Weekly News and Tip, April 23, 2009

Tip - More Ideas for Semester’s End
Ending a class well is almost as important as beginning it well. For ideas on what to do on the last day of class, see:
A Berkeley Compendium, Suggestion 166. Devote the last day of class to an overall review
and
University of Arkansas, Better Endings: What to Do in the Last Day of Class

Announcement - CELT Event
To sign up, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Join us on April 28 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in 1230 Communications for Engaging Students Online: ISU Course Showcase. Nancy Gruden-Shuck, Associate Professor, Ag Ed & Studies, Rema Nilakanta, Instructor, C&I, and Linda Westgate, Introductory Biology Teaching Lab Coordinator, will share their experiences using WebCT GOLD to engage students in face-to-face and distance learning courses. Attendees will preview “Next Generation” upgrades to come in WebCT GOLD and discuss ideas for sharing effective practices in eLearning. Pizza and drinks will be provided.

FYI - Information Sessions for Honors Seminars; Learning Communities Institute; Training for Mentors in Undergraduate Research

• Information sessions for Honors seminars Fall ’09 instructors will be held at 11-11:50 a.m. and 12:10-1 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 in 1155 Jischke Honors Building. Information sessions for anyone interested in teaching a seminar in Spring 2010 or later will be held 12:10-1 and 1:10-2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in 1151 Jischke. Questions? Contact Susan Yager, syager@iastate.edu.
• There’s still time to register for the 11th Annual Learning Communities Institute, Monday, May 11 at the Scheman Building, Iowa State Center. You are welcome to attend all or part of the day. Please attend and invite your colleagues. The simple online registration process should take less than a minute. Register for the Learning Communities Institute.
• An Undergraduate Research Workshop for Mentors will be held Wednesday, May 13, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Jischke Honors Building. All who will mentor undergraduates in research programs (REUs, Honors research, etc.) are welcome. Questions? Contact Susan Yager, 4-4372.

Weekly News and Tip, April 16, 2009

Tip - Looking Toward the Semester’s End
Many review and term-end activities can help you end the semester strongly.
See a number of ideas on how to end a course well.

Announcement - CELT Event
To sign up, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Join us on April 28 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in 1230 Communications for Engaging Students Online: ISU Course Showcase. Nancy Gruden-Shuck, Associate Professor, Ag Ed & Studies, Rema Nilakanta, Instructor, C&I, and Linda Westgate, Introductory Biology Teaching Lab Coordinator, will share their experiences using WebCT GOLD to engage students in face-to-face and distance learning courses. Attendees will preview “Next Generation” upgrades to come in WebCT GOLD and discuss ideas for sharing effective practices in eLearning. Pizza and drinks will be provided.

FYI - CESMEE Session; Advising Summit; Information Sessions for Honors Seminars

• The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education (CESMEE) and ISU ADVANCE present a CESMEE seminar Tuesday, April 21, 11-11:50 a.m. in 2030 Morrill. Maureen Scharberg, San Jose State, will speak on Working Toward Improving STEM Student Success: One STEP at a Time. For more information, contact Craig Ogilvie, cogilvie@iastate.edu
• The University Academic Advising Committee hosts an Advising Summit, Wednesday, April 22, 3-5 p.m. in 020/060 Hixson Lied. All academic advisers are welcome. The summit features a DVD, Success With Parent Education: Dialoging with New Students and their Parents at the Collegiate Level, on communication with new students and their parents. Discussion will follow. For more information, contact Cindy Frederickson, cindyf@iastate.edu. Register via AccessPlus.
• Information sessions for those teaching Honors seminars this Fall will be held 11-11:50 a.m. and 12:10-1 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 in 1155 Jischke Honors Building. Information sessions for anyone interested in teaching a seminar in Spring 2010 or later will be held 12:10-1 and 1:10-2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in 1151 Jischke Honors Building. For more information, contact Susan Yager, syager@iastate.edu

Weekly News and Tip, April 9, 2009

Tip - Uh-Oh: Spring Fever
As basketball gives way to baseball, and winter (finally) to spring, both students and their instructors may fall prey to spring fever. Ideas on how to overcome spring fever in the classroom.

