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CETL Resources: CETL Newsletters & Presentations

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The Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning fosters excellence in teaching and learning at Mars Hill University by providing resources, enrichment opportunities, faculty development, and strategies that support quality and innovative instruction.

Fall 2024

Professional Learning Opportunities  

The CETL is using the second Thursday for our PD with the exception of one Thursday per semester that will be used for the Division meeting, and we will use one True North Tuesday for that PD.   

CETL Programming for Fall 2024 

The professional opportunities described below will take place at various times to ensure that all professionals on the campus have equal opportunities to attend our programing.  The duration of programming will most likely be one hour (unless otherwise noted), but we have allowed a bit of flexibility for conversation and questions. 

We will have a physical space in the Renfro Library RI classroom (Room 212) for those who choose to be in person, and will also provide virtual participation via the CETL Zoom: https://mhu.zoom.us/my/mhu.cetl  

Date

Name of Program 

Presenters 

Audience / PD Type

Time

Fall 2024 

(make up days will be available)  

Book Study: BOOK -  

https://www.usu.edu/empowerteaching/publications/books/teaching-ai/  

CETL Lead 

 

All Faculty / Book Study 

 

Wednesdays 

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM 

9-11-2024 

10-2-2024 

10-30-2024 

11-20-2024 

 

 

With the rapid development of Generative AI, teachers are experiencing a new pedagogical challenge—one that promises to forever change the way we approach teaching and learning. As a response to this unprecedented teaching context, Teaching and Generative AI: Pedagogical Possibilities and Productive Tensions provides interdisciplinary teachers, librarians, and instructional designers with practical and thoughtful pedagogical resources for navigating the possibilities and challenges of teaching in an AI era. Because our goal with this edited collection is to present nuanced discussions of AI technology across disciplines, the chapters collectively acknowledge or explore both possibilities and tensions—including the strengths, limitations, ethical considerations, and disciplinary potential and challenges—of teaching in an AI era. As such, the authors in this collection do not simply praise or criticize AI, but thoughtfully acknowledge and explore its complexities within educational settings.” We would like to encourage you to choose essays from each section that are of the most interest to you and we will discuss them together!  

9-11-2024   Section 1: Chapters 1-5 

10-2-2024   Section 4: Chapters 19-22 

10-30-2024 Section 5: Chapters 23-27 

11-20-2024 Section 5: Chapters 28-31  

 

Handout: https://studentguidetoai.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Student-Guide-to-AI-final-081224.pdf  

 

Fall  

Sept-18th 2pm-3pm 

 

Oct- 22nd 12pm-1pm  

 

POD and PLAY 

  CETL 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

 

Varies 

Join us for relaxing and creative gatherings at our CETL Pod and Play workshops. These unique events are designed for faculty to come together, unwind, and enjoy a podcast while engaging in a simple artistic activity. There will be no formal discussion of the podcast—just a chance to learn and create in a stress-free environment. 

Whether you're a seasoned artist or simply looking for a break from your routine, these workshops offer a perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues and play with new forms of expression. So, bring your creativity, and let's enjoy some quality time together! 

Sept. TIHE: EPISODE 526 

ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE LEARNING THROUGH OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 

Oct:  TBD

 

Fall 2024 

Starting in Aug, 2024 

A.C.E. Training –  

CETL and A.C.E. Mentors  

All Instructors / Presentation Workshop 

This training is organized around three core pedagogical values; Adaptability, Connection, and Equity on the MHU Campus. 

The intent of this training is to orient teaching faculty and staff to a course design process squarely centered on pedagogy and students, rather than on technology tools, modalities, or one-size-fits-all solutions. We are now accepting applications for individuals to participate in this opportunity to work alongside their peers to create a more engaged learning environment here at MHU. Upon completion of this professional development, the CETL will award an MHU ACE certification and electronic badges. 

 

 

OCT 18  

Online ACA  

Neuromyths 

UDL Taskforce 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

2:30 PM- 4:00 PM 

In the dynamic landscape of education, the intersection of neuroscience and learning has sparked significant interest and discussion. However, this fascination has also given rise to the proliferation of neuromyths—misconceptions about the relationship between the brain and educational practices. Our presentation aims to delve into the prevalent neuromyths that have permeated the educational sphere and shed light on the potential impact they may have on teaching and learning.  

