The School of the Arts is seeking faculty to join a working group to develop a Linked Learning Communities course towards creating a work of graphic history.
About the working group
The School of the Arts is grateful for your willingness and commitment to exploring the possibilities of a multidisciplinary, linked learning community focused on the creation of a collaborative interdisciplinary graphic history project. Essential to this work will be determining the most effective and appropriate forms (i.e. poster, comic book series, graphic novel, picture book) as they relate to the subject and themes to be explored.
The working group should imagine a curriculum that introduces students to the methodologies of historical inquiry, creative writing and visual arts while fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. The working group should explore ways to incorporate this initiative into existing courses or create courses that could be worked into the required elective offerings in existing curriculum structures across departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. We would pilot test the course or courses in Spring 2026.
Key considerations
Curriculum design
How can students from different disciplines contribute meaningfully to the creation of a graphic history novel? What core skills should be introduced (e.g., historical research, scripting, visual composition, digital tools)? How many courses do we need?
Integration into existing courses
What current courses could align with this initiative? How can assignments, experiences, or project-based learning opportunities be embedded within courses in history, creative writing, studio art or digital media?
Collaborative framework
How will students from different academic backgrounds work together effectively? How is teamwork different from collaborative work, or are they different? How and when do the courses collaborate together or is it a single course? How can we help students understand the value of collaboration in different contexts?
Deliverables and assessment
What will students produce at various stages? How will work be assessed? What is the final product and how does that inform resource discussions?
Engagement with public history and storytelling
How can this course integrate community engagement, archival research or partnerships with local organizations?
Viability
How can we make this enjoyable and meaningful enough for faculty that it doesn’t feel like a burden?
The working group will present a preliminary pilot proposal by the end of the Summer 2025 or early Fall 2025, outlining a strategy for integrating this project into existing courses and identifying potential interdisciplinary partnerships.
Compensation
Working group members will receive a $750 professional development stipend for a combination of summer and academic work from Summer 2025-Spring 2026. The chair of this group will receive a $1000 professional development stipend.
Application
If you are interested in being a part of this working group, please email schoolofthearts@boisestate.edu with a brief paragraph about your interest in the working group and how you can contribute to the planning effort.