Announcements - CELT Events
To sign up for CELT events, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Learn about the power of WebCT’s Grade Book in a workshop, WebCT GOLD: Managing Students & Grades, Monday, April 13, 10-11:30 a.m., 1230 Communications.
• What can we do to be prepared for an emergency involving our students? Find out at a panel discussion, Emergency Preparedness in Teaching, Tuesday, April 14, 3:30-5 p.m., Memorial Union Cardinal Room.
• Don’t Forget: George Siemens presents a workshop on Social Learning with Emerging Technologies, Tuesday, April 14, 8:30 a.m.-noon in the Memorial Union Campanile Room. This session will explore ways of teaching with technology: augmented, blended, and online. How do educators determine appropriate tools? What kind of support must be in place to ensure students needs and challenges are addressed? Register via AccessPlus.

FYI - Parks Library Seminar on Copyright and Fair Use; Increasing Math Majors

• Rebecca Jackson, Assoc. Prof./Head, Social Sciences & Humanities Dept., and Diana D. Shonrock, Associate Prof., Science & Technology Dept., ISU Library, present Copyright & Fair Use: When Can You Copy Articles and Images to WebCT, Wednesday, April 15, 3:15-4:30 p.m., 192 Parks Library. This session will explain copyright and fair use as it relates to research and teaching. Find out what you can put online for your course and what your students need to cite, as well as the ins and outs of fair use.
• William Yslas Vélez, University of Arizona, will speak on Increasing the Number of Mathematics Majors, Thursday, April 16, 4:10-5 p.m., 305 Carver.

Weekly News and Tip, February 19, 2009

Tip - What’s Bugging Students? And Their Profs?
A Colorado State professor asked students and peers about which student behaviors they found most disruptive. See what he discovered.
As a follow-up, students were asked about disruptive or distracting faculty behavior. See the results.

Announcements - CELT Events
To sign up for CELT events, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• A talk on The Bologna Process and Higher Education in Ukraine will be held tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 20, from 12:10-1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Gallery. Bring your lunch; beverages, desserts provided.
• For new users of PowerPoint, PowerPoint I: Creating Effective Presentations for the Classroom, will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, from 1:10-4 p.m. in 1230 Communication.

Did you know? You can learn about CELT’s sessions via our online events calendar, linked to the CELT homepage.

FYI - CELT Institute on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
CELT invites applications for a year-long scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) institute for faculty and staff. Projects this year must focus on either student learning outcomes embedded within learning communities or implementing ISUComm in upper-division courses. The institute begins in May and runs through the 2009-10 academic year. For details and application materials, contact Jennifer Leptien, jenl@iastate.edu. Send questions about the program to Steve Freeman, sfreeman@iastate.edu.

Weekly News and Tip, February 12, 2009

Tip - Teaching with Cases
Case-based learning allows students to learn about the complexities of their field through descriptions or narratives of real-life situations. Long used in business and nursing, cases are now used in teaching other disciplines. Introductions to teaching with cases can be found at Queen's University Centre for Teaching and Learning and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Also see:
Examples of case studies in science
Examples of case studies in engineering

Announcements - CELT Events
To sign up for CELT events, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Several WebCT sessions are coming up, all in 1230 Communication:
• Communication Tools and Strategies, tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 13, 2-3:30 p.m.
• Managing Course Content, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Creating Assessments, Wednesday, Feb.18, 2-4 p.m.
• Managing Students & Grades, Thursday, Feb.19, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Panel Discussion on Engaging Students in the Classroom, Wednesday, Feb.18, 3:30-5 p.m., Memorial Union Campanile Room
• Teaching and Learning Circle: The Bologna Process, Thursday, Feb.19, 12:1-1 p.m. Register for readings and location.
• The Bologna Process and Higher Education in Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 20, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Memorial Union Gallery

FYI - CESMEE Seminar; Electoral and Other Colleges

• A CESMEE seminar on Science Express - Bringing research-grade instruments to your child's classroom, will be held 11-11:50 a.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2030 Morrill Hall.
• Mid-February is a good time to reflect on, and share with your students, the educational background of the U.S. Presidents. You can see where the Presidents went to college. Several had no college degree, and indeed little formal education. See 1728 Software Systems Facts about United States Presidents.

