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, 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.

Weekly News and Tip, Sept. 13, 2007

Tip - Teaching for Creativity
Creativity in teaching and learning is our topic of the week, with CELT's Faculty Forum, Student Innovation: Inventing to Learn with Ed Sobey coming up Tuesday, Sept. 18 and Richard Florida speaking on "The Rise of the Creative Class" Wednesday, Sept. 19. For ideas on creativity techniques and on how to teach for creative thinking and problem solving, see:
http://fod.msu.edu/OIR/TeachingMethods/creativity.asp

Times and places for these events:

• Ed Sobey, Student Innovation: Inventing to Learn, CELT Faculty Forum, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Gallery Room, Memorial Union. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided. Register via AccessPlus.
• Richard Florida, "The Rise of the Creative Class," public lecture, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 8 p.m., Stephens Auditorium.

Announcements - Many More Events

• Emerging Worlds: Transformative Technologies for Teaching and Learning, ELI Web Seminar, Monday, Sept. 17, 12-1 p.m., 1230 Communications Building. Presenter Bryan Alexander researches and develops programs on advanced uses of information technology in liberal arts contexts. His research interests include mobile and wireless computing, digital gaming, and social software. No registration needed.
  For the following events, register through AccessPlus (go to Employee > HRS Training > Continue > Courses).
• Clicker Pedagogy Discussion, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 12-1 p.m., 1230 Communications.
• WebCT GOLD: Quizzes, Surveys & Self-Tests, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2-4 p.m., 1230 Communications. Required: Introduction to WebCT GOLD or some familiarity with WebCT.
• Richard Florida and the "Creative Class": Implications for Teaching, Friday, Sept. 21, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Morrill 2030. Register for readings.
• PowerPoint Workshop, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 1-3 p.m., 1230 Communications
• WebCT GOLD: Communication Tools and Strategies. Thursday, Sept. 27, 10-11:30 a.m., 1230 Communications

FYI - News of Note

• CELT is again sponsoring TEACH Grants of up to $1,250 for faculty development related to learning and teaching at the departmental level. Applications for 2007–2008 TEACH grants must be submitted to the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, 3024 Morrill Hall, on or before October 15, 2007. For more information, see:
  http://www.celt.iastate.edu/grants_awards/grants.html
• Professional development opportunity: Project LEA/RN is hosting a workshop on "Introduction to Learning-Centered College Classrooms." For ISU faculty and staff who work with students, this is an excellent opportunity to discuss student learning with colleagues and walk away with practical strategies to improve student learning. For details, see:
  http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/LEARNWorkshop.pdf