Faculty Development
Opportunities, Fall 2013
All Welcome! Cookies provided!
(Bring your lunch if the session is happening over the lunch hour!)
Find out about even more faculty development opportunities by checking our
website, www.uni.edu/provost/cetl, or
“like” us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/UNICETL
Monday, September 16, noon-1:00, Curris Business Building, Room 319
Texting in Class: Does it Result in Lower Grades? Led by Dennis Clayson,
(Marketing). How many of us have said to our students: “Put your cellphones away, please!”
Anecdotal evidence suggests that students who text during class may earn lower grades. Now,
there’s research to support the stories. Join Dr. Clayson for an analysis and discussion of his
research on the effects of texting and multitasking on student learning.
Tuesday, September 24, 12:30-1:30 pm, Innovative Teaching Technology Center 138
Using 'Turn It In.com' as a Teaching and Grading Tool. Led by Jason Vetter,
(Educational Technology) and Susan Hill (CETL). Many faculty use Turnitin.com to detect
plagiarism. In recent years, Turnitin has added tools that can assist your teaching in many more
ways! For instance, Turnitin can help you teach students about plagiarism, and how to avoid it.
In addition, Grademark, the grading program on Turnitin, allows faculty the ability to grade
electronically (even with your iPad!), and to grade more efficiently. (Susan thinks that grading
papers is even kind of fun now!) Come find out how to use Turnitin.com to help you teach more
efficiently. Co-sponsored with ITS-ET.
Friday, September 27, 3:00-4:30 pm, Center for Multicultural Education
Using Improv Techniques to Improve Teaching. Led by Doug Shaw, (Mathematics, and
the Half-Masted Improv Troupe). One important aspect of teaching (perhaps THE most
important) is the ability to completely listen, and then react; to think on one's feet. Many
teachers who have had improv training have found that this training has greatly improved their
teaching. This fun session will introduce you to techniques of improv, and help you to teach "in
the moment." Space is limited to 15 participants: please register for this event at
www.uni.edu/provost/cetl
Tuesday, October 8, 12:30-1:30 pm, Center for Multicultural Education
Wednesday, October 9, 3:00-4:00 pm, Lang Hall, Room 345
Small Group Instructional Diagnosis (SGID) Training. Led by Susan Hill, (CETL,
Tuesday facilitator)and Deedee Heistad, (LAC, Wednesday facilitator). Small Group Instructional
Diagnosis (SGID) is a simple and straightforward method of mid-term course evaluation that
uses an outside facilitator to conduct a discussion with students and to provide feedback to an
instructor. SGIDs are used to enhance communication between students and teachers, allow for
mid-semester course adjustments, develop ideas for strengthening a course, and give students
and professors and opportunity to reflect on what works in the classroom. This training will focus
on how to conduct a SGID. Small stipends are available to those conducting SGIDs. Note:
SGIDs are used to enhance teaching effectiveness and are not official student assessments as
designated by Section 3.2 of the Master Agreement.
THERE’S MORE!
Faculty Development
Opportunities,
Fall 2013
Monday, October 21, 3:00-4:30, Center for Multicultural Education
Assessing and Improving your Students’ Critical Thinking Abilities. Led by Martie
Reineke, (Philosophy and World Religions). Do your students describe when you ask them to
interpret? Do they review when you ask them to hypothesize? Do they identify when you ask
them to compare? Based on Susan Wolcott’s nationally recognized work on critical thinking, this
workshop will help you 1) identify student learning outcomes for critical thinking; 2) explore
critical thinking rubrics for assessing the quality of students’ critical thinking; 3) review levels of
cognitive development associated with critical thinking skills; and 4) learn how to create
assignments that foster the development of critical thinking in your students. So that we have
enough materials for workshop participants, please register for the workshop here:
www.uni.edu/provost/cetl
Monday, October 28, 3:00-4:00, Innovative Teaching Technology Center 136
UNI Students and Technology: What We Know from the National Survey of
Student Engagement (NSSE) and the ECAR Survey of Undergraduate Students
and Technology. Led by Jason Vetter, (Educational Technology) and Susan Hill, (CETL). Much
of the information about millennial students suggests that they are savvy users of technology.
Come find out what we know about UNI students’ experience with, and use of, technology.
Monday November 4, 3:00-4:00, Schindler Education Center Room 406
Engage Us!: Students Talk to Faculty about What Motivates Them….and What
Doesn’t. Student Panel with: Blake Findley, (Spanish and Psychology); Katie Grassi, (Public
Relations); Kyra Hawley, (Biology and Chemistry Marketing); Joshua Schoon, (Leisure, Youth
and Human Services); Jordan Sprunger, (Anthropology and Religion); Parash Upreti, (Economics
and Mathematics). What kinds of classes do students find the most engaging? What kinds of
activities and assignments work best to keep student interest? Come hear a panel of students
talk about what works to keep them involved in class and motivated to learn. Co-sponsored by
the CETL and NISG
Friday, November 8, 2:00-3:00, Location to be announced...
Let’s Talk About Teaching: Parker Palmer’s “The Heart of a Teacher: Identity
and Integrity in Teaching.” Discussion facilitator: Susan Hill, (CETL). As the semester
winds down, take some time out to talk about what good teaching means. This is an
opportunity to get together with colleagues, enjoy a cookie and a beverage, and get
rejuvenated for the rest of the semester. Email cetl@uni.edu, and we’ll send you a copy
of the article.
Thursday, November 14, 12:30-1:30, Schindler Education Center Room 425
Student Outcomes Assessment: Why Bother? Faculty panel with Kerri Clopton (Ed.
Psych and Foundations); Lyn Countryman (Office of Student Field Experiences); Elaine
Eshbaugh, (Applied Human Sciences); Jeff Morgan, (Physics). Do you think that SOA is just a
time-consuming administrative task with little value for improving teaching? Come hear how
these faculty have become convinced of the usefulness of good SOA, including how to develop
practices that can improve programs and teaching. Co-sponsored with the Office of Academic
Assessment.