Weekly News and Tip, January 29, 2009

Tip - Treating Students Fairly
Part of Iowa State’s stated mission is to increase and support diversity in the university community. The task of maintaining and developing diversity includes ongoing attention to avoiding bias in our classrooms.
Thoughts on diversity and complexity in the classroom.
Suggestions on avoiding gender bias.

Announcements - CELT Events
To sign up for CELT events, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Gloria Ladson-Billings, 2009 Helen LeBaron Hilton Chair, speaks on culturally relevant pedagogy, today, Thursday, Jan. 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., MU Gallery. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.
• Adding Virtual Collaboration to Your Courses Using Wimba Classroom and Wimba Voice Tools, today, Thursday, Jan. 29,12:10-2 p.m., 1230 Communications.
• Faculty Forum: Teaching Tips, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 12:10-1:30 p.m., MU Gallery. Invite a colleague and bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.
• Graduate Student Programming: Preparing for Academic Interviews, Thursday, Feb. 5, 3:30-5 p.m., 2019 Morrill.
• Second Life: Basic Building in Second Life, Friday, Feb. 6, 12-1:30 p.m., CELT space in Second Life: http://tinyurl.com/7cjzgx
• Panel Discussion on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 12-1:30 p.m., MU Cardinal Room.

FYI - CESMEE seminar; Honors Seminars; Campus Civility

• A CESMEE seminar on Project Lead the Way, a national partnership among schools, industry, and universities to attract young people to engineering fields, will be held 11-11:50 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2030 Morrill.
• Proposals for Fall 2009 Honors Seminars are due to the Honors Program office, Jischke Honors Building, on Tuesday, Feb. 3. For information, contact Susan Yager, syager@iastate.edu or 4-4372.
• Kathy Obear, president of Alliance for change, will speak on Civility on Campus, Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Obear will focus on improving communications skills among students when differing opinions are presented in class.

Weekly News and Tip, December 4, 2008

Tip - Ways to Bring Your Course to a Close
Welcome back! This week we bring you a pair of websites that offer ideas and methods for successfully closing out a course. Ideas on what to do during final class meetings.

And, for consideration of the pros and cons of holding pre-exam review sessions, as well as suggestions on how to conduct those sessions, see "Enhancing Learning and Exam Preparation: The Review Session" by Regan A. R. Gurung and Denise Bord.

Announcements - CELT Survey
CELT is conducting a survey of ISU faculty and instructors to help us plan activities that promote student learning, professional development of the teaching faculty and staff, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Please look for the link to this survey in your email and respond by Friday, December 12.

FYI - FERPA Reminder
You've heard this before, most likely, but it bears repeating. FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, protects the confidentiality of student education records. Do not post your grades in a way that identifies individuals (of course no Social Security numbers should ever be posted), and do not leave stacks of graded work out in the open (placing them in folders or envelopes is OK). See more information, see "FERPA: What faculty and staff members need to know."

Weekly News and Tip, November 6, 2008

Tip - Re-Engaging Students
It's difficult to keep students engaged after a certain point in the semester -- or in the class hour. Using a baseball analogy to describe classroom "change-ups," this tip offers a variety of ways to maintain student engagement.

Announcements - CELT Events
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• A workshop for those interested in WebCT GOLD applications, Creating Assessments in WebCT GOLD, is coming up Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 2:10-4 p.m. in 1230 Communications.
• Discuss the essentials of a clear, effective course syllabus in Your Spring '09 Syllabus, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 12:10-1:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill.
• Everything you always wanted to know about student response systems! Classroom Response System: Using the New TurningPoint 2008 Clickers will be held Thursday, Nov. 13, 12-2 p.m. (please note new, shorter time), 1230 Communications.
• Managing Students and Grades in WebCT Gold will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 1:10-2:40 p.m. in 1230 Communications.

FYI - Keep ISU Classrooms Beautiful; Two Museum Events

• In the last year, Keep Iowa State Beautiful has made efforts to reduce outdoor litter on campus. This year, we are also focusing on indoor trash. In 218 classrooms on campus there are laminated semi-permanent cards with a message for you to read at the end of class, reminding students to remove trash from the room. We hope students will remove cups, bottles, newspapers, etc., and keep our classrooms clean. Please help by making the announcement on the card at the end of class. More information.
  
