CAL classes take on a new format for the fall

If you are enrolling in a humanities course for the fall, you may have noticed that some look less like an intimate liberal arts class and more like your general Chemistry course. The College of Arts and Letters is debuting a new format for courses this fall: a large lecture-style class with the professor once a week, followed by smaller recitations to discuss the material with another staff member. Two courses will be piloting this style: Introduction to Cinema, taught by Professor Anthony Pennino, and History of Art: Prehistory to the Modern Era, taught by Professor Diana Bush.

The change is partly a creative solution to address the increasing number of Stevens students who need to take humanities courses, according to CAL Dean Kelland Thomas. However, some students fear that it means the end to the appealing small class sizes that continues to be a selling feature of the school.

One student, senior Tom Jensen, expressed a popular concern with the new format. He said, “I would expect a 100 person lecture for something like Calculus, but for art history or cinema I worry that the professors will not be accessible enough.”

Although students are understandably apprehensive, the two professors undertaking the new format are cautiously optimistic.

Bush thinks that History of Art is well suited for this format because it will allow her to focus on broad narratives during the lectures and more specific questions during recitations. She said, “I am looking forward to more students gaining exposure to art history and the critical thinking involved.”

Pennino is also excited about teaching in a large lecture hall because, in his words, “The cinematic experience should be one of grandeur.” He is excited for students to experience classic films like 2001 and Lawrence of Arabia in their intended venue.

He does, however, worry that he will have to adapt his normally personal teaching style to actively engage the large group of students. He has thought about it a lot and isn’t opposed to going “full Oprah,” running up and down the aisles of Kidde.

Both professors are hopeful that the new format will allow a wider breadth of artistic knowledge on Stevens campus. It will hopefully help students make connections and collaborate outside of their field of study. As Pennino said, “If a large number of students can come together and share the experience of film as entertainment, as art, and, perhaps, as the spark of innovation, then we will have done a service for the community of Stevens.”