Weekly News and Tip, April 30, 2009

Tip - Relax and Reflect
Once your grades are in, you may have time to rest and reflect on the term.

• Here is a framework for looking back over the semester.
• You can find thoughts on interpreting and learning from student evaluations.
• And, a bit of advice for teachers who can take some time off during the summer (written for secondary school teachers, but true for many).

Announcements - CELT Events; Tips Editor Changes
To sign up, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• A webinar on Introduction to Peer Instruction with Dr. Eric Mazur, author of Peer Instruction, today, Thursday, April 30, 4-5 p.m., 1230 Communications. You will not be able to register via AccessPlus, but are welcome to attend.
• A webinar on How the Higher Education Act Affects Your Online Courses will be held Thursday, May 28, from 12-1 p.m. in 1230 Communications.
• This week’s Tip is the last for the semester and also the last written and edited by Susan Yager, who is finishing up as Associate Director of CELT. CELT’s newest staff member, Associate Director Ann Marie Van der Zanden, will oversee the Tip in the fall semester.

FYI - Last Chance for Learning Communities Institute Registration; Don’t Forget Mentor Training for Undergrad Researchers

• You can register through today for the 11th Annual Learning Communities Institute, Monday, May 11 at the Scheman Building, Iowa State Center. You are welcome to attend all or part of the day. Please attend and invite your colleagues.
• An Undergraduate Research Workshop for Mentors will be held Wednesday, May 13, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Jischke Honors Building. All who will mentor undergraduates in research programs (REUs, Honors research, etc.) are welcome. Questions? Contact Susan Yager, 4-4372.

Weekly News and Tip, April 23, 2009

Tip - More Ideas for Semester’s End
Ending a class well is almost as important as beginning it well. For ideas on what to do on the last day of class, see:
A Berkeley Compendium, Suggestion 166. Devote the last day of class to an overall review
and
University of Arkansas, Better Endings: What to Do in the Last Day of Class

Announcement - CELT Event
To sign up, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Join us on April 28 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in 1230 Communications for Engaging Students Online: ISU Course Showcase. Nancy Gruden-Shuck, Associate Professor, Ag Ed & Studies, Rema Nilakanta, Instructor, C&I, and Linda Westgate, Introductory Biology Teaching Lab Coordinator, will share their experiences using WebCT GOLD to engage students in face-to-face and distance learning courses. Attendees will preview “Next Generation” upgrades to come in WebCT GOLD and discuss ideas for sharing effective practices in eLearning. Pizza and drinks will be provided.

FYI - Information Sessions for Honors Seminars; Learning Communities Institute; Training for Mentors in Undergraduate Research

• Information sessions for Honors seminars Fall ’09 instructors will be held at 11-11:50 a.m. and 12:10-1 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 in 1155 Jischke Honors Building. Information sessions for anyone interested in teaching a seminar in Spring 2010 or later will be held 12:10-1 and 1:10-2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in 1151 Jischke. Questions? Contact Susan Yager, syager@iastate.edu.
• There’s still time to register for the 11th Annual Learning Communities Institute, Monday, May 11 at the Scheman Building, Iowa State Center. You are welcome to attend all or part of the day. Please attend and invite your colleagues. The simple online registration process should take less than a minute. Register for the Learning Communities Institute.
• An Undergraduate Research Workshop for Mentors will be held Wednesday, May 13, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Jischke Honors Building. All who will mentor undergraduates in research programs (REUs, Honors research, etc.) are welcome. Questions? Contact Susan Yager, 4-4372.

Weekly News and Tip, April 16, 2009

Tip - Looking Toward the Semester’s End
Many review and term-end activities can help you end the semester strongly.
See a number of ideas on how to end a course well.

Announcement - CELT Event
To sign up, use AccessPlus > Employee > HRS Training > Courses. Contact CELT at 294-5357 or celt@iastate.edu if you have difficulty using AccessPlus.

• Join us on April 28 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in 1230 Communications for Engaging Students Online: ISU Course Showcase. Nancy Gruden-Shuck, Associate Professor, Ag Ed & Studies, Rema Nilakanta, Instructor, C&I, and Linda Westgate, Introductory Biology Teaching Lab Coordinator, will share their experiences using WebCT GOLD to engage students in face-to-face and distance learning courses. Attendees will preview “Next Generation” upgrades to come in WebCT GOLD and discuss ideas for sharing effective practices in eLearning. Pizza and drinks will be provided.

