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, March 5, 2009

Tip - What Are Concept Maps?
A concept map is a visual means of organizing and displaying facts or ideas. The connections between ideas may be represented by words, lines, or arrows.
Basic information about concept maps
Ideas on how concept maps may be used 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.

• Several WebCT workshops are coming up on the next several days, all in 1230 Communication. Register for all that appeal to you:
• Introduction to WebCT GOLD, tomorrow, March 6, 9-10:30 a.m.
• Communication Tools and Strategies, Tuesday, March 10, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Managing Course Content, Wednesday, March 11, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Creating Assessments, Thursday, March 12, 9-11 a.m.
• Managing Students & Grades, Friday, March 13, 10-11:30 a.m.
• This year’s six LAS Master Teachers share their ideas on engaging students through experiential learning in Liberal Arts and Sciences with Practice, Wednesday, March 11 from 3:10-4:30 p.m. in the MU Campanile Room. Jim Colbert, EEOB, Jane Cox, Theatre, Chad Gasta, WLC, Nicola Pohl, Chemistry, Carol Vleck, EEOB, and David Vogel, Psychology, will discuss how and why they use experiential teaching and how they balance their teaching with other scholarly responsibilities. Refreshments provided.
• Teaching with an Audience Response System: Basic TurningPoint 2008 for MS Office 2007, Friday, March 13, 12-1 p.m., 1230 Communication.

FYI - CELT’s on Facebook
An ISU CELT Facebook Group has been set up as a way to build an online community for teachers and learners. You may preview the CELT Facebook group and join, if you choose.

Group members can receive timely reminders of upcoming CELT events, start or participate in discussions, add links, photos, or videos that help build community. Invite your friends and colleagues to join!

For more about the Facebook phenomenon and its implications for teaching, see Educause's "7 things you should know about Facebook II" (PDF).

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, January 15, 2009

Tip - Crafting a Teaching Persona
We all have public and private “faces” we present to the world. What is the optimal teaching “face” or persona for you? See: thoughts about whether and how to reveal oneself in the classroom.

Announcements - CELT Events; STEM Speaker
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.

• Two WebCT sessions are coming up, both in 1230 Communications. Today, Thursday, Jan. 15, WebCT: Managing Course Content will be held from 3-4:30 p.m. Review methods of converting existing course materials for online delivery and organizing them into a Learning Module. Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 16, WebCT: Creating Assessments will be held 9-11 a.m. Review the use of the Assessments tool for quizzes, surveys and self-tests. For either session, you should have some familiarity with WebCT.
• Two Second Life webcasts are also coming up, both in 1230 Communications. On Wednesday, Jan. 21, Exploring Second Life: Session 1, Overview, will be held from 12-1:30 p.m.; and on Friday, Jan. 23, Session 2, Applying The Basic Concepts into an Educational Context, will be held, also 12-1:30 p.m.
• The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education invites you to hear its first seminar speaker, Charles Henderson, on The Study and Improvement of STEM Change Strategies, Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m., 2030 Morrill. This is the first of a series of seminars on STEM topics sponsored by CESMEE. No registration needed.

FYI - Honors Seminar information; Campus Art Exhibit

• Interested in teaching an Honors Seminar in Fall 2009? Two information sessions on Honors Seminars will be offered at 3:10 and 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, in 1155 Jischke Honors Building. For information contact Susan Yager, mailto:syager@iastate.edu, or 4-4372.
• Gallery Walk: Exploring the Prints of Beej Nierengarten Smith, today, Thursday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Christian Petersen Art Museum. A guided tour with University Museums Director Lynette Pohlman of the museum’s new exhibit.

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 13, 2008

Tip - Ways to Improve Student Writing
Clear written communication is important in all fields, not only in English classes. Learn more about "Efficient Ways to Improve Student Writing."

As an example: a law professor who teaches legal writing intentionally offers poor examples as a way to demonstrate the problems associated with fuzzy thinking. These "Frustrating Flaws" give writers a sense of what is at stake in their work.

