Reading Apprenticeship Workshop, May 16–Register Now!

As we gear up for summer, I wanted to let you all know about a great professional development opportunity that will be coming to GRCC next month. On May 16, Monika Hogan from Pasadena City College will be leading a workshop at GRCC on the Reading Apprenticeship Project–a program that helps faculty work with their students to help them become critical readers, thinkers, and writers across disciplines. The workshop is part of the 2013 Regional Faculty Conversations series that is sponsored by the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), and is one of three Reading Apprenticeship workshops that will be held around the state May 15, 16, and 17.

If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please visit the MCCA’s website at www.mcca.org and check the “Upcoming Events” box on the left side. The direct link to the GRCC event is http://www.mcca.org/events/event_details.cfm?rowID=AF6B1909DB0B8A9933D24159DBF9CDEB.

You will need to register through the MCCA site and will need to create a log-in if you have not registered for MCCA events in the past. There is no cost for the workshop.

In addition, we would like to track who is planning on attending, so we ask that you also register through the Center for Teaching Excellence at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. The MCCA registration is necessary for attendance, but the CTE registration will allow us to place your attendance at the workshop on your Training Summary.

Reading Apprenticeship Workshop, May 16–Register Now!

As we gear up for summer, I wanted to let you all know about a great professional development opportunity that will be coming to GRCC next month. On May 16, Monika Hogan from Pasadena City College will be leading a workshop at GRCC on the Reading Apprenticeship Project–a program that helps faculty work with their students to help them become critical readers, thinkers, and writers across disciplines. The workshop is part of the 2013 Regional Faculty Conversations series that is sponsored by the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), and is one of three Reading Apprenticeship workshops that will be held around the state May 15, 16, and 17.

If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please visit the MCCA’s website at www.mcca.org and check the “Upcoming Events” box on the left side. The direct link to the GRCC event is http://www.mcca.org/events/event_details.cfm?rowID=AF6B1909DB0B8A9933D24159DBF9CDEB.

You will need to register through the MCCA site and will need to create a log-in if you have not registered for MCCA events in the past. There is no cost for the workshop.

In addition, we would like to track who is planning on attending, so we ask that you also register through the Center for Teaching Excellence at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. The MCCA registration is necessary for attendance, but the CTE registration will allow us to place your attendance at the workshop on your Training Summary.

Reading Apprenticeship Workshop, May 16–Register Now!

As we gear up for summer, I wanted to let you all know about a great professional development opportunity that will be coming to GRCC next month. On May 16, Monika Hogan from Pasadena City College will be leading a workshop at GRCC on the Reading Apprenticeship Project–a program that helps faculty work with their students to help them become critical readers, thinkers, and writers across disciplines. The workshop is part of the 2013 Regional Faculty Conversations series that is sponsored by the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), and is one of three Reading Apprenticeship workshops that will be held around the state May 15, 16, and 17.

If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please visit the MCCA’s website at www.mcca.org and check the “Upcoming Events” box on the left side. The direct link to the GRCC event is http://www.mcca.org/events/event_details.cfm?rowID=AF6B1909DB0B8A9933D24159DBF9CDEB.

You will need to register through the MCCA site and will need to create a log-in if you have not registered for MCCA events in the past. There is no cost for the workshop.

In addition, we would like to track who is planning on attending, so we ask that you also register through the Center for Teaching Excellence at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. The MCCA registration is necessary for attendance, but the CTE registration will allow us to place your attendance at the workshop on your Training Summary.

Center for Teaching Excellence Offers Full Week of Learning Opportunities

As the semester winds down, the Center for Teaching Excellence has a full slate of learning opportunities next week spanning a wide range of topics. All of these opportunities are listed on our events calendar (www.grcc.edu/ctecalendar) and are open for registration at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. Sign up for one or sign up for all. Amid the end of semester stress, take an hour out of your day to come talk about teaching with your peers!

Introduction to Avatar: Monday, April 15 from 3:15 – 4:15 in 207 Sneden.

This session is an introduction to the Avatar materials.
“Avatar is the most powerful, purest self-development program available. It is a series of experiential exercises that enables you to rediscover your self and align your consciousness with what you want to achieve. You will experience your own unique insights and revelations. It’s you finding out about you.” From “What is Avatar?”. Star’s Edge International, http://avatarepc.com/html/whatis.html. Facilitated by Music Department faculty member, Brian Morris.

