives and as engaged citizens.

By participating in this faculty learning community, members will:

• Analyze current assessment methods and their effectiveness in measuring real-world competencies
• Create assignments that mirror real-world challenges within their discipline
• Structure learning activities that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Implement strategies for helping students navigate ambiguity and uncertainty
• Design learning experiences that require integration of multiple perspectives and disciplines
• Identify essential professional skills within their discipline
• Design learning activities that increase student motivation through real-world relevance

Please note: The date and time below represent the registration deadline, not the first meeting date. After January 17, the facilitators will contact you to schedule the first meeting. Subsequent regular meeting dates will be determined by the group members. There will be a virtual group and an in-person group, please register for your preference.