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.

• Find out everything you always wanted to know about student response systems with Classroom Response System: Using the New TurningPoint 2008 Clickers, TODAY, Nov. 13, 12-2 p.m. (please note new, shorter time), 1230 Communications. (Walk-ins welcome; registration via AccessPlus is not accessible the day of an event.)
• A workshop on Managing Students and Grades in WebCT GOLD will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 1:10-2:40 p.m. in 1230 Communications.?

FYI - Student Assistance for E-Learning
CELT has hired and trained undergraduate students who can provide faculty with e-learning support. These students, 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: email aschmidt@iastate.edu.

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, 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 18, 2008

Tip - Try Cooperative Learning
Educational research has shown that cooperative learning techniques help students not only to learn but also to remember and use what they have learned.
Some suggestions for class activities that promote cooperative learning.

Announcements - CELT Events
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.

• 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.
• A Teaching and Learning Circle on creative thinking, planned specifically for graduate students, begins Wednesday, September 24. "A Whack on the Side of the Head" will be discussed on four consecutive Wednesdays, 12-1 p.m. Register for details and to receive readings.
• Show and Tell for Improving Students’ Problem-Solving Skills: Diagnostic Pathfinder and Problem-Solving Learning Portal
  Wednesday, September 24, 12- 1:30 p.m., 1230 Communications
• A WebCT GOLD session, Communication Tools and Strategies, will be held Thursday, September 25, 2:10-3:40 p.m., 1230 Communications.

FYI - TEACH Grants; Session on Teaching and Learning in Study Abroad

• 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. More information.
• A second session on What We Learned by Leading Study Abroad Programs, featuring faculty and staff program directors, will be held Tuesday, September 23, 12-1:30 p.m., Pioneer Room, Memorial Union. All are welcome.

Weekly News and Tip, August 28, 2008

Tip - How Much To Cover at Once?
The pace of growth in knowledge is so rapid that it has become impossible to "cover" everything in a course. However, even if we could cover every topic, there is no guarantee that students would learn and retain it all. Instead, concentrate on the "big ideas" and examples that will guide your students in learning more. Learn more.
See an article on teaching in economics that emphasizes student learning without sacrificing "coverage."

Announcements - CELT's First Faculty Forum Coming Up; WebCT GOLD Workshops
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.

• Plan to attend the first Faculty Forum of the year, "Three ISU Computer Tools to Improve Your Students’ Problem-Solving Skills," on Tuesday, September 9, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Memorial Union Campanile Room. Faculty will present three tools that have been created and piloted at ISU that help students solve complex, ill-structured problems. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts will be provided.
• The next opportunities to learn more about WebCT GOLD, ISU's course management program, are:
• Managing Course Content in WebCT Gold, Tuesday, September 2, 1:10-2:40 p.m., 1230 Communications. Learn to convert and reorganize existing course materials for online delivery.
• Managing Students and Grades in WebCT GOLD, Thursday, September 11, 1:10-2:40 p.m., 1230 Communications. Learn to use the WebCT gradebook, Group Manager, and the Tracking and Reporting functions.
  
  For both sessions, you need to have had Introduction to WebCT GOLD or some familiarity with WebCT.

FYI - Great Lineup of Lectures for Fall
The lineup of speakers assembled by the Lectures Program is always a valuable teaching tool, especially during an election year! See the schedule of lectures, including sessions this month on racism, globalization, and ecology.

Weekly News and Tip, April 24, 2008

Tip - Creating Effective Multiple-Choice Exams
It’s great to create rigorous, useful assessment exams for your students, but can you do this in large courses where machine-scored tests are a necessity? In a word, yes! There are many resources available to help you design effective and pedagogically sound multiple-choice exams. Introduction to Test Writing Tips.
Ideas on when and how to use multiple-choice tests.
Suggestions on ways to use Bloom’s Taxonomy in creating multiple-choice exams.