During the 45-minute session, we will navigate through common neuromyths, such as the left-brain/right-brain dominance, learning styles and intelligence profiles, and fixed mental capacity. Through an evidence-based approach, we will debunk these myths and explore the implications for educators, students, and support staff.  

By understanding the actual implications of neuroscience on learning, educators can make informed decisions that enhance teaching methods and contribute to more effective student outcomes.  

Join us in this exploration of neuromyths in education, as we strive to bridge the gap between neuroscience and pedagogy, promoting evidence-based practices that empower educators and inspire meaningful learning experiences. 

 

 

9-12-2024 

ALLY 

 CETL and Others  

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

1.5-hour session 

3:00 AM -4:30 PM 

Faculty who participate will learn about LGBTQ terminology, ways to become better allies to the LGBTQ community, and learn more about campus climate.  This engaging and interactive workshop will be hosted by our trained Ally Training facilitators from the Counseling Center.  All MHU students are welcome. Participants who complete the training will receive an MHU Ally sticker to place on their room door to signify that they are an MHU ally!  

 

  

10-10-2024 

Building Reliable Rubrics! 

Jedediah Griffin 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

11:00-12:00 PM 

“Reliable rubrics take time to build, but they save time in the long run. Rubrics communicate the instructor’s expectations to students and ensure transparency in the grading process. In this workshop, instructors will discuss best practices for rubric development and share experiences implementing rubrics in a variety of instructional settings.” 

 

 

 

11-11-2024 

 AI in the classroom 

 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

 

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM 

Title: What’s Next in AI and Education? Image, Video, and Voice Engine AI 

Much of the debate surrounding the use of AI in education has focused on text based generative AI, e.g. ChatGPT. Educators continue to grapple with how we and our students might use these text-based AI systems in our lives and work. In the meantime, image, video, and voice engine AI are rapidly advancing. Instructing students on the ethical use of these AI technologies is the next phase of pedagogical development.  

With the release of X’s GrokAI in August, these multimedia tools are even more accessible with limited guardrails for its use. We will address the ethical concerns of using these types of AI-generated media in our courses while also considering our role as educators in instructing our students how to use these tools responsibly.  

The workshop includes hands-on activities where we will experiment with image, video, and voice engine AI tools. We will dive into practical strategies for integrating these tools into our curriculum. This interactive workshop is designed for faculty members interested in harnessing these tools to enhance their teaching, improve student engagement and critical thinking skills related to AI. 

  

Objectives: 

  • Examine free text to image, video, and voice engine tools  

  • Design and revise prompts for effective assignment usage 

  • Begin to create assignments using these tools 

  • Examine the ethical implications of using these technologies and how to address this in our courses. 

 

 

 

 

11-26-2024  

Serenity-Courage-Wisdom: Tapping into the lessons of the serenity prayer as an antidote to burnout 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

3:00 PM- 4:00 PM 

One of the major causes of burnout is the feeling of a lack of efficacy.  In this workshop, we will apply mental and spiritual health approaches to the research around higher ed burnout, and will discuss ways of knowing where and how we can make a difference in our workplace and our community in ways that contribute to a fulfilling, purposeful, and nourishing life at work. 

 

 

 

12--2024 

Christmas Cookies!  

 

Presentations 2024

Professional Learning Opportunities  

Date 

Many of the professional opportunities described below will take place from 4:00 PM until 5:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. Duration of programming will most likely be one hour, but we have allowed a bit of flexibility for conversation and questions. 

We will have a physical space in the Renfro Library RI classroom (Room 212) for those who choose to be in person, and will also provide virtual participation via the CETL Zoom: https://mhu.zoom.us/my/mhu.cetl  

 

Date & Time

Program

Presenters

Audience/ PD Type

Prep/Resources

Summer 2023 

OER  

CETL / ACA    

Open to all Instructors 

In this 4-week asynchronous course, you will begin to explore the definitions, concepts, and effective practices related to open educational resources (OER). 

As you progress through this learning journey, you will learn basic definitions related to OER, review the benefits of integrating OER into your practice, and experience the stories of other faculty, students, librarians, instructional designers, and campus leaders who have integrated OER into their work. 

o Week One – Welcome to Understanding OER 

o Week Two - Week 2 - Welcome to Identifying, Finding, and Adopting OER 

o Week Three - Welcome to Customizing and Integrating OER 

o Week Four- Start Building Your Course around OERs 

*Note: The course is run in Google Classroom and requires a Gmail account. 