FYI - CESMEE Session; Advising Summit; Information Sessions for Honors Seminars

• The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education (CESMEE) and ISU ADVANCE present a CESMEE seminar Tuesday, April 21, 11-11:50 a.m. in 2030 Morrill. Maureen Scharberg, San Jose State, will speak on Working Toward Improving STEM Student Success: One STEP at a Time. For more information, contact Craig Ogilvie, cogilvie@iastate.edu
• The University Academic Advising Committee hosts an Advising Summit, Wednesday, April 22, 3-5 p.m. in 020/060 Hixson Lied. All academic advisers are welcome. The summit features a DVD, Success With Parent Education: Dialoging with New Students and their Parents at the Collegiate Level, on communication with new students and their parents. Discussion will follow. For more information, contact Cindy Frederickson, cindyf@iastate.edu. Register via AccessPlus.
• Information sessions for those teaching Honors seminars this Fall will be held 11-11:50 a.m. and 12:10-1 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 in 1155 Jischke Honors Building. Information sessions for anyone interested in teaching a seminar in Spring 2010 or later will be held 12:10-1 and 1:10-2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in 1151 Jischke Honors Building. For more information, contact Susan Yager, syager@iastate.edu

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, 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.

Weekly News and Tip, March 26, 2009

Two Tips - Help Them Study; Help Yourself Publish

• Your students are back - and time in the semester is growing short! This week’s Tip is a website with links to tips and suggestions on time management, note-taking, reading retention, and other important study skills.
• CELT maintains a list of teaching-related journals or disciplinary journals that publish the scholarship of teaching and learning. This list has recently been updated. Look for outlets for teaching-related scholarship in your field.

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.

• Teaching with an Audience Response System: Advanced TurningPoint 2008 for MS Office 2007, tomorrow, Friday, March 27, 12-1 p.m., 1230 Communication.
• YouTube and TeacherTube: Introduction to Video Sharing Websites, Tuesday, April 7, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., 1230 Communication.

FYI - Presentation on “Arts as Synergy”; New Parks Library Seminar

• A Campus Conversation on the Arts as Synergy, featuring faculty from the departments of English and Art and Design, will be held tomorrow, Friday, March 27, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Christian Peterson Museum, first floor of Morrill Hall. All are welcome.
• Sarah Passonneau, Assistant Professor, ISU Library, will present a session on Open Source Software: Its Impact on Education, Wednesday, April 1, 3:15-4:30 p.m. in 192 Parks Library. Open source applications include Firefox, Wikipedia and Google code. In this session, learn the history, current developments, and ongoing challenges of open source “products.” Examples that can benefit your teaching and learning will be demonstrated. Register via AccessPlus.

Weekly News and Tip, March 12, 2009

New CELT Associate Director Named
Ann Marie VanDerZanden, Associate Professor, Horticulture, will be CELT’s new Associate Director. Ann Marie will start part-time April 1.

Tip - Steps Toward Improved Teaching
For your spring break reading, here are two brief articles useful for instructors who want to reflect on and improve their teaching.
Maryellen Weimer, “Five Steps to Better Teaching”
Peter Seldin, “Improving College Teaching”

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.

• WebCT: Managing Students & Grades, tomorrow, March 13, 10-11:30 a.m. in 1230 Communication.
• Teaching with an Audience Response System: Basic TurningPoint 2008 for MS Office 2007, tomorrow, March 13, 12-1 p.m., 1230 Communication.

These events are coming up just after Spring Break - register now:

• Accountability in Group Work, Monday, March 23, 3:10-4:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill
• Learn about SafeAssign, a free plagiarism detection tool on WebCT, Tuesday, March 24, 9-10:30 a.m. in 1230 Communication. SafeAssign allows students and instructors to check work with several databases and student work at other institutions.
• Come learn what’s new with ISUComm at Faculty Forum, ISUComm, Wednesday, March 25, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Sun Room. Feel free to bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.
• Teaching and Learning Circle: Teaching High-Ability Students, Thursday, March 26, 12:10-1 p.m. Register for location and readings.
• Teaching with an Audience Response System: Advanced TurningPoint 2008 for MS Office 2007, Friday, March 27, 12-1 p.m., 1230 Communication

FYI - STEM Education; Parks Library Seminar; Learning Communities Institute

• Patricia Simmons will speak on K-20 STEM Education in the 21st Century: Drivers for Innovation, Tuesday, March 24 at 11 a.m. in 2030 Morrill. Her talk is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, & Engineering Education (CESMEE).
• Dan Coffey, Associate Professor, ISU Library, will present a session on Let the CAT Out of the Bag: What WorldCat Can Do for You, Wednesday, March 25, 3:15-4:30 p.m., 192 Parks Library. WorldCat, an electronic database that allows you to search the catalogs of libraries in the U.S. and around the world, is an important research tool. This seminar will show you how to make the most efficient use of all aspects of this important resource. Register via AccessPlus.
• The 11th Annual Learning Communities Institute has been scheduled for Monday, May 11, at the Scheman Building, Iowa State Center. Feel free to attend for all or part of the day, and encourage your colleagues to join us. The online registration process is simple and should take less than a minute.