• Two lectures sponsored by University Museums are being held this week:
• Ramos Rivera in Context, a joint lecture by Lina Del Castillo and April Eisman, Assistant Professor, Art & Design, will be TODAY, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Christian Petersen Art Museum.
• If your teaching or research interests include design, photography, globalization, or ecology, attend The Photography of Poisoned Ecologies, a Curator’s Lecture by Claude Baillargeon, Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. in the Brunnier Art Museum.

Weekly News and Tip, October 30, 2008

Tip - Learn by Doing in the Science Classroom
Several Tips this semester have discussed ways to involve students actively in their learning. Here are some ways to encourage students to learn by doing in science classes.

Announcements - CELT Events
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• A workshop for those interested in WebCT GOLD applications, Creating Assessments in WebCT GOLD, is coming up Tuesday, November 11, from 2:10-4 p.m. in 1230 Communications.
• Discuss the essentials of a clear, effective course syllabus in Your Spring '09 Syllabus, Tuesday, November 11, 12:10-1:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill.

FYI - Time to "Fall Back"; Museum News

• Take five! Or, rather, take 60. Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend, Nov. 2, and we all "fall back" an hour. So your students have an extra hour to complete assignments - and you have an extra hour to prepare, research, and plan. If you want to use that hour to become even more efficient, here are ways professors use timers in their daily routines.
• Guest curator Jane Gilmor will speak on fiber sculptor Priscilla Sage in Priscilla Sage: Pulling Threads, Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m. in the Brunnier Art Museum.

Weekly News and Tip, October 23, 2008

Tip - Use Questions Effectively
This one-page pdf outlines three effective levels of in-class questioning: asking students to provide information, apply their knowledge, and supply principles or creative ideas as answers. Though written for clinical teaching (e.g., pharmacy, nursing) these strategies are timely reminders on how to use questions effectively in any classroom.

Announcements - CELT Events
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• A session on Teaching & Learning in a MUVE (Second Life) will be held tomorrow, Friday, October 24, 1:10-3 p.m., 1230 Communications.
• Grading practices will be the focus of discussion in a Faculty Forum: Should We Grade on a Curve? Wednesday, Oct. 29, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Memorial Union Oak Room.
• Learn more about Teaching & Learning and Social Networking Technology on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1:10-2:30 p.m., 1230 Communications.

FYI - Search CELT’s Archive for Past Tips
Did you know that CELT has been publishing a weekly News and Tips email since 2002? All past Tips have been archived on the CELT website and can be searched by year and topic.

In addition, since August 2007 the News and Tip has been available on the CELT website in blog form.

Weekly News and Tip, October 16, 2008

Tip - More on Clickers
Last week's Tip discussed the growing use of student-response systems (clickers) at Iowa State, and offered some information and recommendations on clicker use. More on using clickers for debates, predictions, and other specific teaching strategies.

Announcements - CELT Events; Student Assistance for E-Learning
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Would you like to lead students on a trip abroad someday? Come to a Faculty Panel on Leading Study Abroad Programs, Monday, Oct. 20, 2-3:30 p.m., in 2030 Morrill.
• Learn about Creating Assessments in WebCT GOLD, Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 9-11 a.m. in 1230 Communications.
  
• Join the conversation at a session on Classroom Response Systems: Clicker Pedagogy Discussion, Thursday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 1230 Communications.
• A session on Teaching & Learning in a MUVE (Second Life) will be held Friday, October 24, 1:10-3 p.m., 1230 Communications.

Student Assistance for E-Learning. In a pilot project, CELT is training undergraduate students to provide faculty with semester-long e-learning support. The students, trained and supervised by full-time CELT Learning Technologies staff, can provide technology support for faculty at no charge. Projects can include, for example, building or updating WebCT courses; using clicker technology; editing video; creating podcasts, etc. For more information, contact Allan Schmidt, aschmidt@iastate.edu.

FYI - Museum Events this Weekend
Today at 7 p.m. in the Christian Petersen Art Museum, enjoy a Gallery Walk - Exploring Ramos Rivera with Nancy Gebhart, educator of visual literacy and learning. And on Sunday, October 19, at 2 p.m. in the Brunnier Art Museum, hear an artist's lecture, "Sculptures of Fiber: When Did They Become Art?" Artist Priscilla Sage will give her audience a unique look into the life and creative process of an artist.

