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.