Fall 2023 

A.C.E. Training –  

CETL and A.C.E. Mentors  

All Instructors / Presentation Workshop 

This training is organized around three core pedagogical values; Adaptability, Connection, and Equity on the MHU Campus. 

The intent of this training is to orient teaching faculty and staff to a course design process squarely centered on pedagogy and students, rather than on technology tools, modalities, or one-size-fits-all solutions. We are now accepting applications for individuals to participate in this opportunity to work alongside their peers to create a more engaged learning environment here at MHU. Upon completion of this professional development, the CETL will award an MHU ACE certification and electronic badges. 

January 19, 2023 

Trauma Informed Teaching  

Phillip Brantley 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

This workshop will provide an opportunity to review what trauma is, to explore how trauma typically presents in college students, and to establish basic trauma-informed teaching strategies within the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-3yxxp-12b8d0b (optional podcast)  

February 15, 2023 4:30-5:30 

AI – in the real classroom 

Dr. Robbie Zinna 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

Every news outlet is screaming that AI writing generators are going to kill the college essay. Is this true? Should you be concerned? Is this the newest avenue of students cheating? Join Dr. Robbie Zinna as he explores how these essay writers work, what they can do, and more importantly, what they can’t do. This talk will also include examples of how to detect “AI” essays, suggestions for using the technology productively in class, and will even be supported with examples and insights from real MHU students who have used the technology (under Dr. Zinna’s supervision). 

March 23, 2023 

Perusal 

Kim and Adenan 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

   

Perusal is a word that means the act of carefully reading or examining something, often for the purpose of understanding or learning about it. It can be used to describe the process of reading a document or text, looking through a collection of items, or reviewing something in order to make a decision or form an opinion. Therefore, it is no wonder that this is the base word for the learning tool https://www.perusall.com. Come join Adrienne, Kim, and the CETL to learn how you can use this tool to increase students' critical reading, engagement, discussion, and collaboration. This integrated social annotation tool works with all types of content, including books, articles, reports, websites, videos, podcasts, images and much more.  It is simple to use, and students enjoy the interactive nature of this free learning platform. And perhaps the best feature of all--AI grading means you get to focus on student learning rather than grading!“ 

  

April 13th, 2023  

Gamification  

Renfro Librarians  

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

The term gamification is often defined as the use of gameplay mechanics for non-game applications. This is true in the classroom. Join the librarians as they begin to explore this concept on our campus.  

In this presentation we will discuss gamification in education and game-based education. How are they different? What are some possible benefits of these strategies (and problems)? What are some examples of these strategies in action? What kinds of resources can you turn to for support? In our session, we will explore all these questions. 

  

May 5, 2023 

Taste of A.C.E. 

CETL and A.C.E. Mentors  

All Instructors / Presentation Workshop 

This training is organized around three core pedagogical values; Adaptability, Connection, and Equity on the MHU Campus. 

The intent of this training is to orient teaching faculty and staff to a course design process squarely centered on pedagogy and students, rather than on technology tools, modalities, or one-size-fits-all solutions. We are now accepting applications for individuals to participate in this opportunity to work alongside their peers to create a more engaged learning environment here at MHU. Upon completion of this professional development, the CETL will award an MHU ACE certification and electronic badges. 

 

 

Presentations 2023

The professional opportunities described below will take place at various times to ensure that all professionals on the campus have equal opportunities to attend our programing.  The duration of programming will most likely be one hour (unless otherwise noted), but we have allowed a bit of flexibility for conversation and questions. 

We will have a physical space in the Renfro Library IR classroom (Room 212) for those who choose to be in person, and will also provide virtual participation via the CETL Zoom: https://mhu.zoom.us/my/mhu.cetl  

Date & Time

Program

Presenters

Audience/ PD Type

Prep/Resources

Sept 26,Oct 10, and Nov 14 from 12-1 each day.   

Start Book Study: BOOK -  Radical Grace: Essays and Conversations on Teaching.

CETL Lead All Faculty / Book Study  Reading the book
Description: In teaching, when do we have instances of grace, or as the dictionary defines it, courteous goodwill? Are those instances going against what we've been trained to do when teaching, or against what the norms are of academia? Throughout this book, Drs. Candice Price and Miloš Savić have conversations and essays about how they've learned to believe in radical grace for their students. Going through their own personal stories, they provide reasons for their teaching philosophy. This book could help our campus make the connection that UDL is just another way to teach with grace.  
  OER CETL/ACA Open to All Instructors  

In this 4-week asynchronous course, you will begin to explore the definitions, concepts, and effective practices related to open educational resources (OER). 