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

• Join us for the final Learning Technologies workshop of the semester. WebCT GOLD: Managing Students and Grades will be tomorrow, Friday, April 25, from 9-10:30 a.m. in 1230 Communications.
• Hear from faculty involved in the scholarship of teaching and learning at the next installment of the SoTL Institute: Outcomes and Updates, Wednesday, April 30, 12:10-1:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill. All are welcome, but please register so that we can plan for refreshments.

Special Announcement - Please Promote Student Survey

• This spring, a random sample of 2,500 ISU freshmen and 2,500 seniors were invited to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Understanding student engagement will help us improve our programs, services, and learning efforts. Please encourage any students who received an email invitation to participate in the NSSE survey and have not yet responded, to please do so today!
  More information about NSSE.

FYI - Last Week for Morrill Act Display; Session on P&S Retention Grants

• There are only a few days left to view The Morrill Act of 1862 at the Christian Petersen Art Museum. Today from 7-7:30 p.m. in 2019 Morrill there will be a screening of the film Democracy’s College, about ISU as a land grant institution. Museum doors open at 6. On Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m. all are invited to play Sesquicentennial Jeopardy at the Christian Petersen Art Museum. Don’t worry -answering in the form of a question is not required! Doors open at 1 p.m.
• An Open Forum sponsored by the Professional & Scientific Council will showcase projects that received 2007-08 Retention & Recruitment Grants. A poster session begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 2, in the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center classroom facilities. A panel discussion, "Retention Through Innovation and Collaboration," will begin at 12:10 p.m. and include John H. Schuh, Professor, ELPS; Mary Jo Gonzales, Associate Dean of Students and Director, Academic Success Center; and Tom Brumm, Associate Professor, ABE. Light refreshments and door prizes. Questions? Contact Marie Mayer, 4-2787.

Weekly News and Tip, March 27, 2008

Tip - Podcasts and Pedagogy = “Podagogy”
You have probably heard about podcasts and how some professors are exploring their use in teaching and learning. To learn more and see some examples of “podagogy,” see iPod in the Classroom and Podagogy: Where Podcasting Meets Teaching & Learning.

Announcements - CELT Programming

• What’s New in PowerPoint 2007: Learn the Basics for Classroom Teaching (WindowsXP/Office 2007), Thursday, April 3, 1:10-3 p.m., 1230 Communications Building
• YouTube and TeacherTube: Introduction to Video Sharing Websites, Tuesday, April 8, 9-11 a.m., 1230 Communications Building
• Teaching Creativity, a panel discussion, Tuesday, April 8, 3:30-5 p.m., Memorial Union Gallery

FYI - Parks Library seminar; Emerging Technologies conference

• Jeff Kushkowski, Associate Professor, Parks Library, presents Get X-cited About Cited References in the Social Sciences & Humanities, Wednesday, April 2, 3:15-4:30 p.m. in 192 Parks Library. This seminar will inform faculty and researchers on new strategies and techniques for validating the impact of their research. Faculty, staff, and students welcome. Pre-register.
  Questions? Contact Jody A. Graden, 4-6117, jgraden@iastate.edu
  

• Michael Schrage, a widely published columnist on innovation, will be the keynote speaker at the Emerging Technologies Conference 2008, to be held on campus. April 3-4. Schrage will speak on “HCI: Help Create Ideas-Exploring Innovation Leadership,” Friday, April 4 at noon in Howe Hall. More information and complete conference schedule.
  ETC2008 is sponsored by, the Virtual Reality Applications Center, the Human Computer Interaction Graduate Program, and the CyberInnovation Institute.

Weekly News and Tip, January 24, 2008

Tip - Teaching in an e-Classroom
While classroom technologies differ greatly among disciplines and institutions, there are effective practices for teaching with technology that are widely applicable. This site refers to the use of wireless notebooks for students, but contains advice useful for all those who use technology in instruction. See “Best Practices for an e-Classroom”.

