CourseSource Online4Bio Writing FMN
for online lesson manuscripts

Have you developed new evidence-based teaching activities and/or lessons for online learning in biology undergraduate education? Are you interested in working with a group of peers to write and prepare your Lesson manuscript for submission to the journal CourseSource? CourseSource is partnering with BioQUEST and QUBES to offer semester-long Faculty Mentoring Networks (FMN)! Apply now to join us for the Spring 2022 CourseSource Online4Bio Writing FMN. 

CourseSource is a peer-reviewed and open-access journal that publishes tested, evidence-based undergraduate activities for life sciences. The articles include details in a format, style, and voice that supports replicability. Publishing activities in CourseSource provides authors with recognition of the creativity, experience, and time needed to develop effective classroom materials, while also supporting the dissemination of evidence-based teaching practices. Authors can list CourseSource articles in the peer-reviewed publication section of their curriculum vitae and use them as evidence for excellence in teaching.

Participants in this FMN will focus on publishing undergraduate life science lessons in teaching environments with online components (e.g., fully synchronous or asynchronous online courses, hybrid courses). Accepted applicants will write a lesson article manuscript, section by section, to prepare for submission to CourseSource. Topics may vary from a wide range of life science and educational disciplines (see current "Courses" available in CourseSource). As a part of the Spring 2022 CourseSource Online4Bio Writing FMN, members will participate in biweekly virtual sessions to collaborate with and support others in the network and receive mentoring.

Eligibility: The FMN is open to instructors (including faculty, graduate students, and postdocs) who teach biology to undergraduate students and are planning to publish an online activity in CourseSource. Participants must commit to attending the full FMN which meets biweekly throughout the term. Preference is given to applicants who have taught the online activity that they will be working on at the FMN and who have not previously published in CourseSource. Faculty from community colleges and minority-serving institutions (colleges and universities) are encouraged to apply. 

While we are excited about the recent announcement of CourseSource's expansion to Physics, the Spring 2022 Writing FMN will be focused on life sciences. We will offer Physics CourseSource writing workshops and FMNs in the future!

Dates & Location: Meetings will be held on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00 pm Eastern Time. The virtual kick-off will be held on Tuesday January 25 from 3:30-5:00 pm Eastern Time. The FMN will continue to meet online bi-weekly throughout the Spring 2022 semester (tentative dates include: February 8, February 22, March 8, March 22, April 5, April 19, and May 3. The FMN will provide members with guidance, support, and discussion opportunities as they prepare their Lesson manuscript. Synchronous meetings will include ample opportunities for peer discussions and peer-editing. Asynchronous individual writing will take place between the synchronous bi-weekly meetings. Optional work sessions will be available for all participants on the Tuesdays between synchronous meetings at the same meeting time (3:30-5:00 pm Eastern Time).

Commitment:

To qualify, participants must

• have a lesson/teaching activity that incorporates evidence-based teaching strategies for which they are ready to begin writing about.
• have taught the lesson/teaching activity at least once (all published Lesson articles are field-tested).
• be able to commit to attending the biweekly synchronous meetings.
• be able to commit ~2-4 hours per week for individual writing and peer editing in between most synchronous bi-weekly meetings. 

Benefits:

• Submission of Lesson article to CourseSource for publication
• Online support throughout the process of writing your Lesson manuscript from both CourseSource staff and FMN peers.
• Completion letter explaining the work you've done during the semester as a part of the CourseSource Online4Bio Writing FMN.

How to Apply: Applications are due December 31, 2021. Accepted applicants will be notified in mid-January. Space is limited, only 15 participants will be selected. 

Contact: If you have questions, please feel free to contact Erin Vinson at erin.vinson@maine.edu.