Weekly News and Tip, March 5, 2009

Tip - What Are Concept Maps?
A concept map is a visual means of organizing and displaying facts or ideas. The connections between ideas may be represented by words, lines, or arrows.
Basic information about concept maps
Ideas on how concept maps may be used 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.

• Several WebCT workshops are coming up on the next several days, all in 1230 Communication. Register for all that appeal to you:
• Introduction to WebCT GOLD, tomorrow, March 6, 9-10:30 a.m.
• Communication Tools and Strategies, Tuesday, March 10, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Managing Course Content, Wednesday, March 11, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Creating Assessments, Thursday, March 12, 9-11 a.m.
• Managing Students & Grades, Friday, March 13, 10-11:30 a.m.
• This year’s six LAS Master Teachers share their ideas on engaging students through experiential learning in Liberal Arts and Sciences with Practice, Wednesday, March 11 from 3:10-4:30 p.m. in the MU Campanile Room. Jim Colbert, EEOB, Jane Cox, Theatre, Chad Gasta, WLC, Nicola Pohl, Chemistry, Carol Vleck, EEOB, and David Vogel, Psychology, will discuss how and why they use experiential teaching and how they balance their teaching with other scholarly responsibilities. Refreshments provided.
• Teaching with an Audience Response System: Basic TurningPoint 2008 for MS Office 2007, Friday, March 13, 12-1 p.m., 1230 Communication.

FYI - CELT’s on Facebook
An ISU CELT Facebook Group has been set up as a way to build an online community for teachers and learners. You may preview the CELT Facebook group and join, if you choose.

Group members can receive timely reminders of upcoming CELT events, start or participate in discussions, add links, photos, or videos that help build community. Invite your friends and colleagues to join!

For more about the Facebook phenomenon and its implications for teaching, see Educause's "7 things you should know about Facebook II" (PDF).

Weekly News and Tip, February 19, 2009

Tip - What’s Bugging Students? And Their Profs?
A Colorado State professor asked students and peers about which student behaviors they found most disruptive. See what he discovered.
As a follow-up, students were asked about disruptive or distracting faculty behavior. See the results.

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.

• A talk on The Bologna Process and Higher Education in Ukraine will be held tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 20, from 12:10-1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Gallery. Bring your lunch; beverages, desserts provided.
• For new users of PowerPoint, PowerPoint I: Creating Effective Presentations for the Classroom, will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, from 1:10-4 p.m. in 1230 Communication.

Did you know? You can learn about CELT’s sessions via our online events calendar, linked to the CELT homepage.

FYI - CELT Institute on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
CELT invites applications for a year-long scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) institute for faculty and staff. Projects this year must focus on either student learning outcomes embedded within learning communities or implementing ISUComm in upper-division courses. The institute begins in May and runs through the 2009-10 academic year. For details and application materials, contact Jennifer Leptien, jenl@iastate.edu. Send questions about the program to Steve Freeman, sfreeman@iastate.edu.

Weekly News and Tip, February 12, 2009

Tip - Teaching with Cases
Case-based learning allows students to learn about the complexities of their field through descriptions or narratives of real-life situations. Long used in business and nursing, cases are now used in teaching other disciplines. Introductions to teaching with cases can be found at Queen's University Centre for Teaching and Learning and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Also see:
Examples of case studies in science
Examples of case studies in engineering

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.