Weekly News and Tip, October 9, 2008

Tip - Using Clickers in Class
The CELT newsletter recently reported on faculty and student use of clickers over the last few semesters. We can now report that for the Fall 2008 term, 188 class sections within 42 separate courses are using clickers. A total of 14,000 clickers have been used across campus since fall semester 2006. Learn more about what students like about clickers, how faculty use them, and recommendations for clicker use.

Announcements - Upcoming CELT Events and Workshops
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Learn about Managing Course Content in WebCT GOLD, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 9-10:30 a.m. in 1230 Communications.
• Hands-on Workshop for Improving Students’ Problem-Solving Skills: Diagnostic Pathfinder and Problem-Solving Learning Portal, a follow-up to last month's Faculty Forum, will be held Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1-3 p.m. in 1230 Communications.
• Thinking about going abroad with students someday? Come to a Faculty Panel on Leading Study Abroad Programs, Monday, Oct. 20, 2-3:30 p.m., in 2030 Morrill.
• An additional WebCT GOLD workshop, Creating Assessments in WebCT GOLD, will be offered Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 9-11 a.m. in 1230 Communications.

FYI - Forming a New Learning Community; Last Call for TEACH Grants

• Doug Gruenewald and Steve Mickelson, co-directors of learning communities, will discuss starting a new learning community, including the funding application process, Thursday, Oct. 16, from 4-5 p.m. in 2015 Morrill Hall. To register, contact Jen Leptien, jenl@iastate.edu. More about learning communities.
• The deadline to apply for CELT TEACH grants of up to $1250 for faculty development at the department level is October 15. More information about TEACH grants.

Weekly News and Tip, October 2, 2008

Tip - Have Students Turn in their Lecture Notes
Requiring students to turn in their lecture notes a few times per term may help them better understand the material. This practice also offers instructors a chance to see where students are having difficulties. If students organize these notes with a table of contents, they can use the assignment as a way to think about the "big picture." See more on this idea.

Announcements - News, CELT Events
Register for CELT via AccessPlus > HRS Training > Continue > Courses.
Contact us at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• What is Scholarship of Teaching and Learning? Find out at a brown-bag session, Monday, Oct. 6, from 12:10-1:30 p.m. in 2030 Morrill.
• A workshop for graduate students, ABCs of Grading, will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, 3:30-5 p.m., 2030 Morrill.
• Managing Course Content in WebCT GOLD, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 9-10:30 a.m., 1230 Communications.

Keep in mind that CELT Is once again offering TEACH grants of up to $1250 for faculty development at the department level. Grant requests must be submitted on or before October 15 info. More information.

Disability Awareness Week is October 6-10! Related campus events, tours, and other information.

FYI - Joan Williams Here Oct. 9; Museum Events

• Don't forget that Joan Williams will present on work-life balance, Thursday, Oct. 9. Dr. Williams, who will be on campus for the ADVANCE conference, is a law professor and author of Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About it (Oxford, 2000). Please register via AccessPlus (AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses) by Monday, Oct. 6 for these events, all to be held in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room:
• 8:30-10 a.m.
  Work-Life Issues for Post-docs at Iowa State: A Workshop, or, “How to Have a Successful Career that Doesn’t Devour Your Life!”
• 10:30 a.m.-12 noon, or 1:30-3 p.m.
  Work-Life Issues for Graduate Students at Iowa State: A Workshop, or, “How to Have a Successful Career that Doesn’t Devour Your Life!”
• 3:30- 4:30 p.m.
  “Why Family and Work Conflict and What to do About It”
• Today at 4 p.m., Christian Petersen Art Museum, public artist Bill Barrett will speak on A Personal Journey: Exploring Calligraphic Sculpture. Some of Barrett's work is on campus, including the new sculpture garden south of Morrill Hall. Tomorrow, Oct. 3, at 10 a.m. is the dedication of the Elizabeth and Byron Anderson Sculpture Garden. Tours, refreshments; all are welcome.