Showing Them How: Writing With Your Students: Tuesday, April 16 from 4:00 – 5:00 in 107 Cook.

If we agree that writing is a mode of thinking, then being transparent with students about your writing process can be integral in how effectively they transition to an academic mindset. Regardless of your discipline, students need to practice effective communication skills, whether for academic papers, discussion board posts, or email correspondence. Our digital age places more and more value on abbreviated, informal writing that is quite contrary to writing that college courses – and the workplace – require. This interactive session will discuss how writing with your students can break down the mystery of “good” writing for them. Faculty participants will identify three points in the semester when they can write with students, develop a protocol for sharing their writing with students at various points in the drafting process, and discuss the implementation of a collaborative writing assignment. Facilitated by Katie Kalisz from the English Department.

Universal Design Discussion Group: Wednesday, April 17 from 3:00 – 4:00 in 347 Main

In this final discussion of the semester, we will be looking at a Faculty Workbook that offers tips and assessments you can use to check your courses against Universal Design principles. More information can be found at www.grcc.edu/UDLDiscussion.

Got Stress? Surviving the Semester: Thursday, April 18 from 3:30 – 4:30 in 107 Cook.

Got stress? Too busy to even think about it? Take one hour for yourself to examine how you manage stress, and you’ll come away with at least one technique to improve your end-of-semester experience. Facilitated by Ann Alexander from the Business Department.

Using i<Clicker in the Classroom: Friday, April 19 from 9:00 – 10:00 in 351 Main.

i>clicker is GRCC’s campus standard for student response systems. This hands-on session will introduce you to i<clicker and will show you how they can be used effectively in the classroom to enhance your teaching. Facilitated by Lisa Gloege from the Social Sciences Department.

All sessions are open to both full-time and adjunct faculty. You can register for all sessions at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. You can also “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/teachexcellence to receive the latest information on sessions, news, conferences, and other noteworthy happenings.

If you have any questions or have problems registering, contact us at teachexcellence@grcc.edu. Register now, as space in each session is limited.

Thanks, and we hope to see you in the CTE!

Center for Teaching Excellence events for April 15-19, 2013

As the semester winds down, the Center for Teaching Excellence has a full slate of learning opportunities next week spanning a wide range of topics.  All of these opportunities are listed on our events calendar (www.grcc.edu/ctecalendar) and are open for registration at www.grcc.edu/ctereg.  Sign up for one or sign up for all.  Amid the end of semester stress, take an hour out of your day to come talk about teaching with your peers!

NEXT WEEK (4/15 – 4/19):

Introduction to Avatar: Monday, April 15 from 3:15 – 4:15 in 207 Sneden.

This session is an introduction to the Avatar materials.
“Avatar is the most powerful, purest self-development program available. It is a series of experiential exercises that enables you to rediscover your self and align your consciousness with what you want to achieve. You will experience your own unique insights and revelations. It’s you finding out about you.”    From “What is Avatar?”.  Star’s Edge International, http://avatarepc.com/html/whatis.html. Facilitated by Music Department faculty member, Brian Morris.

Showing Them How: Writing With Your Students: Tuesday, April 16 from 4:00 – 5:00 in 107 Cook.
If we agree that writing is a mode of thinking, then being transparent with students about your writing process can be integral in how effectively they transition to an academic mindset.  Regardless of your discipline, students need to practice effective communication skills, whether for academic papers, discussion board posts, or email correspondence.  Our digital age places more and more value on abbreviated, informal writing that is quite contrary to writing that college courses – and the workplace – require.  This interactive session will discuss how writing with your students can break down the mystery of “good” writing for them.  Faculty participants will identify three points in the semester when they can write with students, develop a protocol for sharing their writing with students at various points in the drafting process, and discuss the implementation of a collaborative writing assignment.  Facilitated by Katie Kalisz from the English Department.

Universal Design Discussion Group: Wednesday, April 17 from 3:00 – 4:00 in 347 Main

In this final discussion of the semester, we will be looking at a Faculty Workbook that offers tips and assessments you can use to check your courses against Universal Design principles.  More information can be found at www.grcc.edu/UDLDiscussion.