• Several WebCT sessions are coming up, all in 1230 Communication:
• Communication Tools and Strategies, tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 13, 2-3:30 p.m.
• Managing Course Content, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Creating Assessments, Wednesday, Feb.18, 2-4 p.m.
• Managing Students & Grades, Thursday, Feb.19, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Panel Discussion on Engaging Students in the Classroom, Wednesday, Feb.18, 3:30-5 p.m., Memorial Union Campanile Room
• Teaching and Learning Circle: The Bologna Process, Thursday, Feb.19, 12:1-1 p.m. Register for readings and location.
• The Bologna Process and Higher Education in Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 20, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Memorial Union Gallery

FYI - CESMEE Seminar; Electoral and Other Colleges

• A CESMEE seminar on Science Express - Bringing research-grade instruments to your child's classroom, will be held 11-11:50 a.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2030 Morrill Hall.
• Mid-February is a good time to reflect on, and share with your students, the educational background of the U.S. Presidents. You can see where the Presidents went to college. Several had no college degree, and indeed little formal education. See 1728 Software Systems Facts about United States Presidents.

Weekly News and Tip, February 5, 2009

Tip - Time-Efficient Teaching… and an Efficient Medium
Many university teachers find it an ongoing challenge to balance the many competing demands on their time. This week’s tip features a time-efficient way - a podcast - to learn about using teaching time efficiently.

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.

• Second Life: Basic Building in Second Life, tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 6, 12-1:30 p.m., CELT space in Second Life: http://tinyurl.com/7cjzgx
• Preventing and Detecting Plagiarism Using the New WebCT Tool SafeAssign, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 9-10:30 a.m., 1230 Communication
• Panel Discussion on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 12-1:30 p.m., MU Cardinal Room.
• Introduction to WebCT GOLD, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2-3:30 p.m., 1230 Communication
• WebCT: Communication Tools and Strategies, Friday, February 13, 2-3:30, 1230 Communication

FYI - Effective Oral Presentations

• Amy Slagell, Associate Professor, Speech Communication, will speak on Creating Audience-Centered Presentations, Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 4:10-5 p.m. in 210 Bessey. All are welcome.

Weekly News and Tip, January 29, 2009

Tip - Treating Students Fairly
Part of Iowa State’s stated mission is to increase and support diversity in the university community. The task of maintaining and developing diversity includes ongoing attention to avoiding bias in our classrooms.
Thoughts on diversity and complexity in the classroom.
Suggestions on avoiding gender bias.

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.

• Gloria Ladson-Billings, 2009 Helen LeBaron Hilton Chair, speaks on culturally relevant pedagogy, today, Thursday, Jan. 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., MU Gallery. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.
• Adding Virtual Collaboration to Your Courses Using Wimba Classroom and Wimba Voice Tools, today, Thursday, Jan. 29,12:10-2 p.m., 1230 Communications.
• Faculty Forum: Teaching Tips, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 12:10-1:30 p.m., MU Gallery. Invite a colleague and bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.
• Graduate Student Programming: Preparing for Academic Interviews, Thursday, Feb. 5, 3:30-5 p.m., 2019 Morrill.
• Second Life: Basic Building in Second Life, Friday, Feb. 6, 12-1:30 p.m., CELT space in Second Life: http://tinyurl.com/7cjzgx
• Panel Discussion on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 12-1:30 p.m., MU Cardinal Room.

FYI - CESMEE seminar; Honors Seminars; Campus Civility

• A CESMEE seminar on Project Lead the Way, a national partnership among schools, industry, and universities to attract young people to engineering fields, will be held 11-11:50 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2030 Morrill.
• Proposals for Fall 2009 Honors Seminars are due to the Honors Program office, Jischke Honors Building, on Tuesday, Feb. 3. For information, contact Susan Yager, syager@iastate.edu or 4-4372.
• Kathy Obear, president of Alliance for change, will speak on Civility on Campus, Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Obear will focus on improving communications skills among students when differing opinions are presented in class.

Weekly News and Tip, January 22, 2009

Tip - Time for Teaching and Research
Once the semester is in gear, many instructors find it difficult to manage time well. These ideas may be useful for experienced and novice academics alike.

• An entry in the Tomorrow’s Professor blog offers help with finding time for research.
• This entry, a response to the one above, urges a blend of research and teaching.

Announcements - Lots of 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 more about these sessions on CELT’s online events calendar.

• Second Life webcast, Session 2, Applying The Basic Concepts into an Educational Context, tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 23, 12-1:30 p.m. in 1230 Communications.
• WebCT: Managing Students and Grades, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2-3:30 p.m., 1230 Communications.
• Graduate Student Teaching and Learning Circle: Generation Me, begins Wednesday, Jan. 28, 12:10-1:30 p.m. Meets Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, and 18. Register for readings and location.
• Gloria Ladson-Billings, 2009 Helen LeBaron Hilton Chair, will speak on culturally relevant pedagogy, Thursday, Jan. 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., MU Gallery. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.
• Adding Virtual Collaboration to Your Courses Using Wimba Classroom and Wimba Voice Tools, Thursday, Jan. 29,12:10-2 p.m., 1230 Communications
• Graduate Student Programming: Going on the Academic Job Market, Thursday, Jan. 29, 3-5 p.m., 2019 Morrill.
• Faculty Forum: Teaching Tips, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 12:10-1:30 p.m., MU Gallery. Invite a colleague and bring your lunch; beverages and desserts provided.