As you progress through this learning journey, you will learn basic definitions related to OER, review the benefits of integrating OER into your practice, and experience the stories of other faculty, students, librarians, instructional designers, and campus leaders who have integrated OER into their work. 

  • Week One – Welcome to Understanding OER 
  • Week Two - Week 2 - Welcome to Identifying, Finding, and Adopting OER 
  • Week Three - Welcome to Customizing and Integrating OER 
  • Week Four- Start Building Your Course around OERs 

*Note: The course is run in Google Classroom and requires a Gmail account. 

Fall 2023 A.C.E. Training CETL and A.C.E. Mentors All Instructors/ Presentation Workshop

This training is organized around three core pedagogical values; Adaptability, Connection, and Equity on the MHU Campus. 

The intent of this training is to orient teaching faculty and staff to a course design process squarely centered on pedagogy and students, rather than on technology tools, modalities, or one-size-fits-all solutions. We are now accepting applications for individuals to participate in this opportunity to work alongside their peers to create a more engaged learning environment here at MHU. Upon completion of this professional development, the CETL will award an MHU ACE certification and electronic badges. 

September 20, 3PM MHU Museum Leila Weinstein All Faculty/Presentation Workshop  

On-Campus Field Trip: How the MHU Museum Can Serve Your Class 

Come to this hands-on workshop led by Dr. Jessie Swigger, Associate Professor of History at Western Carolina University. You’ll learn how to craft a substantive, enriching, and fun experience for your class in our campus museum – regardless of exhibition topic or course discipline.   

 

Oct 19, 1:30-3:30

Author Visit Candice Price Milos All Faculty Presentation/Workshop  
Radical Grace: Essays and Conversations on Teaching by Dr. Candice Price and Dr. Miloš Savić.  The authors will present a presentation for MHU and take questions around their book.
 

Nov.  14, 8-9:30AM

Ally Training CETL and Others All Faculty/Presentation Workshop  
Faculty who participate will learn about LGBTQ terminology, ways to become better allies to the LGBTQ community, and learn more about campus climate.  This engaging and interactive workshop will be hosted by our trained Ally Training facilitators from the Counseling Center.  All MHU students are welcome. Participants who complete the training will receive an MHU Ally sticker to place on their room door to signify that they are an MHU ally!  
 
November 28, 4-5PM AI vs AI Phil Carrol & Marty Gilbert All Faculty Presentation/ Workshop
As we stand on the cusp of a new era, where the technology of artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we teach, learn, and interact with information, the implications for academic integrity have never been more significant. Join Marty Gilbert and Philip Carroll, as we discuss artificial intelligence’s application in education, bring together a wealth of knowledge and experience to illuminate the nuances, challenges, and opportunities at this intersection of technology and integrity. 

 

Many of the professional opportunities described below will take place from 4:00 PM until 5:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. Duration of programming will most likely be one hour, but we have allowed a bit of flexibility for conversation and questions. 

We will have a physical space in the Renfro Library RI classroom (Room 212) for those who choose to be in person, and will also provide virtual participation via the CETL Zoom: https://mhu.zoom.us/my/mhu.cetl  

Date 

Name of Program  

Presenters  

Audience / PD Type 

Prep/Resources  

Spring 2023 Programming:  

(Monthly meetings TBD) 

Start Book Study: BOOK - TBD 

CETL Lead 

All Faculty / Book Study 

Description  

Summer 2023 

OER  

CETL / ACA    

Open to all Instructors 

In this 4-week asynchronous course, you will begin to explore the definitions, concepts, and effective practices related to open educational resources (OER). 

As you progress through this learning journey, you will learn basic definitions related to OER, review the benefits of integrating OER into your practice, and experience the stories of other faculty, students, librarians, instructional designers, and campus leaders who have integrated OER into their work. 

  • Week One – Welcome to Understanding OER 
  • Week Two - Week 2 - Welcome to Identifying, Finding, and Adopting OER 
  • Week Three - Welcome to Customizing and Integrating OER 
  • Week Four- Start Building Your Course around OERs 

*Note: The course is run in Google Classroom and requires a Gmail account. 

