NOTEPAD
First Year Educator
October 10, 2011
by: Glenda Hensley
CEO Reminders
CALENDARS
Forever a Catamount! --- Homecoming is October 22
Homecoming is a wonderful opportunity to help your students build community, pride in WCU, and
provides a chance to reinforce the Community Creed.
Please see the Homecoming website for the full calendar of Homecoming events--- Go CATS!
Encourage your students to express how they “Celebrate the Creed” (this year’s EYE on FYE celebration
theme) --- more details to come!
---------------------------------Breaking Out of the Box: Take a Stand Against Gender-Based Violence
October 25, 2011 — 7:00 p.m. --- Grand Room, 3rd Floor UC
Sponsored by Intercultural Affairs, Greek Life, Student Community Ethics, Residential Living, First Year
Experience, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
Red Zone Keynote and the second of the Leadership Speaker Series
------------------------------------Student Life Calendar: For a complete listing of what's going on for students from intramurals, to
concerts and lectures, to organizations, arts and culture, and so much more....
-----------------------------------Events Calendar: For detailed information on the arts and culture scene at WCU - plays, concerts, art
exhibits, films, and more...
________________________________________________________________________
EVENTS
Red Zone Campaign:
Please visit the Red Zone website for all the latest opportunities –
Please plan to attend this year’s Keynote address for Red Zone – details above in ‘Calendar’
Breaking Out of the Box: Take a Stand Against Gender-Based Violence
What IF? - A Disability Services Presentation
October 25 – 5:00 PM – UC Catamount Room
An interactive presentation regarding social issues in disability culture.
For more information contact the Office of Disability Services: 227-2726
___________________________________________________
OPPORTUNITIES
The WCU Poverty Project ----- So many wonderful opportunities to engage…. Press on.
Many ideas are sparking - many of which are posted on the WCU Poverty Project website.
---------------------------------Souls4Soles (soles4soles.org) --- The WCU shoe drive will take place from Oct. 1 - 31. All shoes in all
conditions can be accepted and we will have a number of collection areas around campus.
If you are willing to have a collection box in your building, or want more information, please contact
Cyndy Caravelis Hughes, Ph.D. She will have the students from the Criminal Justice Club come by to
collect the bags of shoes when they are full.
PERSPECTIVES
HOT OFF THE PRESSES! 2011 BCSSE Institutional Report
From David Onder, Assessment Coordinator
“To all who helped with the BCSSE, This is the institutional report from our most recent administration
this fall. I thought you would all appreciate a copy of the report (we will also be adding this to the
website in the near future). I have not done any in depth analysis of the data at this point (though a
quick glance will yield interesting findings). The BCSSE data, by itself, will be of limited use. It is
intended to be connected with the NSSE (National Survey of Student Engagement) which will be
administered in the spring. More reports to follow!”
(To view this report, please go to the FYE Assessment Model on the FYE Faculty Staff page)
TOOLBOX
Blackboard Commons: Finally up and live! This blackboard site for transition course instructors
functions much like any course site. If you are teaching a transition course, you should see it on your
Blackboard menu under organizations. Take a few minutes to review how it is organized with examples,
calendars, lessons, workshop materials and more to assist you with teaching your transition course. And
please consider sharing your best practice tips and strategies to be posted for your colleagues in FYE!
For more information or questions, contact Glenda Hensley at ghensley@wcu.edu
------------------------------------Team Building Activities
Now that we are at mid-term, many of us are preparing for major or culminating learning projects that
involve small groups. As we know, many students approach team work with trepidation and they need
guidance and support to tackle the significant (and sometimes messy) work of collaboration. If you are
looking for a new team building activity to help them work in community, here are two good website's:
http://wilderdom.com/games/InitiativeGames.html
http://www.teampedia.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
Remember too, that a successful activity will need to be grounded in the project/course learning
outcomes and that post reflective discussion will help students truly ‘get it.’
The CORE
The Education Briefcase
Remember that all transition classes are participating in the eBriefcase (eB) pilot this fall and that your
class should begin to build their portfolio with at least 2 artifacts (one of which is the Values Shield
assignment we reviewed during our summer retreat). With mid-term upon us, please remember to
allow time for this very important course requirement. The Technology Commons is a wonderful
resource to help you with the introduction and your students with the practical hands-on. Reports
indicate that students in classes who have already begun have easily grasped how to use the tool and
they also see how this will benefit their educational career. If you need help or have questions please
contact Nory Prochaska, Implementation Coordinator, or Laura Dinunzio in the Technology Commons.
-----------------------------------Class TIPS
This reminder in from Paul K. Dezendorf, Ph.D. (USI130 Instructor)
Remember to share ClassTIPS as a resource for your students who need assistance with technology. You
may contact Jason Ford to set up a tour of the Technology Commons and to talk to your class about the
services they offer. Although they are happy to also provide an in-class presentation, you may discover
it easier to motivate students to visit the commons on a regular basis once they see for themselves what
is available to them. Perhaps you can connect a visit with an upcoming assignment that requires
technology…..
------------------------------------------
The Transitions Commons: Are you interested to connect a learning project with another course or
perhaps to share a guest lecture, being mindful that our experts are in high demand with over 50
freshman transition classes. Click this link to see which classes with whom you share time.
RESOURCE FILE
Blackboard --- reference and participate in the Transition Pathways Course site....
CFC on the Web --- help with teaching, technology, and more--- helping you do what you do better!
FYE on the Web --- many resources and network links to help you along the way …..
QEP on the Web --- discover the possibilities - find the resources you need - find your path.....
------------------------------------The next regular publication date is October 25 --- please let me know if you want to share updates
about programs, events, or other opportunities for teaching and learning in FYE!
Glenda Hensley, FYE Director