FYI - Farm House Teas Begin Tuesday
Tuesday Tea at the Farm House Museum, Jan. 27 through April, 12-1 p.m. Traditional Victorian tea followed by a guided tour that highlights different topics each week. No reservation required.

Weekly News and Tip, January 15, 2009

Tip - Crafting a Teaching Persona
We all have public and private “faces” we present to the world. What is the optimal teaching “face” or persona for you? See: thoughts about whether and how to reveal oneself in the classroom.

Announcements - CELT Events; STEM Speaker
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.

• Two WebCT sessions are coming up, both in 1230 Communications. Today, Thursday, Jan. 15, WebCT: Managing Course Content will be held from 3-4:30 p.m. Review methods of converting existing course materials for online delivery and organizing them into a Learning Module. Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 16, WebCT: Creating Assessments will be held 9-11 a.m. Review the use of the Assessments tool for quizzes, surveys and self-tests. For either session, you should have some familiarity with WebCT.
• Two Second Life webcasts are also coming up, both in 1230 Communications. On Wednesday, Jan. 21, Exploring Second Life: Session 1, Overview, will be held from 12-1:30 p.m.; and on Friday, Jan. 23, Session 2, Applying The Basic Concepts into an Educational Context, will be held, also 12-1:30 p.m.
• The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education invites you to hear its first seminar speaker, Charles Henderson, on The Study and Improvement of STEM Change Strategies, Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m., 2030 Morrill. This is the first of a series of seminars on STEM topics sponsored by CESMEE. No registration needed.

FYI - Honors Seminar information; Campus Art Exhibit

• Interested in teaching an Honors Seminar in Fall 2009? Two information sessions on Honors Seminars will be offered at 3:10 and 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, in 1155 Jischke Honors Building. For information contact Susan Yager, mailto:syager@iastate.edu, or 4-4372.
• Gallery Walk: Exploring the Prints of Beej Nierengarten Smith, today, Thursday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Christian Petersen Art Museum. A guided tour with University Museums Director Lynette Pohlman of the museum’s new exhibit.

Weekly News and Tip, January 8, 2009

Tip - What Makes an Effective Teacher?
For our first Tip of 2009, here's a concise summary of strategies used by effective teachers.
You may also want to review CELT's course planning materials and first-day, first-week tips.

Announcement - Miller Faculty Fellowships Suspended for 2009-10
Due to the current budget crisis facing the university, funding for the Miller Faculty Fellowship Program has been suspended. The current request for proposals for this program due February 2 is canceled. CELT will be working with the President's Office to resume funding of the Miller Faculty Fellowship Program as soon as the overall budget situation improves.

FYI - CELT Needs Assessment Survey Is Still Open
CELT’s survey of ISU faculty and instructors will remain open until January 23. This survey will help CELT plan events that promote student learning, professional development of the teaching faculty and staff, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. If you are a member of ISU’s teaching faculty and have not responded to the survey, please check your email for the link. The CELT staff appreciates your help in improving teaching and learning at ISU.

Weekly News and Tip, December 11, 2008

Tip - Planning Your Spring Classes
Once final grades for 2008 are in, take a break - then get a jump on planning your spring teaching. This site, from the Derek Bok Center at Harvard, can help you organize your thinking on planning course outcomes and syllabus.

Three CELT Announcements

• CELT Seeks New Associate Director. This is a part-time position for current, tenured faculty at Iowa State University. The successful candidate will begin working with CELT March 1, working around current teaching responsibilities. For more information, see the job listing. If you have questions, contact CELT Director Steve Mickelson at estaben@iastate.edu.
• CELT Survey Underway. Don't forget to complete the CELT survey of ISU faculty and instructors. This survey will help us plan activities that promote student learning, professional development of the teaching faculty and staff, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Please look for the link to this survey in your email and respond as soon as possible.
• New Miller Grant Guidelines Online. CELT has placed updated Miller guidelines and evaluation rubric online. Proposals for next year's Miller Grants are due by Monday, February 2, 2009.

