Weekly News and Tip, April 3, 2008

Tip - Effective Use of Classroom “Clickers”
If you are thinking of ordering personal response system units, or “clickers,” for your class next fall, be sure to attend the upcoming CELT session, Using TurningPoint Clickers to Engage Students in the Classroom, Thursday, April 24, from 12-1 p.m. in 1230 Communications.

In the meantime, check out these useful sites on using clickers effectively in teaching:

• For an overview, see Personal Response Systems (“Clickers”) .
• From York University, Canada, see What Are the Challenges in Using Clickers Well?
• And, CELT’s own set of suggestions is the top Google hit for “clickers” plus "teaching tips"! See “Clicker” Tips from ISU Faculty.

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

• YouTube and TeacherTube: Introduction to Video Sharing Websites, Tuesday, April 8, 9-11 a.m., 1230 Communications. At video sharing websites like TeacherTube, users can upload, view, share, and comment on video clips. Learn about the educational and community-building potential of this new software as well as the technical process of getting your videos online.
• WebCT GOLD: Managing Course Content, Tuesday, April 8, 2:10-3:40 p.m., 1230 Communications. Effective presentation of course material is critical in an online or blended learning environment. In this hands-on session, participants will review methods of converting existing course materials for online delivery and organizing them into a Learning Module.
• Teaching Creativity, a panel discussion, Tuesday, April 8, 3:30-5 p.m., Memorial Union Gallery. This panel discussion will explore whether and how creativity can be taught in university settings. What is creativity and how can we encourage it? Does it take a creative teacher – or subject matter – for students to learn to be creative? Refreshments provided.
• Teaching & Learning and Social Networking Technology, Thursday, April 10, 1:10-2:30 p.m., 1230 Communications. What do Facebook, MySpace, Second Life, social bookmarking, and wikis have to do with teaching and learning? What are the connections between technological change and social change and what are the implications?

FYI - CELT’s Prestigious Neighbor, the Morrill Act, Is on Display

• University Museums presents the Morrill Act of July 2, 1862, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, March 22- April 27, at the Christian Petersen Art Museum in Morrill Hall. The hours of the exhibition are M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m., weekends 1-4 p.m., and Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. To arrange a tour, contact the education assistant at ajhall@iastate.edu or 4-4442.
• Related presentations at the Christian Petersen Art Museum include The Early Years at Iowa State with Tanya Zanish-Belcher, Associate Professor, Parks Library, today, April 3, at 7 p.m., and Why Iowa? with Dorothy Schwieder, Emeritus Professor, History, Sunday, April 6, at 2 p.m.