GRCC Instructors serve as Reviewers for the Blackboard Exemplary Course Award Program

It is our 3rd year participating in the Blackboard Exemplary Course Award Program.  In fact, last year Cheryl Kautz from the Computer Applications Department, received an Exemplary Course Award for her work and received the recognition at the national Blackboard Conference in New Orleans.  This year, Szymon Machajewski, from the Computer Applications Department, submitted his course for review and the following faculty members have taken the opportunity to review course designs from colleges and universities from around the world:

• Lisa Gloege, Economics.
• Heather Richards, Social Sciences.
• Susan Williams, Social Sciences.
• Mursalata Muhammad, English.

ECP reviewers have noted the reviewing benefits:

• Reflect on opportunities on your own course design.
• Gain new perspectives and insights on course design.
• Learn best practices and areas for improvement for enhancing GRCC courses.

The Distance Learning and Instructional Technologies department would like to recognize and thank this group of faculty for their work to enhance teaching and learning at GRCC!

More information about the Blackboard Exemplary Course Award Program is available here: http://www.blackboard.com/About-Bb/Industry-Leadership/Catalyst-Awards/Exemplary-Course-Program.aspx

Speakers lined up for 2013 Race, Ethnicity and Identity Conference

GRCC’s Race, Ethnicity and Identity Conference is scheduled for March 25 to 28, 2013.

Here are some highlights:

March 25

Identity, Tourism, and Racialization in New Orlean’s Jackson Square
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Rebecca Sheehan, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University (GTU Visiting Speaker)

March 26

Patriotism and its Effects on Public Opinion on Foreign Policy: Comparing the Cases of the
USA and Ireland
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Karen Devine, Ph.D., Dublin City University (Visiting Fullbright Scholar Speaker – Columbia University)

March 28

The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Keynote: Edward Blum, Ph.D., San Diego State University

For more information, click here.

GRCC Crocheters/Knitters offers lessons on March 21, 2013

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The GRCC Crocheters/Knitters is a group of cross-campus volunteers that crochet or knit hats, scarves, mittens, and sometimes even afghans for those in need in our community.  All yarn is also donated.  The first year we gave our items to the Vets Facility and last year we gave 34 hats, 36 scarves, 4 scarf/mitten sets, and even 2 afghans to GRCC students working with GRCC Cares, a student organization, and the Student Affairs office.  The volunteers work throughout the year and in October donate the items. This year we’re working with GRCC students in DSS and for 2014 we’ll be donating to our Preschool. If you’d like to participate, but don’t know how to crochet or knit, we are offering lessons on March 21, 5-6:30pm, in the White Hall Sitting Room.  Please join us. If you’re interested in participating either on March 21 OR as a volunteer, please contact Tracy Payne at tpayne@grcc.edu.

GRCC In the News, 3-14-13

U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles to speak tonight at Grand Rapids Community College

March 13, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Patrick Miles, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, will host a discussion tonight at Grand Rapids Community College about transitioning from college to a career.

Community forum to discuss ‘fracking’ scheduled at Rockford High School

March 13, 2013; MLive

ROCKFORD, MI — Three Kent County environmental groups are sponsoring a community forum on Monday, March 25, to discuss hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, of oil and gas wells.

Sponsored by the Citizens for Responsible Resource Management (CRRM), Kent County Water Conservation (KCWC), and Mutual Aid of Grand Rapids (MAGR), the forum will feature a presentation by Maryann Lesert, an associate professor of environmental studies at Grand Rapids Community College and a leader in the anti-fracking movement in Michigan.

A Legacy of Lumber

March 14, 2013; rapidgrowthmedia.com

“Funny thing happened on the way to retirement…,” Daryl Weaver begins, but then he gets distracted.

… KC Weaver takes over. That’s KC, his first name, he explains, which stands for nothing but KC. “When I sign up for online sites like Facebook or LinkedIn, they tell me that’s not a real name,” he chuckles. KC is Daryl’s eldest son, part time at Tontin Lumber, part time at Grand Rapids Community College where he teaches American history. When he sits down at his desk, made of Tontin lumber, he is living history.

 

Learning Opportunity from Staff Development on Tuesday March 19th

Please join us for the viewing of “Seniors and Driving” as a part of the Brown Bag Lunch series of educational movies. We encourage you to carry in a lunch to this event.

Please register online at http://cms.grcc.edu/currentlearning or call Staff Development at extension 4285.