Got Stress? Surviving the Semester: Thursday, April 18 from 3:30 – 4:30 in 107 Cook.
Got stress? Too busy to even think about it? Take one hour for yourself to examine how you manage stress, and you’ll come away with at least one technique to improve your end-of-semester experience. Facilitated by Ann Alexander from the Business Department.

Using i<Clicker in the Classroom: Friday, April 19 from 9:00 – 10:00 in 351 Main.
i>clicker is GRCC’s campus standard for student response systems. This hands-on session will introduce you to i<clicker and will show you how they can be used effectively in the classroom to enhance your teaching. Facilitated by Lisa Gloege from the Social Sciences Department.

All sessions are open to both full-time and adjunct faculty.  You can register for all sessions at www.grcc.edu/ctereg.  You can also “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/teachexcellence to receive the latest information on sessions, news, conferences, and other noteworthy happenings.

If you have any questions or have problems registering, contact us at teachexcellence@grcc.edu.  Register now, as space in each session is limited.

Thanks, and we hope to see you in the CTE!

Center for Teaching Excellence Hosting Sabbatical Session on Friday

This Friday (April 12), the Center for Teaching Excellence will be hosting a session on sabbaticals at GRCC. This session will focus on an overview of the sabbatical process (planning, reporting, funding, and reflections from former sabbatical recipients). After this session, you will have a clear understanding of the process and be able to identify 2-3 areas worthy of a sabbatical study. The session will be interactive and somewhat informal. It is targeted to full-time faculty and will be led by members of the sabbatical committee.

The session will be held in 347 Main from 9:00-10:00. You can register for the session at www.grcc.edu/ctereg, and can see a full calendar of Center for Teaching Excellence events at www.grcc.edu/ctecalendar.

 If you have any questions or have problems registering, contact us at teachexcellence@grcc.edu. Register now, as space in each session is limited.

Thanks, and we hope to see you in the CTE!

2013-2014 SABBATICAL APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED

2014-15 SABBATICAL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MARCH 13, 2014 but it is not too early to start planning for next year. Professor Mursalata Muhammad will be presenting a Sabbatical Planning Workshop at the Center for Teaching Excellence on Friday April 12, 2013, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in 347 Main. To register, go to: http://cms.grcc.edu/ctecurrentlearning

Teaching with Technology Session This Friday

What technologies do you use in the classroom? Are you getting the most out of them? Are there other tools that may enhance your teaching? Come to 109 Cook this Friday (April 5) from 9:00 – 10:30 for a session on teaching with technology. Mursalata Muhammad from the English Department will facilitate a session entitled “Your Teaching, Their Learning, and Technology.” During the session, she will discuss a variety of instructional technology tools you can use and will help you understand how best to implement technology in your own classroom.

Even though it is only April, planning for your Fall courses will be ramping up before you know it, and this is a great opportunity to develop some new techniques and ideas. You can register for the session at www.grcc.edu/ctereg, and can see a full calendar of Center for Teaching Excellence events at www.grcc.edu/ctecalendar.

 If you have any questions or have problems registering, contact us at teachexcellence@grcc.edu. Register now, as space in each session is limited.

Thanks, and we hope to see you in the CTE!

Disability Etiquette Session TODAY at 4:00

Please join the Center for Teaching Excellence and Staff Development Tuesday, March 26 from 4:00 – 5:00 in 107 Cook for a session on Disability Etiquette. The session will cover some basic recommendations for interacting with students (and others) who have disabilities. Facilitators Jocelyn Dettloff and Trina Edmonson from Disability Advocates of Kent County will help participants learn appropriate language to use when communicating with people with disabilities and about disability, learn to be proactive to give your students the tools they need to succeed, and dispel common myths about disability and people with disabilities.

You can register for the session at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. If you have any questions, please contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at 234-2278 or teachexcellence@grcc.edu.

We hope to see you there!

This Week in the Center for Teaching Excellence

Below is a list of professional development opportunities offered through the Center for Teaching Excellence this week. We hope you will join us for some or all of these sessions, if your schedule allows! We also now have an events calendar on our website at www.grcc.edu/ctecalendar. Check it out for an easy-to-navigate overview of our events. You can register for all events at www.grcc.edu/ctereg.

