Weekly News and Tip, April 2, 2009

Tip - Evaluating Oral Presentations
As we reach the last weeks of the semester, your students may be making oral presentations. Grading oral work can be challenging, so being clear in advance about your criteria for evaluation can help both you and your students.

• ISUComm offers a scaled evaluation rubric for oral communication.
• The Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative at the University of British Columbia offers a detailed rubric for evaluating students’ oral presentations in an earth science class.

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.

• What are video-sharing websites and how are they connected with teaching? Find out at YouTube and TeacherTube: Introduction to Video Sharing Websites, Tuesday, April 7, 10 a.m.-12 noon, 1230 Communications.
• 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.

FYI - Seminar on Chemistry Education April 7;
         George Siemens on Campus April 14

• Deborah Exton, University of Oregon, will discuss Green Chemistry Education: Sustainability, Green Chemistry and STEM Education, Tuesday, April 7, 11-11:50 a.m., 2030 Morrill. This is a Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education (CESMEE) seminar; everyone interested in science and math education is welcome.
• George Siemens, University of Manitoba, will present a workshop on Social Learning with Emerging Technologies, Tuesday, April 14, 8:30 a.m.-12 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? Dr. Siemens is Associate Director, Research and Development, with the Learning Technologies Centre at Manitoba, and author of Knowing Knowledge, which examines how the context and characteristics of knowledge have changed and what it means to organizations today.

Register via AccessPlus.