Brown Bag Lunch – Seniors and Driving

Tue Mar. 19, 2013

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Room 120 ATC

Part of the ‘Successful Aging’ video series presented by the GRCC Older Learner Center. This is a video on aging and driving with an emphasis on the perspective of the older driver. A diverse group of older persons are interviewed about their driving ability. It depicts older persons driving and commenting on their competence or incompetence as drivers. Their perspective is not meant to be definitive but to bring about a discussion of when should older persons change their driving habits, or discontinue driving. The video is meant to bring about discussion among college students, older persons, and the adult children of older persons. It is, therefore, an excellent video to bring about class discussion or to be used in adult education classes in churches.

 

Maintenance scheduled for CWIS (PeopleSoft Student)

CWIS (PeopleSoft Student) including the Online Center will be down for scheduled maintenance today, March 15th, from 7:00 PM until midnight.

IT prepares for network storage upgrade

On Sunday March 17th, the IT Department will be preparing to upgrade our network storage and will be moving equipment in our data center. We do not expect any disruption in service, but in the unlikely event of a service disruption, we will send out an “all staff” e-mail. The new network storage will not be brought online until the system is installed and fully tested. This is just preparation for the new system. If you have questions, please call IT Customer Support.

Tower Climber safety class scheduled for March 2013

The next session of GRCC’s NATE Tower Climber Fall Protection Training Standard class is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 25 through 27, 2013.

Using state of the art equipment and techniques, students are instructed in the skills necessary to work on and around towers. They will receive instruction in the operation of several forms of rescue devices, fall arrest systems and rescue procedures. Most of the training is performed in an indoor training facility at Tassell M-TEC that offers a controlled environment to focus on skills, build confidence and strengthen abilities.

The course includes classroom instruction and intensive, hands-on instruction. To register, click here.

Teaching, Learning and Technology Showcase scheduled for March 20, 2013

The 7th Annual Teaching, Learning, and Technology Showcase is almost here! Please join your colleagues NEXT week Wednesday, March 20th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in 108 Sneden Hall for a time of connecting, sharing, and exploring innovative ideas that integrate technology into teaching and learning.

There is no advanced registration required and the event is free. Simply drop by anytime to participate.

Also, this will be the second year where we will present an Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award to a faculty member here at GRCC! (The short award ceremony will begin promptly at 1:00.)

A few of the topics that will be presented include:

•  “Improving Accessibility in Blackboard” – Garry Brand.
• “Using Camtasia Videos to Improve Student Success” – Lisa Gloege.
• “Video Analysis Labs for the New Online Physics 115” Andrew Vanden Heuvel.
• “Wimba Voice for Quick and Easy Input” – Grace Schwanda.
• “Webquests for Critical Thinking” – Melanie Forbes.
• “Using a Tablet Computer in Teaching Mathematics” – Nancy Forrest.

For more information, please visit www.grcc.edu/showcase

In short, the TLT Showcase is a unique opportunity to talk with your colleagues about teaching, learning, and technology, and get new ideas for your own classes. We hope you’ll join us!

Employee Mileage Reimbursement form gets revision

A revision has been made to the Employee Mileage Reimbursement Request to include the reason for travel in order to determine what account number should be used for certain requests. This form can be found on the Finance & Administration Webpage. Click on Employee Reimbursement Request Forms & Instructions and find the form under Downloads.

RJG Master Molder I class starts in April 2013

The RJG Master Molder Certification Series is designed for the process technician, engineer or manager who needs to understand and demonstrate injection-molding skills at the machine. Anyone responsible for implementing a processing strategy in a plant or anyone held accountable for quality-control issues is a prime candidate for this training.

GRCC RJG Master Molder I class starts April 3, 2013, and costs $3,195.  For more information, call (616) 234-3400 or click here.

IIPD Grant Applications Due March 15, 2013

The deadline for submission of grant applications for the Instructional Improvement & Professional Development (IIPD) program is 4:30 p.m., March 15, 2013.  The IIPD Application Packet and Guidelines are available in the Professional Development section of the Grants Department website at www.grcc.edu/iipdgrants. Please note: All applications should be delivered to the current location of the Grants and Resource Development Department at Room 137, Calkins Science Center.  If you have any questions about IIPD grants, please contact Judith Larsen, Director of Grants and Resource Development at 234-3910 or at jmlarsen@grcc.edu.