The Collaboratory: An Experiment in Rethinking the First-Year Experience in the Liberal Arts

In partnership with instructional designers, four faculty members came together to design an experiment for a cohort of new students that reimagines the first semester at Davidson College. The experiment seeks to understand how an alternative model might optimally support student success through graduation. This Collaboratory design (http://collaboratory.davidson.edu) is part of Davidson's strategic innovation initiative, creating the space and time for experiments that intentionally push back against traditional institutional structures and assumptions. This presentation by a student, an instructional designer, and a faculty member will share the outcomes of this experiment.

Outcomes: Identify what parts of a boot camp model help students take advantage of their liberal arts experience * Implement strategies that help students succeed in the liberal arts * Leverage technologies that support a collaborative first-year approach