Announcements - CELT Programming for Next Week
Register for CELT events through AccessPlus (go to Employee > HRS Training > Continue > Courses).

• Three WebCT GOLD workshops will be held this week, all in 1230 Communications Building:
• Introduction to WebCT GOLD, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2:10-3:40 p.m.
• WebCT GOLD: Communication Tools and Strategies, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 9-10:30 a.m.
• WebCT GOLD: Managing Students and Grades, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2:10-3:40 p.m.
• Developing Service-Learning Partnerships with Community Agencies, Wednesday, January 30, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Campanile Room, Memorial Union (please note change of location)
• Getting Students to Read, Friday, February 1, 12:10-1:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill Hall

FYI - About Student Reading
A report issued late last year by the National Endowment for the Arts addresses the decline in reading among young adults. See a summary and the full report of "To Read or Not to Read".

Weekly News and Tip, December 6, 2007

Tip - Getting Ready for Next Time
The best time to invest in effective teaching happens before the course begins. Find essential information on designing a course by visiting “Teaching Resources/Designing a Course” and “Design and Teach Your Course."

Announcement - Planning to Have (or to Be) a Guest Speaker
As you plan next semester’s courses, you might think about having an expert visit your class; or perhaps you will be asked to visit another’s class.
Tips on "Using Guest Speakers Effectively"
Ideas on "When You Are the Guest Lecturer" (This link opens a PDF; scroll down to find the article.)

FYI - ISUComm
Did you know that a wealth of information is online concerning ISU's communication across the curriculum program? ISUComm Pedagogy contains resources for helping students who are "Learning to Communicate" in foundation and advanced communication courses, and are "Communicating to Learn" in courses within their majors.

This is the final CELT News and Tip email of the semester. The staff at CELT wishes you a wonderful winter break. See you in the new year!

Weekly News and Tip, October 11, 2007

Tip - Over-Teaching: How Much is Too Much?
Students need support, engaging in-class activities, and practice in learning and in applying what they learn. Yet too much "scaffolding," or providing help to students, may keep them from real intellectual growth. What is the right balance between doing too little for students and doing too much? Robert K. Noyd, Professor of Biology at the U.S. Air Force Academy, considers this question.

Announcements - Plenty of Events

• Communication Outcome Center Meeting, Monday, October 15, 4-5 p.m., 2030 Morrill Hall. All faculty interested in communication learning at the undergraduate level are invited to attend a presentation by Tom Brumm, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, demonstrating OPAL software for assessing student competencies.
  Communication Outcome Center details and background material.
• EDUCAUSE Webinar, "A Fresh Look at FERPA," Wednesday, October 17, 12-1 p.m., 206 Durham. No registration required. This webinar will cover the purpose and basic structure of FERPA; the most important exceptions to FERPA; and FERPA in the electronic world. Sponsored by ITServices and CELT.
• "Supporting Teachers as Problem Solvers," lecture by David Jonassen, Distinguished Professor of Education, University of Missouri, Wednesday, October 17, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Alliant Energy - Lee Liu Auditorium (Howe Hall Room 1140). This presentation will describe the kinds of problem-solving that engage teachers and how various technologies can be used to support teacher education students learning how to solve problems.

For the following CELT events, register through AccessPlus
(go to Employee > HRS Training > Continue > Courses).

• Managing Course Content in WebCT GOLD, Tuesday, October 16, 2-3:30 p.m., 1230 Communications
• Electronic Portfolios: eDoc, Wednesday, October 17, 12:30-2 p.m., 1230 Communications
• Teaching and Learning Circle: Robert Boice's Advice for New Faculty Members, Thursday, October 18, 12-1 p.m. Register for location and readings.
• Graduate Student Programming: ABCs of Grading, Thursday, October 25, 3:30-5 p.m., 1115 Pearson. Geared specifically to graduate students and TAs, this session offers ideas for fast, fair, and effective grading, including how much to grade, how to deal with collaborative work, how to increase feedback, how to arrange grading workloads, and ways to deal with student grade complaints.