Fall 2023 

A.C.E. Training –  

CETL and A.C.E. Mentors  

All Instructors / Presentation Workshop 

This training is organized around three core pedagogical values; Adaptability, Connection, and Equity on the MHU Campus. 

The intent of this training is to orient teaching faculty and staff to a course design process squarely centered on pedagogy and students, rather than on technology tools, modalities, or one-size-fits-all solutions. We are now accepting applications for individuals to participate in this opportunity to work alongside their peers to create a more engaged learning environment here at MHU. Upon completion of this professional development, the CETL will award an MHU ACE certification and electronic badges. 

January 19, 2023 

Trauma Informed Teaching  

Phillip Brantley 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

This workshop will provide an opportunity to review what trauma is, to explore how trauma typically presents in college students, and to establish basic trauma-informed teaching strategies within the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-3yxxp-12b8d0b (optional podcast)  

February 15, 2023 4:30-5:30 

AI – in the real classroom 

Dr. Robbie Zinna 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

Every news outlet is screaming that AI writing generators are going to kill the college essay. Is this true? Should you be concerned? Is this the newest avenue of students cheating? Join Dr. Robbie Zinna as he explores how these essay writers work, what they can do, and more importantly, what they can’t do. This talk will also include examples of how to detect “AI” essays, suggestions for using the technology productively in class, and will even be supported with examples and insights from real MHU students who have used the technology (under Dr. Zinna’s supervision). 

March 23, 2023

Perusal 

Kim and Adenan 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

   

Perusal is a word that means the act of carefully reading or examining something, often for the purpose of understanding or learning about it. It can be used to describe the process of reading a document or text, looking through a collection of items, or reviewing something in order to make a decision or form an opinion. Therefore, it is no wonder that this is the base word for the learning tool https://www.perusall.com. Come join Adrienne, Kim, and the CETL to learn how you can use this tool to increase students' critical reading, engagement, discussion, and collaboration. This integrated social annotation tool works with all types of content, including books, articles, reports, websites, videos, podcasts, images and much more.  It is simple to use, and students enjoy the interactive nature of this free learning platform. And perhaps the best feature of all--AI grading means you get to focus on student learning rather than grading!“ 

  

April 13th, 2023  

Gamification  

Renfro Librarians  

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

The term gamification is often defined as the use of gameplay mechanics for non-game applications. This is true in the classroom. Join the librarians as they begin to explore this concept on our campus.  

In this presentation we will discuss gamification in education and game-based education. How are they different? What are some possible benefits of these strategies (and problems)? What are some examples of these strategies in action? What kinds of resources can you turn to for support? In our session, we will explore all these questions. 

Many of the professional opportunities described below will take place from 4:00 PM until 5:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. Duration of programming will most likely be one hour, but we have allowed a bit of flexibility for conversation and questions. 

We will have a physical space in the Renfro Library IR classroom (Room 212) for those who choose to be in person, and will also provide virtual participation via the CETL Zoom: https://mhu.zoom.us/my/mhu.cetl  

Date 

Name of Program  

Presenters  

Audience / PD Type 

Prep/Resources  

Fall 2022 Programming:  

(Monthly meetings TBD) 

Start Book Study: Ungrading 

CETL Lead 

All Faculty / Book Study 

In Ungrading, fifteen educators write about their diverse experiences going gradeless. Some of those sharing in this book are new to the practice and some have been engaging in it for decades. We see a diversity of disciplines from humanities and social sciences to the STEM fields. This book suggests why and how faculty who wish to focus on learning, rather than sorting or judging, might proceed. 

To learn more about Susan and this book visit: https://thinkudl.org/engaging-ungrading-with-susan-blum  

October 10- November 4, 2022 

OER  

CETL / ACA    

Open to all Instructors 

In this 4-week asynchronous course, you will begin to explore the definitions, concepts, and effective practices related to open educational resources (OER). 

As you progress through this learning journey, you will learn basic definitions related to OER, review the benefits of integrating OER into your practice, and experience the stories of other faculty, students, librarians, instructional designers, and campus leaders who have integrated OER into their work. 

  • Week One – Welcome to Understanding OER 
  • Week Two - Week 2 - Welcome to Identifying, Finding, and Adopting OER 
  • Week Three - Welcome to Customizing and Integrating OER 
  • Week Four- Start Building Your Course around OERs 

*Note: The course is run in Google Classroom and requires a Gmail account. 