FYI - Idea Center Mini-Papers on Instruction
The Idea Center at Kansas State has long had a great collection of materials to improve college teaching. Now, working with the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD), the Idea Center has an updated set of brief papers written to support enhancement of college teaching. They may make for thought-provoking reading over break.

The CELT staff wishes you a successful end to the semester and a great break! The News and Tip will return on Thursday, January 8, 2009.

Weekly News and Tip, December 4, 2008

Tip - Ways to Bring Your Course to a Close
Welcome back! This week we bring you a pair of websites that offer ideas and methods for successfully closing out a course. Ideas on what to do during final class meetings.

And, for consideration of the pros and cons of holding pre-exam review sessions, as well as suggestions on how to conduct those sessions, see "Enhancing Learning and Exam Preparation: The Review Session" by Regan A. R. Gurung and Denise Bord.

Announcements - CELT Survey
CELT is conducting a survey of ISU faculty and instructors to help us plan activities that promote student learning, professional development of the teaching faculty and staff, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Please look for the link to this survey in your email and respond by Friday, December 12.

FYI - FERPA Reminder
You've heard this before, most likely, but it bears repeating. FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, protects the confidentiality of student education records. Do not post your grades in a way that identifies individuals (of course no Social Security numbers should ever be posted), and do not leave stacks of graded work out in the open (placing them in folders or envelopes is OK). See more information, see "FERPA: What faculty and staff members need to know."

Weekly News and Tip, November 21, 2008

Tip - De-stress Yourself
It's time for a break, and you'll want to find ways to relax and unwind next week. This week's Tip is a list of 101 ways, some goofy, some not, to relieve stress in your life.

Announcements - TEACH Grants Announced
CELT has awarded seven TEACH Grants for 2008-09, on subjects ranging from podcasting to assessment. To see the list of grantees (and get ideas for the next round), visit the CELT website.

FYI - Next Tip is December 4
Like you, the CELT News and Tip takes a break next week. We will be back in your inbox on Thursday, December 4. Have a great break!

Weekly News and Tip, November 13, 2008

Tip - Ways to Improve Student Writing
Clear written communication is important in all fields, not only in English classes. Learn more about "Efficient Ways to Improve Student Writing."

As an example: a law professor who teaches legal writing intentionally offers poor examples as a way to demonstrate the problems associated with fuzzy thinking. These "Frustrating Flaws" give writers a sense of what is at stake in their work.

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.

• Find out everything you always wanted to know about student response systems with Classroom Response System: Using the New TurningPoint 2008 Clickers, TODAY, Nov. 13, 12-2 p.m. (please note new, shorter time), 1230 Communications. (Walk-ins welcome; registration via AccessPlus is not accessible the day of an event.)
• A workshop on Managing Students and Grades in WebCT GOLD will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 1:10-2:40 p.m. in 1230 Communications.?

FYI - Student Assistance for E-Learning
CELT has hired and trained undergraduate students who can provide faculty with e-learning support. These students, 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: email aschmidt@iastate.edu.

Weekly News and Tip, November 6, 2008

Tip - Re-Engaging Students
It's difficult to keep students engaged after a certain point in the semester -- or in the class hour. Using a baseball analogy to describe classroom "change-ups," this tip offers a variety of ways to maintain student engagement.

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, Nov. 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, Nov. 11, 12:10-1:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill.
• Everything you always wanted to know about student response systems! Classroom Response System: Using the New TurningPoint 2008 Clickers will be held Thursday, Nov. 13, 12-2 p.m. (please note new, shorter time), 1230 Communications.
• Managing Students and Grades in WebCT Gold will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 1:10-2:40 p.m. in 1230 Communications.

FYI - Keep ISU Classrooms Beautiful; Two Museum Events

• In the last year, Keep Iowa State Beautiful has made efforts to reduce outdoor litter on campus. This year, we are also focusing on indoor trash. In 218 classrooms on campus there are laminated semi-permanent cards with a message for you to read at the end of class, reminding students to remove trash from the room. We hope students will remove cups, bottles, newspapers, etc., and keep our classrooms clean. Please help by making the announcement on the card at the end of class. More information.
  
• Two lectures sponsored by University Museums are being held this week:
• Ramos Rivera in Context, a joint lecture by Lina Del Castillo and April Eisman, Assistant Professor, Art & Design, will be TODAY, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Christian Petersen Art Museum.
• If your teaching or research interests include design, photography, globalization, or ecology, attend The Photography of Poisoned Ecologies, a Curator’s Lecture by Claude Baillargeon, Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. in the Brunnier Art Museum.