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, 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, 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, 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, August 21, 2008

What's This?
The CELT Weekly News and Tip email is sent each Thursday during the academic year. It contains a teaching tip, often related to issues that arise at a particular point in the semester; announcements of workshops and seminars; and other information useful for your teaching life. If you are receiving the Weekly News and Tip for the first time, welcome to Iowa State! If you wish not to receive this email or to receive it via a different email address, please contact celt@iastate.edu.

Tip - Be Ready for the First Day
As you assemble syllabi and prepare opening-day notes, be sure to note these ways of creating a positive learning environment at the start of the semester. These are CELT tips that have been linked by college and university teaching centers across the U.S. See:

• Create a positive learning environment on day one of the semester
• Course Planning

Announcements - Revised TA Handbook is Online and in Print; New CELT Workshops To Be Online Soon

• New TAs received a new edition of the Teaching Assistant Handbook: Advice for New Teachers, which has been brought up to date by CELT program assistant Karen Bovenmyer. Other TAs and their supervisors can access an electronic copy, including expanded information for international TAs.
• Some of CELT's Fall 2008 workshops are already on line, and more are on their way.

FYI - FERPA Reminder
As the year begins, keep in mind your students' right to privacy under the FERPA act. Learn what ISU faculty and staff need to know.

Weekly News and Tip, January 10, 2008

Tip - Good Teaching: The Top Ten Requirements
Welcome back! In these last quiet days before the start of term, take a minute to consider what it really takes to be a good teacher. According to one prize-winning professor, three of the requirements are passion for your field, knowledge and the ability to share it, and the gift of listening.
More on Good Teaching: The Top Ten Requirements

Announcement - Mean Business of Second Life
Dr. Brian Mennecke, College of Business, and Dr. Lesya Hassall, CELT, will present “The Mean Business of Second Life: Opportunities and Challenges of Using Second Life to Teach Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Commerce,” Friday, January 18, 2-3:15 p.m., 206 Durham Center (no registration necessary).

This seminar will describe and analyze the pedagogical issues resulting from teaching three courses on entrepreneurship, technology, and e-commerce in Second Life, a 3-D world with a vibrant self-contained economy. It will emphasize the pros and cons of using Second Life for teaching and learning about e-commerce processes, products and services, and the role of human behavior.

FYI - Don't Forget the CELT Library
As you prepare for the new term, don’t forget the resources of the CELT library, 3024 Morrill Hall. It is usually open 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The library contains books, periodicals, films and other materials on teaching and learning. Faculty may check out books and videos for two weeks. Simply follow the sign-out procedures listed on a card in each book. The Library Database can be searched by author, title, description, publisher, or call number.

Weekly News and Tip, December 6, 2007

Tip - Getting Ready for Next Time
The best time to invest in effective teaching happens before the course begins. Find essential information on designing a course by visiting “Teaching Resources/Designing a Course” and “Design and Teach Your Course."

Announcement - Planning to Have (or to Be) a Guest Speaker
As you plan next semester’s courses, you might think about having an expert visit your class; or perhaps you will be asked to visit another’s class.
Tips on "Using Guest Speakers Effectively"
Ideas on "When You Are the Guest Lecturer" (This link opens a PDF; scroll down to find the article.)

FYI - ISUComm
Did you know that a wealth of information is online concerning ISU's communication across the curriculum program? ISUComm Pedagogy contains resources for helping students who are "Learning to Communicate" in foundation and advanced communication courses, and are "Communicating to Learn" in courses within their majors.

This is the final CELT News and Tip email of the semester. The staff at CELT wishes you a wonderful winter break. See you in the new year!