Sept-November  

A.C.E. Training  

CETL and A.C.E. Mentors  

All Instructors / Presentation Workshop 

This training is organized around three core pedagogical values; Adaptability, Connection, and Equity on the MHU Campus. 

The intent of this training is to orient teaching faculty and staff to a course design process squarely centered on pedagogy and students, rather than on technology tools, modalities, or one-size-fits-all solutions. We are now accepting applications for individuals to participate in this opportunity to work alongside their peers to create a more engaged learning environment here at MHU. Upon completion of this professional development, the CETL will award an MHU ACE certification and electronic badges. 

September:  22,  2022 

Faculty Panel (Nicole, Mullinax, Kelly, Clare, David)  Think Tank 

WHO 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

4:30-5:30 

Join us to hear from our faculty panel think tank around discussions on getting our students to do the reading. This will be an open forum to gain ideas that work (or that do not) in helping our students complete, engage, and connect to the reading.   

October 20, 2022 

Building Formative Rubrics with a Competency Based Focus  

Jarek Janio (Santa Ana College)  

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

 The workshop: 

The topic of the webinar is focused on direct, formative assessment of student learning, creation of assessment rubrics and how student learning evaluation tools can help faculty document competencies and skills attained by their students. Attendees will learn how to link formative assessment techniques to student learning outcomes as expressed by competency and skill. Attendees will also learn how to create evaluation rubrics to assess equitable student learning.  

The bio:  

Dr. Jarek Janio has been working in higher education for over 20 years. He has founded an Annual Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) Symposium in 2014, and with the arrival of Covid, he started Friday SLO Talks, weekly events that attract faculty and assessment practitioners from all over the country and abroad. Dr. Janio is currently working at Santa Ana College in Southern California as faculty coordinator at the School of Continuing Education. 

 

November 17, 2022 

Guided Note-taking   

Chris Cain &  Wendy Dover 

All Faculty /  

Join the CETL to engage in ideas that can help your students take effective notes. We will explore different modalities, strategies, and evidence-based practices (such as guided notes, two column notes, and several more) that are assured to help make your students more effective and meaningful note-takers.      

December 1, 2022 

Gamification  

MHU Librarians  

(Kevin, Wendy, and Dane) 

All Faculty / Presentation Workshop 

The term gamification is often defined as use of gameplay mechanics for non-game applications. This is true in the classroom. Join the librarians as they begin to explore this concept on our campus.  

In this presentation we will discuss gamification in education and game-based education. How are they different? What are some possible benefits of these strategies (and problems)? What are some examples of these strategies in action? What kinds of resources can you turn to for support? In our session, we will explore all these questions. 

Professor Clare Chambers:

  • Issue: There are a lot of textbooks, especially for nursing majors, and finding the time and motivation for students to read these can be particularly challenging. Students feel like there is so much material that they do not know what to focus on due to the volume of words in the assignment.

  • Solution: It can be overwhelming just to read chapters in a textbook but working with the textbook in class and looking at the text, images, and graphs together with guided notes can make it seem easier and more accessible.

  • Helpful Tips
    • Have students in small groups create flow charts and pictures "picmonics" to discuss what they believe are the major points or critical concepts in their reading. Their points should have page numbers so that during the group discussions the entire class can be engaged in learning (engagement through activity) NOTE: Please see examples of students' "picmonics" at the bottom of the page.
      • As the professor, you need to still guide the discussion to hit the true major points of the text to make sure that the class is taught what they need to, but you are giving them the chance to teach their peers.
      • Also, this kind of activity allows for the students to create their own helpful learning habits and acronyms to remember the material.
    • Teach your students the difference between reading a textbook and maneuvering a textbook. Sometimes it is not necessary to read the entire text but to be able to draw out the big picture ideas that the text is trying to get you to see (not dumbing it down but boiling it down).
    • Teaching from a power point on the screen can persuade students not to read the actual document because they believe their professor is going to tell them what they need to know. The text gives the students the details they need to succeed so try not to use a power point for anything but broad topics that they can use as umbrella ideas.

Professor David Gilbert:

  • Issue: Students struggle with engaging with the texts that they are required to read for class.

  • Solution: Assigning shorter texts to stay engaged and not become overwhelming.