Weekly News and Tip, September 25, 2008

Tip - Peer Instruction in the Lecture Setting
Last week's Tip concerned collaborative learning; one instance of this kind of learning involves peers learning from one another. But can this method work in a large class setting? Alan Slavin, an instructor at Ontario's Trent University, says it can. See his suggestions.

Announcements - CELT Events
Register via AccessPlus > HRS Training > Continue > Courses.
Contact us at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Learn to use PowerPoint to improve student learning at PowerPoint 2007 I: Creating Effective Presentations for the Classroom, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1:10-3 p.m., in 1230 Communications.
• A session specifically for graduate students, Graduate Student Programming: Preparing for Academic Interviews, will be held Thursday, Oct. 2, from 3:30-5 p.m. in 169 Hamilton Hall.
• What is Scholarship of Teaching and Learning? Find out at a brown-bag session, Monday, Oct. 6, from 12:10-1:30 p.m. in 2030 Morrill.

FYI - Joan Williams, Expert on Work-Life Conflict, on Campus October 9; ISU Museum Events

• Don't miss Joan Williams' presentations on work-life balance, Thursday, Oct. 9. Dr. Williams, who will be on campus for the ADVANCE conference, is a law professor and author of Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About it (Oxford, 2000). Please register via AccessPlus by Monday, Oct. 6 for these events, all to be held in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room:
• 8:30-10 a.m. -- Work-Life Issues for Post-docs at Iowa State: A Workshop, or, “How to Have a Successful Career that Doesn’t Devour Your Life!”
• 10:30 a.m.-12 noon, or 1:30-3 p.m. -- Work-Life Issues for Graduate Students at Iowa State: A Workshop, or, “How to Have a Successful Career that Doesn’t Devour Your Life!”
• 3:30- 4:30 p.m. -- “Why Family and Work Conflict and What to do About It”
• Creative Process: The Relationship Between Images and Language, featuring poetry readings related to the current Ramos Rivera exhibit, today, Thursday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., Christian Petersen Art Museum.
  Also, bring your family to the Brunnier Art Museum, Christian Petersen Art Museum, or Farm House Museum Saturday and Sunday, September 27-28, from 1-4 p.m., to view Sculpture by Priscilla Sage, Paintings, Prints, and Art Books by Gustavo Ramos Rivera, and Farm House Fun. Choose one work of art to vote on as your Family Favorite. Each participating family will be entered in a drawing for a family year-long membership to University Museums.

Weekly News and Tip, September 11, 2008

Tip - More about Discussion
Last week's Tip mentioned ways to get students talking in class. This week's Tip offers more ideas on how to keep a discussion going and how to get lots of students participating. Learn more.

Announcements - CELT and Campus Events

• Learn about ISU's course management system, its tools and features, and how to customize a homepage for your course at Introduction to WebCT GOLD, Wednesday, September 17, 10-11:30 a.m., 1230 Communications.
• Find out about new computer applications in teaching at You Tube and TeacherTube: Introduction to Video Sharing Websites, Tuesday, September 23, 9-11 a.m., 1230 Communications.
  
  Register for the CELT events above via AccessPlus > HRS Training > Continue > Courses.
  Contact us at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.


• At What We Learned by Leading Study Abroad Programs, faculty and staff program directors will share their experiences of teaching students abroad. Wednesday, September 17, 12-1:30 p.m., Pioneer Room, Memorial Union. All are welcome.

FYI - Conference on Faculty in STEM Fields; Honors Seminars

• Iowa State University, the ISU ADVANCE Program, and the American Council on Education are hosting a conference on faculty careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields on October 10-11. "The New Norm of Faculty Flexibility: Transforming the Culture in Science and Engineering" will take place all day Friday and Saturday morning at the Iowa State Center (Scheman Building and Fisher Theater). Registration for ISU faculty, staff and students is only $75 through September 15. Participants can register through the conference Web site.
• The University Honors Program is seeking proposals for one- or two-credit seminars addressing topics of interest to Honors students. Tenure-eligible and non-tenure eligible faculty as well as advanced graduate students with teaching experience are welcome to apply. Application deadline is Monday, September 15. See details.

Weekly News and Tip, September 4, 2008

Tip - Getting Students Talking in Your Class
There is a common tendency for a class that talks to keep on talking - and for a class that doesn't to continue that behavior all through the semester. This is the ideal time to get your students in the habit of participation. Ideas on how to generate discussion in class.