Disability Etiquette: Tuesday, March 26 from 4:00 – 5:00 in 107 Cook.

This session will cover some basic recommendations for interacting with students (and others) who have disabilities. By the end of the session, participants will, 1) Learn appropriate language to use when communicating with people with disabilities and about disability, 2) Learn to be proactive to give your students the tools they need to succeed, and 3) Learn and dispel common myths about disability and people with disabilities. Facilitated by Jocelyn Dettloff and Trina Edmonson from Disability Advocates of Kent County.

Academic Freedom: A Personal and Professional Journey: Wednesday, March 27 from 3:00 – 4:00 in 109 Cook.

As budgets become tighter, tuition increases, and institutions are being more scrutinized, how does the notion of academic freedom become imperiled? How do we define academic freedom, and how is the phrase often misused? Learn the background of one faculty member’s journey through the minefield of academic freedom, and how it affected him professionally and personally. What are we doing in our classrooms that may come under fire from students, parents, board members, or the community? Are we teaching what we are supposed to be teaching? Who decides this? The session will focus briefly on the personal experience of one instructor, but will also discuss various professional and institutional definitions of academic freedom, the differences between free speech and academic freedom, and examples of “wins and losses” for academic freedom. Lastly, the session will focus on the potential threats to academic freedom. Facilitated by Jim Hayes from the English Department.

Word Indents, Tabs, and Styles, Oh My!: Friday, March 29 from 10:00 – 11:00 in 351 Main.

This session explores how to use indents, tabs, and styles effectively to create cool and efficient Word documents that meet the needs of diverse learners. Learners are encouraged to bring a document, such as a syllabus, they would like to improve in both look and efficiency. By the end of the session, participants should be able to: 1) Determine when to use an indent instead of a tab, 2) Set custom tabs including different alignments and leader tabs, 3) Identify Microsoft Word styles, 4) Create, modify, and apply a style. Facilitated by Bethann Talsma from the Business Department.

All sessions are open to both full-time and adjunct faculty. You can register for all sessions at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. You can also “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/teachexcellence to receive the latest information on sessions, news, conferences, and other noteworthy happenings.

If you have any questions or have problems registering, contact us at teachexcellence@grcc.edu. Register now, as space in each session is limited.

Thanks, and we hope to see you in the CTE!

Disability Etiquette Session Tuesday, March 26 at 4:00

Please join the Center for Teaching Excellence and Staff Development Tuesday, March 26 from 4:00 – 5:00 in 107 Cook for a session on Disability Etiquette. The session will cover some basic recommendations for interacting with students (and others) who have disabilities. Facilitators Jocelyn Dettloff and Trina Edmonson from Disability Advocates of Kent County will help participants learn appropriate language to use when communicating with people with disabilities and about disability, learn to be proactive to give your students the tools they need to succeed, and dispel common myths about disability and people with disabilities.

You can register for the session at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. If you have any questions, please contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at 234-2278 or teachexcellence@grcc.edu.

We hope to see you there!

 

This Week in the Center for Teaching Excellence

Below is a list of professional development opportunities offered through the Center for Teaching Excellence this week. We hope you will join us for some or all of these sessions, if your schedule allows! We also now have an events calendar on our website at www.grcc.edu/ctecalendar. Check it out for an easy-to-navigate overview of our events. You can register for all events at www.grcc.edu/ctereg.

The 7th Annual Teaching, Learning, and Technology Showcase: Wednesday, March 20 from 1:00 – 4:00 in 108 Sneden.

Join Distance Learning and Instructional Technologies in recognizing great teaching with technology at this annual showcase. Come out and learn about what your colleagues have been doing with technology and how you can use it to enhance your own instruction! More information can be found at http://www.grcc.edu/showcase

Universal Design Reading and Discussion Group: Thursday, March 21 from 3:00 – 4:00 in 347 Main.

Would you like to know some “low-tech” ways of increasing the accessibility of your courses? Are students with disabilities the subject of discrimination on college campuses? Discuss these questions and others at our second discussion group meeting of the semester. Information, as well links to the two articles we are discussing can be found at www.grcc.edu/udldiscussion. Some of the questions we will consider are:

• The first article discusses how on most campuses most resources devoted to disability support go toward accommodations for a small number of students, while large numbers of students with either moderate disabilities or undiagnosed disabilities receive little support. Do you think that is the case at GRCC? Is that a good model?

