Weekly News and Tip, April 9, 2009

Tip - Uh-Oh: Spring Fever
As basketball gives way to baseball, and winter (finally) to spring, both students and their instructors may fall prey to spring fever. Ideas on how to overcome spring fever 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.

• 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.
• What can we do to be prepared for an emergency involving our students? Find out at a panel discussion, Emergency Preparedness in Teaching, Tuesday, April 14, 3:30-5 p.m., Memorial Union Cardinal Room.
• Don’t Forget: George Siemens presents a workshop on Social Learning with Emerging Technologies, Tuesday, April 14, 8:30 a.m.-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? Register via AccessPlus.

FYI - Parks Library Seminar on Copyright and Fair Use; Increasing Math Majors

• Rebecca Jackson, Assoc. Prof./Head, Social Sciences & Humanities Dept., and Diana D. Shonrock, Associate Prof., Science & Technology Dept., ISU Library, present Copyright & Fair Use: When Can You Copy Articles and Images to WebCT, Wednesday, April 15, 3:15-4:30 p.m., 192 Parks Library. This session will explain copyright and fair use as it relates to research and teaching. Find out what you can put online for your course and what your students need to cite, as well as the ins and outs of fair use.
• William Yslas Vélez, University of Arizona, will speak on Increasing the Number of Mathematics Majors, Thursday, April 16, 4:10-5 p.m., 305 Carver.

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, January 17, 2008

Tip - Creating Enthusiasm
It is widely reported in the research literature that one of the keys to successful teaching is to generate enthusiasm in the classroom. But how, exactly, can this be done? See some detailed suggestions on creating enthusiasm in discussion-based classes and large-format classes as well.

Announcements - CELT Programming; Miller reminder

• CELT's spring programming kicks off next week with a special session for graduate students. "Going on the Academic Job Market," facilitated by CELT Assistant Director Donna Kienzler, offers an overview on how to seek an academic job, with an emphasis on vitae and cover letters. The session will be held 3-5 p.m. Thursday, January 24, in 1115 Pearson. Register for CELT events through AccessPlus (go to Employee > HRS Training > Continue > Courses).
• Look for the full schedule of CELT programming for spring, now online.
  
• Don't forget that applications for Miller Grants are due to your college dean, with an electronic copy to CELT Assistant Director Steve Freeman by Friday, February 1. 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. More information on Miller Grants.

FYI - New phone number for Disability Resources Office
CELT lists sample syllabus statements regarding accommodation for students with disabilities, but the listed phone number for the Disability Resources office has changed. We are updating our web page, but please note that if you or your students wish to contact the Disability Resources office, the current number is 294-7220.

Weekly News and Tip, August 23, 2007

Tip - Share Your Interest in Your Field
Motivating students is one of the most challenging tasks we face as teachers, but it is also one of the most significant for student learning. Sharing your passion for your subject is one way to help motivate students. For more ideas on student motivation, visit: http://www.opd.iupui.edu/uploads/library/IDD/IDD585502.pdf

Announcements

• CELT's Learning Technologies workshops are already underway, with sessions coming up on managing students and grades, Communication Tools and Strategies, and Managing Course Content. See the Learning Technologies schedule at: http://www.celt.iastate.edu/events/homepage.html#tech
• Faculty interested in entrepreneurship are invited to attend the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Institute, September 17-18 at the Gateway Hotel & Convention Center on Elwood Drive. Speakers will address ways to prepare students for the agriculture and life science business world and will explore how entrepreneurial activities and ideas can enhance student creativity, innovation, persistence, communication skills, and career success. The cost is $75. For more information, contact Stacey Noe at 4-4945 or mailto:snoe@iastate.edu. For more information, see: http://www.entrepreneurship.ag.iastate.edu/2007_Institute/index.html

FYI - For Leisure Reading
Assumption College English professor James Lang has provided readers of the Chronicle of Higher Education with recommended articles for college teachers. See his findings: http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2007/08/2007082001c/careers.html

This list of articles complements his earlier "summer reading list" for teachers, which is still online: http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2006/07/2006071001c/careers.html

Your suggestions for the CELT Weekly News and Tip are welcome. Send them to syager@iastate.edu . To subscribe to this weekly e-mail or unsubscribe, celt@iastate.edu .