Announcements - CELT Events
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus > HRS Training > Continue > Courses.
Contact us at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• The first Faculty Forum of the year, Three ISU Computer Tools to Improve Your Students’ Problem-Solving Skills, will be Tuesday, September 9, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Memorial Union Campanile Room. Faculty will present three tools, created and piloted at ISU, that help students solve complex, ill-structured problems. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.
• Managing Students and Grades in WebCT GOLD will be offered Thursday, September 11, 1:10-2:40 p.m. in 1230 Communications. Learn to use the WebCT gradebook, Group Manager, and the Tracking and Reporting functions. You need to have had Introduction to WebCT GOLD or some familiarity with WebCT.

FYI - Campus Resources for Student Learning; University Museum Events

• Did you know that many academic resources on campus can help your students? One such resource, Supplemental Instruction (SI), is a free, peer-led set of study sessions for courses in chemistry, math, physics, and other fields. Learn more.
  Information on tutoring and other academic resources:
  
  • Academic Success Center > Tutoring
  • Academic Success Center > Academic Resources
• The staff at ISU's University Museums has planned a busy Fall semester of programs and events. The first of these, Tuesday Tea at the Farm House Museum, will be held Tuesdays in September, beginning September 9, at 11 a.m. in the Farm House. All events are free and open to the public. Full listing of University Museums Programs and Events.

Weekly News and Tip, August 21, 2008

What's This?
The CELT Weekly News and Tip email is sent each Thursday during the academic year. It contains a teaching tip, often related to issues that arise at a particular point in the semester; announcements of workshops and seminars; and other information useful for your teaching life. If you are receiving the Weekly News and Tip for the first time, welcome to Iowa State! If you wish not to receive this email or to receive it via a different email address, please contact celt@iastate.edu.

Tip - Be Ready for the First Day
As you assemble syllabi and prepare opening-day notes, be sure to note these ways of creating a positive learning environment at the start of the semester. These are CELT tips that have been linked by college and university teaching centers across the U.S. See:

• Create a positive learning environment on day one of the semester
• Course Planning

Announcements - Revised TA Handbook is Online and in Print; New CELT Workshops To Be Online Soon

• New TAs received a new edition of the Teaching Assistant Handbook: Advice for New Teachers, which has been brought up to date by CELT program assistant Karen Bovenmyer. Other TAs and their supervisors can access an electronic copy, including expanded information for international TAs.
• Some of CELT's Fall 2008 workshops are already on line, and more are on their way.

FYI - FERPA Reminder
As the year begins, keep in mind your students' right to privacy under the FERPA act. Learn what ISU faculty and staff need to know.

Weekly News and Tip, April 10, 2008

Tip - Using ELMO Wisely
Many classrooms on campus are equipped with an ELMO, or electronic document camera, that works like an overhead projector but shows three-dimensional items and color. Several resources on the Web outline how to use this equipment for optimal results. For an introduction and overview, see Basics about Document Cameras.
Also providing basic information with a friendly tone is the aptly-named Tickling the Elmo.
Slightly more technical Document Camera Tips and Guidelines are available.

Announcements - CELT Programming
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus (go to the Employee tab, then to HRS Training > Continue > Courses).

• Teaching & Learning and Social Networking Technology, today, 1:10-2:30 p.m., 1230 Communications.
• eDoc Electronic Portfolio System, Tuesday, April 15, 1:10-2 p.m., 1230 Communications. See how eDoc can help students store, build upon, and comment on their learning.
• Teaching and Learning in a MUVE (Second Life), Thursday, April 17, 1:10-3 p.m., 1230 Communications. Interested in what SecondLife is all about? ISU faculty are already using this software, which offers the possibility of new ways to teach and learn.
• Your Fall ’08 Syllabus, Friday, April 18,12:10-1:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill. Plan now for a successful next semester.

FYI - Register for the Learning Communities Institute; Library Workshop Planned

• The 10th Annual Learning Communities Institute is coming up Monday, May 12, at the Scheman Building. You may attend all or part of the day. Please encourage your colleagues to join us. View the program for this year's Institute.
  Register for The 10th Annual Learning Communities Institute.