  • Helpful Tips
    • Let students know and understand that engagement with a text is a skill that can be learned and does not have to be mastered when you arrive at college.
    • Point out that no one can read for a whole hour and retain all the material. Learn to catch yourself when you are reading has become skimming over the page and not understanding what is going on before getting too much further.
    • Make reading engagements a decent portion of the grade to make sure they practice this skill. Do this by providing guided questions to stay engaged with text and follow the big points.
    • Use Moodle for students to ask factual questions and discussion-based questions to get a conversation going before class begins so there is a direction when it is time for class.
    • Have the students write out a MIS (Most Important Sentence). A MIS is a quote from the text that the students explain why they think it is the most important.
  • NOTE: Please see Professor Gilbert's handout at the bottom of the page.

Professor Marc Mullinax:

  • Issue: Getting students to read long articles and pieces of works is a struggle because their attention spans are limited.

  • Solution: Try not to use textbooks and instead find internet articles, PDF’s, YouTube videos, podcasts, etc.

  • Helpful Tips
    • Try to go from an extrinsic read to an intrinsic read. Get students out of the mind set of having to read for class to wanting to read to better understand the world around them.
    • Weekly assignments for students to reflect on what they have read throughout the week.
      • Triangle: List 3 things most important from the readings that they feel are important to remember and might be on a test.
      • Square: What is something that you agree with in one of the texts?
      • Circle: What do you still need to ask about the readings or to still need help to understand?
      • Link something in the student’s past that they have experienced or already know to a reading. Movie, music, action, or pop culture references are the best ways for students to connect ideas.
  • NOTE: Please see Professor Mullinax's handout at the bottom of the page.

Professor Nicole Soper-Gorden:

  • Issue: What am I making my students read this text?

  • Solution: Lower-level classes need the experience of reading texts like this to be able to understand papers in the future. Upper-level classes need to read the content to help them and guide them through main points of knowledge in their field.

  • Helpful Tips
    • As a professor, guide the students through what they should take away from the text you are assigning them to read.
    • Show them the relevancy they need to take away from the reading to better themselves in the course.

Professor Kelly Spencer:

  • Issue: How do I get students to want to read and learn in my courses?

  • Solution: Step away from just traditional texts and assign podcasts, TedTalks, etc. as well.

  • Helpful Hints:
    •  The classroom should have mostly discussion time so that students can have time to understand better. If they come to class already with a background of the information being discussed, they will be able to both retain more and get a deeper understanding.
    • Submit a Bring It to the Table assignment which is what points stood out to the student and then have the student relate to their life with a critical thinking question.
    • Relate their text to the Real World where they take a TikTok, meme, or Instagram post that they see that relates to what they have learned in class (Connection=Engagement).

Question Time:

  • Extra Tips
    • Ask them questions that assure you they read the text.
      • What did the author miss or not say that takes away from our experience as the reader?
      • What is something you agreed or disagreed with in the text?
    • Be able to distinguish between entry level courses needing terminology and basic foundational elements of the discipline to upper-level courses where they need to connect these elements with a deeper understanding of their discipline.

Overview:

  • Help students get through a text with guided notes to make sure they follow and stay engaged as well as understand the major points.
  • Help students contextualize and connect topics to their daily lives.
    • Have students bring in examples of their daily lives to connect to class.
  • Have students rewrite terminology definitions in their own words for them to remember.
  • Have students explain topics to each other so that they can remember it in their own words.

The Workshop: 

The topic of the webinar is focused on direct, formative assessment of student learning, creation of assessment rubrics and how student learning evaluation tools can help faculty document competencies and skills attained by their students. Attendees will learn how to link formative assessment techniques to student learning outcomes as expressed by competency and skill. Attendees will also learn how to create evaluation rubrics to assess equitable student learning.  

The Bio:  

Dr. Jarek Janio has been working in higher education for over 20 years. He founded an Annual Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) Symposium in 2014, and with the arrival of Covid, he started Friday SLO Talks, weekly events that attract faculty and assessment practitioners from all over the country and abroad. Dr. Janio is currently working at Santa Ana College in Southern California as faculty coordinator at the School of Continuing Education. 

The Time:

Oct 20, 2022, 4:00 -4:45 PM  

Please join Phillip Brantley and the CETL today (Thursday, January 19th) as he helps us start off our semester by being proactive regarding trauma. This workshop will provide an opportunity to review what trauma is, to explore how trauma typically presents in college students, and to establish basic trauma-informed teaching strategies within the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. 

Games used in the event

This is what the Poll Everywhere word cloud looked like from out session.

 

Poll Everywhere image showing a word cloud of superpowers participants wish they had. read book in 1 minute, know languages