COFFEE CHAT – Classroom Technology (Thursday, March 1, 2018, 3:30-4:30 pm)
Results on Michigan Tech’s annual IT satisfaction survey have climbed in recent years in almost all areas. One notable exception is instructors’ persistently “meh” ratings with regard to classroom technology. In this Coffee Chat, we would like to develop an understanding of the reasons for those ratings, and the expectations of instructors. Members of IT and a new task force being formed by the Provost charged to better connect instructors with teaching spaces that work for them will be in attendance. Come and share your thoughts about how classrooms should evolve! Coffee and light refreshments will be available to those who register by Monday, February 26th. Click here to register.
LUNCH AND LEARN – “Yes, And…” Thinking: Can Improv Inform the Learner-Centered Classroom? (Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Noon-1:00 pm)
The seminal work in improvisational theater by Viola Spolin in the 1960’s is now being used in educational consulting by groups like The Second City. In this workshop, participants, led by Trish Helsel from Visual and Performing Arts with the help of Mike Meyer, will consider how some of the same ideas can be applied in the higher-ed classroom. We’ll explore how teachers and students can use techniques from improve to “co-create” lessons. We’ll also practice some improvisational games that will stretch your creativity, improve your ability to react spontaneously, and almost certainly make you laugh! Lunch will be available to those who register by Friday, March 23rd. Click here to register.
COFFEE CHAT – Goal 3 Global Literacy Grant Award Presentation (Thursday, March 29, 2018, 3:30-4:30 pm)
Last spring, faculty were invited to submit proposals for a grant to enhance global literacy in undergraduate courses. The grant was made available to support faculty efforts to introduce or edify global literacy content in innovative, effective, and measurable ways. Grant recipients Alex Mayer and John Gierke (GMES) will present their approach for introducing and assessing global literacy in an upper-level engineering course. We hope you will join us! Coffee and light refreshments will be available to those who register by Monday, March 26th. Click here to register.