On Thursday afternoon, the Brother Martin Social Studies Department hosted teachers from fellow Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools Catholic High School and St. Stanislaus High School along with faculty members from Ursuline Academy and Mount Carmel Academy. Additionally, five college professors from Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans, and Tulane University joined the roundtable discussion on how to prepare students for success in college, particularly in history, political science, and composition classes.
The LSU Professors present were Dr. Wayne Parent, Professor of Political Science; Dr. Aaron Sheehan-Dean, Professor of US History; and Dr. Catherine Jacquet, Professor of US History and Women’s & Gender Studies. Loyola University Professor of Freshman Composition Dr. Tracey Watts and Tulane University Professor of East African History Dr. Elisabeth McMahon filled out the panel.
“Having college professors and high school teachers get together to talk about college readiness skills seems like such a natural and effective way to help us refine how better to prepare our Crusaders for the transition to college,” said Thomas Mavor, Brother Martin English teacher and Faculty Formation Director.
Professors and teachers discussed topics including the use of technology in classrooms, strategies for successful note taking in lectures and seminars, incorporating historical thinking skills in writing, and college research expectations.
“We wanted to try a different approach to professional development for our department and really look at what ‘college prep’ means in our disciplines,” said Mr. Chris Vicknair, chair of the Brother Martin Social Studies Department.