• "Getting Your Grant! Using the Foundation Center's Resources to Write Award-Winning Grant Proposals" will be presented byJan Fryer, Assistant Professor, Parks Library, and Rebecca Jackson, Associate Professor, Parks Library, Wednesday, April 16, 3:15-4:30 p.m., 192 Parks. Parks Library participates in the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collections program, giving you access to databases containing detailed information about grant makers and grants. Faculty, staff, and students welcome. Pre-register for Getting Your Grant!
  

Weekly News and Tip, February 21, 2008

Tip - Teaching in Times of Crisis
The shootings at Northern Illinois University remind us yet again that violence on campus and elsewhere is possible and can affect our students. Whether events are local, national, or international, they can cast a shadow over our classrooms. For ideas on teaching in times of crisis, see this advice from Vanderbilt University.
*The Vanderbilt site links to its own student counseling center. Please refer ISU students to ISU Student Counseling Services, or 294-5056.
ISU Employee Assistance Program

Announcements - CELT Programming
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus (go to the Employee tab, then to HRS Training > Continue > Courses).

• Two PowerPoint training sessions will be held tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 22, both in 1230 Communications:
• PowerPoint II: Working with Objects and Multimedia Tools, 1:10-3 p.m.
• PowerPoint III: Using Animation and Branching Tools, 3:10-5 p.m.
• Faculty Forum: Reaching the Net Generation Through Blended Learning, Monday, Feb. 25, 12:10-1:30 p.m. in the MU Campanile Room. Speakers will describe ways to use WebCT, Wimba, and Moodle to enhance teaching. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts are provided.
• Two WebCT GOLD sessions will be held next week, both in 1230 Communications:
• Communication Tools and Strategies, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2:10-3:40 p.m.
• Managing Students and Grades, Friday, Feb. 29, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Not for LAS only! All are invited to Master Teachers on Large Classes, a panel discussion with the 2007-08 LAS Master Teachers, Thursday, Feb. 28, 3.30-5 p.m. in the MU Campanile Room.

FYI - Creativity Outcome Group Meets; Webcast on Online Learning and Land-Grant Universities

• All are welcome to the Creativity Outcome Center meeting Tuesday, Feb. 26, 12-1 p.m., 1121 Human Nutritional Sciences Building (next to LeBaron Auditorium). We will continue sharing resources and best practices in helping students learn creativity, working toward better defining and assessing this ability.
• The Strategic Case for Online Learning: Access, Engagement and Success, webcast, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 12:00-1:30 p.m., 1230 Communications. NASULGC President Peter McPherson and land-grant university presidents will share their views about online learning in higher education.

Weekly News and Tip, February 7, 2008

Tip - When Students (and You) Are Tired
Some of us teach large classes; some teach at night; we may even teach large classes at night. But the problem of tired-out students (and instructors) may strike even a small discussion class at 10 a.m.! For ideas on reaching students when they are tired, especially but not only in large classes, see this recent article from Academe Online, published by AAUP.

Announcements - CELT Programming
Register for CELT events via AccessPlus (go to the Employee tab, then to HRS Training > Continue > Courses).

• Introduction to WebCT GOLD, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 10-11:30 a.m., 1230 Communications
• Graduate Student Programming: Preparing for Academic Interviews, Thursday, Feb. 14, 3:30-5 p.m., 1115 Pearson
• Learn about effective practice in using end-of-term evaluations at the Faculty Forum: Student Evaluation of Teaching, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 12:10-1:30 p.m., MU Cardinal Room. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts are provided.

FYI - Study Abroad Session; Help for Your Students

• Reciprocal Group Programs in Study Abroad. Program Directors for reciprocal programs to China and Costa Rica will share their experiences, Wednesday, Feb. 13, Noon, 142 Curtiss Hall. Sponsored by the Study Abroad Center, Global Agriculture Programs, Phi Beta Delta, SAEAC and CELT. For more information contact 294-6792.
• Academic Intervention Program. Students who may need encouragement and support to succeed at ISU can find help in the Academic Intervention Program, within the Academic Success Center. This program offers a series of workshops for students on Academic Success Strategies. Learn more about the Spring 2008 workshops.
  If you have any questions, contact Jill Kramer (jillck@iastate.edu; 4-2467).