• In the second reading Banfild-Hardaway states that “students with disabilities are frequent targets of discrimination because they are seen as abnormal or deficient.” Do you see evidence of that at GRCC?

Enhancing Your Teaching with PowerPoint: Friday, March 22 from 9:00 – 10:00 in 351 Main

Sure, you know how to use PowerPoint, but are you really getting the most out of it? This session explores how to utilize new features in MS PowerPoint 2010 to meet the needs of various student learning styles. During the session you will learn how to do things such as embed video and use Smart Art to make your PowerPoint presentations more effective teaching tools. Facilitated by Peggy Schoenborn from the Business Department.

All sessions are open to both full-time and adjunct faculty. You can register for all sessions at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. You can also “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/teachexcellence to receive the latest information on sessions, news, conferences, and other noteworthy happenings.

If you have any questions or have problems registering, contact us at teachexcellence@grcc.edu. Register now, as space in each session is limited.

Thanks, and we hope to see you in the CTE!

This Week in the Center for Teaching Excellence

Spring Break is now over and the Center for Teaching Excellence is jumping into the second half of the semester head first! This week we are hosting two accessibility webinars, as well as starting a new cohort of the OHCC and offering a section of Blackboard Basics. We hope you will join us for some or all of these sessions, if your schedule allows! The details on our upcoming events are all provided below. We also now have an events calendar on our website at www.grcc.edu/ctecalendar. Check it out for an easy-to-navigate overview of our events. You can register for all events at www.grcc.edu/ctereg.

Universal Design Webinar: Wednesday, March 13 from 12:00 – 1:00 in 123 LRC (in the Library).

This webinar will offer an overview of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an approach to course design based on flexible, multi-modal, methods that increase course accessibility for a variety of learners. The webinar will discuss some specific strategies for implementing UDL principles. Bring your lunch!

What Faculty with Disabilities Want Institutions to Know (Webinar): Thursday, March 14 from 12:00 – 1:30 in 123 LRC.

This panel includes four faculty with expertise in accessibility. During the first 60 minutes, each faculty member will provide a self-introduction and discuss their position within higher education. The panel will then share recommendations and resources for supporting faculty (full-time, part-time, and adjunct) success in online education. The last 20 minutes will be open to questions from attendees. Bring your lunch!

Blackboard Basics: Friday, March 15 from 11:30 – 12:30 in 351 Main.

If you are new to Blackboard or just need a refresher, this course will give you an overview of all the basic features.

Online Hybrid Certification Course (OHCC) Session 1: Friday, March 15 from 1:00 – 2:30 in 351 Main

If you are looking to get certified to teach online at GRCC, our second OHCC cohort of Winter term will launch on Friday. The pre-requisite is Blackboard Basics, so if you haven’t taken Basics yet, be sure to register for that as well.

All sessions are open to both full-time and adjunct faculty. You can register for all sessions at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. You can also “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/teachexcellence to receive the latest information on sessions, news, conferences, and other noteworthy happenings.

If you have any questions or have problems registering, contact us at teachexcellence@grcc.edu. Register now, as space in each session is limited.

CTE Mid-Semester Open House–Free Lunch!

Did you know that the Center for Teaching Excellence is now located in 308 Main? Have you stopped in to our new location yet? If not, tomorrow (Thursday, February 28) is the perfect opportunity, because we are hosting a Mid-Semester Open House. The Open House runs from 11:30 – 1:30. Lunch will be provided! There is no need to RSVP and all faculty are welcome.

If you have questions, email us at TeachExcellence@grcc.edu or call 234-2278. You can also check us out online at www.grcc.edu/teachexcellence, and “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teachexcellence. We hope to see you on Thursday!

Externships now available for faculty, staff

Staff Development and Center for Teaching Excellence are excited to announce a new professional development opportunity for staff and faculty – Externships! GRCC is implementing Faculty/Staff Externships as a way to stay current in your field. The first externships will be awarded for Summer 13. See www.grcc.edu/externship for more information, application process and deadlines.