FYI - TEACH Grants Deadline Approaches; Updated Miller Faculty Fellowship Information is Online

• Don't forget! Applications for 2007-2008 CELT TEACH Grants of up to $1,250 are due on or before Monday, October 15. TEACH grants, which are for faculty development related to learning and teaching at the department level, must be submitted to CELT, 3024 Morrill Hall, by the deadline.
  More TEACH grant information.
• Information regarding the 2008-09 Miller Faculty Fellowships is now on the CELT website. Any ISU faculty member or team (tenured, tenure-eligible, adjunct, lecturer or clinician) may apply for a grant of $1000-$35,000 to develop innovative approaches to undergraduate teaching. Applications are due to your college dean, with an electronic copy to CELT Assistant Director Steve Freeman (sfreeman@iastate.edu) by Friday, February 1, 2008.
  More Miller Faculty Fellowship information.

Weekly News and Tip, September 6, 2007

Tip - Prepared Students, A Success Story
A colleague at Purdue reports great success in class by requiring students to prepare study notes, some of which will be graded, for assigned readings. Since the assignment pushes the students to read, they are prepared for class and respond well to the simple question, "What did you learn from the reading?" The students share the key points of the reading, freeing the instructor to go into detail, use practical examples, and clarify difficult points.

For more on encouraging students to read, see "Strategies for Teaching Critical Reading" at:
http://academic.pg.cc.md.us/~wpeirce/MCCCTR/critread.html
and (not only for TAs!), "Teaching Tips for TAs: When Students Haven't Done the Reading" at:
http://www.oic.id.ucsb.edu/TA/tips/read.html

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

• WebCT GOLD: Managing Course Content, Wednesday, September 12, 2-3:30 p.m., 1230 Communications. Learn how to use WebCT GOLD to organize and present course material in an online or blended learning environment. Participants will review methods of converting existing course materials for online delivery and organizing them into a Learning Module. We will also look at options for using other tools such as the Media Library. Required: Introduction to WebCT GOLD or some familiarity with WebCT.
• Faculty Forum: Student Innovation: Inventing to Learn, Tuesday, September 18, 12:10-1:30 p.m. in the Gallery Room, Memorial Union. Educator Ed Sobey, widely known for his work in creativity in education, will discuss how faculty can engage students in learning. He will also discuss the psychology of innovation as well as how to manage open-ended classroom projects. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.
• Clicker Pedagogy Discussion, Wednesday, September 19, 12-1 p.m., 1230 Communications. An informal discussion on how “clicker” technology is being used in teaching. Everyone is encouraged to share effective practices. Pizza provided.
• WebCT GOLD: Quizzes, Surveys & Self-Tests, Wednesday, September 19, 2-4 p.m., 1230 Communications. This hands-on workshop will review WebCT GOLD’s Assessments tool and its ability to administer quizzes, surveys and self-tests. Required: Introduction to WebCT GOLD or some familiarity with WebCT.

FYI - Special Events for Richard Florida Visit
Richard Florida, one of the world's leading public intellectuals on economic competitiveness, demographic trends, and cultural and technological innovation, will speak on "The Rise of the Creative Class" Wednesday, September 19, at 8 p.m. in Stephens Auditorium.
CELT offers two lunchtime discussions before and after this event:

• Richard Florida and the "Creative Class": An Introduction, Friday, September 14, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Morrill 2030. Brief background readings on Florida's ideas will be sent to all who register.
• Richard Florida and the "Creative Class": Implications for Teaching, Friday, September 21, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Morrill 2030. In this follow-up brown bag, participants will discuss Florida's campus lecture and its implications for college and university teaching.

Register for one or both sessions via AccessPlus.

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