Faculty Learning
September 2015
In This Issue
• Welcome to Faculty
Learning!
• New at Ramapo
• FRC Library Spotlight:
Online and Hybrid
Teaching
Volume 1, Number 1
Welcome to Faculty Learning!
Welcome to the inaugural issue of “Faculty Learning,” the monthly
e-newsletter published by the Faculty Resource Center. In it, you will find
out about what’s going on in the world of faculty development at Ramapo
and across the country.
As always, be sure to check out the FRC website to see what upcoming
programs are being offered!
• Faculty Learning From
Around the Internet
www.ramapo.edu/FRC
• Remember
New at Ramapo
Contact Us
http://www.ramapo.edu/FRC
nsalter@ramapo.edu
The FRC is constantly striving to offer new and exciting ways to reach
faculty members. This semester, Ramapo has many new initiatives to
increase opportunities for faculty members to grow and learn as
educators.
New Faculty Orientation: this semester, new tenure-track faculty
members are participating in a semester-long New Faculty Orientation.
In the past, New Faculty Orientation was limited to one day in August
(and indeed, this day was still held for our new adjunct and temporary
faculty). The semester-long New Faculty Orientation introduces
participants to the services, programs, and general way-of-life at
Ramapo.
Professor Swap: the Professor Swap program has been re-instated to
great interest among many faculty. Prior to the start of the semester,
faculty from different disciplines were paired up to teach a session of each
other’s class. This is a great way to encourage interdisciplinary thinking
among the students (as well as us), and just to expand student learning.
We are all eager to hear how it goes for the participants in this program!
Ramapo Faculty FRC Workshops: last summer, the FRC accepted
workshop proposals from Ramapo faculty. Two faculty members have
been selected to present: Creating Independent Learners (Wednesday,
October 14, 1:00 – 2:00, Presented by Margo Kourkoutas Morea, CRWT),
as well as Teaching Quantitative Literacy to ALL Students and Majors
(Wednesday, November 4, 1:00 – 2:00, Presented by Jason Hecht, ASB ).
Be sure to check out these great sessions!
FRC Library Spotlight: Online and Hybrid
Teaching
Are you teaching (or soon to be teaching) an online or hybrid course?
This semester, Ramapo has seen an increase in the number of hybrid
courses offered – but as many of us know, the types of learning activities
and assessments you can do in an online setting are different than what
you can do in a face-to-face setting. Are you finding that you need to
“freshen up” what you’re doing with your online or hybrid course?
The FRC library has many books on this topic, including:
•
Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative
Instruction (by Rita-Marie Conrad)
•
Essentials of Online Course Design: A Standards-Based Guide (by
Marjorie Vai and Kristen Sosulski)
•
The Online Learning Idea Book: 95 Proven Ways to Enhance
Technology-Based and Blended Learning (by Patti Shank)
•
Blended Learning: An Ongoing Process For Internet Integration (by
Charles Hale)
Anyone is welcome to borrow a book from the library – stop by sometime!
Also: we take requests! The FRC is happy to purchase any books for the
library that you think would be useful to the Ramapo community. The
FRC library also has many other books on all sorts of topics related to
pedagogy, learning, and academia – come check it out!
Faculty Learning From Around the Internet
Classroom Freedom Versus Control (from The Chronicle of Higher
Education)
When is it appropriate to “let go” in the classroom and allow the
students be in charge? We often want our students to take initiative
and own their education, but this can conflict with our desire to plan
for everything and “set the stage” for learning. This article discusses
how to find the balance.
Is Teaching an Art or a Science? (from the Rice University Center for
Teaching Excellence Blog)
Many have tried to apply scientific principles and methodology to
teaching – but is this appropriate? Is teaching more of an “art?” It
can be a fuzzy line where it exits one realm and enters another.
Check out what this post has to say about the question – the answer
may surprise you.
Choosing the Best Approach for Small Group Work (from the Faculty
Focus Teaching Professor Blog)
Group work! So many of us want to incorporate it into our classes,
but so many of our students hate it. Group work can be a very
effective learning tool, but can be difficult to design in such a way as
to maximize its effectiveness. This post discusses specific factors you
should consider when assigning group work.
Remember
As always, keep in mind that the FRC is here to help you. If you have
any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach
out to the Director, Nick Salter, nsalter@ramapo.edu