APSA launched a new Conference on Teaching and Learning in Political Science on February 19-21, 2004. Hosted by American University in Washington, D.C., the conference generated a greater understanding of cutting-edge approaches, techniques, and methodologies that can be applied in the political science classroom.

The conference provided both faculty and graduate students in political science a forum to develop their own work related to teaching and learning as well as to discuss broad themes affecting political science education.

To increase engagement among participants, the Conference Program Committee organized the event around a workshop model consisting of four thematic tracks:

Track 1: Pedagogy and Technology;
Track 2: Civic Education and Service Learning;
Track 3: Student Assessment and Learning Outcomes; and
Track 4: Diversity and Global Perspectives.

While new meetings are now open to all who wish to attend, this pilot event was an invitation-only symposium of 40 political scientists who set the groundwork for a larger, reoccurring conference. The Program Committee selected these participants after reviewing nearly 120 applications. View the official program below for a list of the 2004 Teaching and Learning Conference participants.

Several articles and resources were developed as a result of this conference.  In accordance with the goals set for the conference, these materials were disseminated both in PS and through the APSA website (see below).

Given the significant amount of interest in this new meeting, both in terms of feedback from members and outside organizations interested in teaching and learning and the number and quality of applications received, APSA staff have developed plans for a much larger conference in spring 2005.

2004 Conference Highlights

The following items are highlighted materials from the pilot APSA Conference on Teaching and Learning in Political Science:

• Official 2004 Program (PDF)
  
  
• Participant Papers and Presentation Materials  
  
  
• "APSA Teaching and Learning Conference: A Summary of Four Tracks," PS, July 2004 (PDF) 

2004 Teaching and Learning Conference Program Committeee

• Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Indiana University
• Sharon Z. Alter, William Rainey Harper College
• Alan R. Gitelson, Loyola University (Chicago)
• John Ishiyama, Truman State University
• Alan C. Lamborn, Colorado State University

Questions about the APSA Conference on Teaching and Learning in Political Science can be sent to teaching@apsanet.org