Center for Teaching and Learning Blog

Late September and Early October Events

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Coffee Chat – Assessment at Tech: Assessment is a process that supports the continuous improvement of curricular and other university systems intended to help students achieve University Student Learning Goals.  It is an increasingly important part of our responsibility as teachers.  This chat is an opportunity for instructors to ask questions about Michigan Tech’s intentional approach to assessment, discuss progress, explore challenges and learn about resources to support student learning. The Coffee Chat is on Tuesday, September 24 from 3:30-4:30pm. Click here to register.

Speaker and Luncheon – Blended Learning IP: At the request of the University Senate, Chuck Valauskas, a lawyer from the Chicago firm Valauskas Corder LLC, will visit on October 2 to speak on legal issues surrounding the ownership and use of university class materials developed by faculty and staff.  Chuck has spoken internationally on this subject and currently works with more than 32 universities in this rapidly changing field.  Chuck’s visit is made possible through a gift by William G. Jackson; don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from his expertise! Click here to register.

Apple iPad Workshops: On Tuesday, October 8, Lisa Wyka and Dave Pugh from Apple Education will lead hands-on workshops to share new ways that iPads and MacBooks are being used in higher education.  Devices will be available! Both the beginner’s session (9-11:30am) and advanced session (1-3:30pm) have limited seating, so register soon!
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September’s Video Luncheon & Assessment Coffee Chat

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Lunch and Learn – The Versatility of Video: The explosion of hand held mobile devices with cameras provides powerful opportunities for both instructors and students to communicate using videos.  In this session, we’ll compose a video discussion and look at several ways videos can be effectively used as part of a course. The only pre-work for this session is that participants should arrive prepared to summarize in 60 seconds or less ONE (high or low tech!) teaching technique that they’ve found works well for them. Luncheon Workshop is Monday, September 16 from noon-1 pm. Click here to register

Coffee Chat – Assessment at Tech: Assessment is a process that supports the continuous improvement of curricular and other university systems intended to help students achieve University Student Learning Goals.  It is an increasingly important part of our responsibility as teachers.  This chat is an opportunity for instructors to ask questions about Michigan Tech’s intentional approach to assessment, discuss progress, explore challenges and learn about resources to support student learning. The Coffee Chat is on Tuesday, September 24 from 3:30-4:30pm. Click here to register
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Alumni Gift Funds Center Initiatives

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This month William G. Jackson, a Michigan Tech alumnus and the president of CableAmerica, presented the Center with a generous $1 million donation. This gift will fund many instructional support initiatives, which have the potential to transform student learning at Michigan Tech.

With this gift the Center, now named the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning, will bring together a full suite of technological tools to upgrade teaching, learning, learning assessment and student assessment of teaching. Plans include $435,000 for classroom technologies that will allow faculty to easily bring more content into the classroom and record classes for later student review. An additional $395,000 will be devoted to meeting faculty needs: providing staff to help with course development; creating an online system to evaluate student learning; providing tablet computers for experimentation and practice; initiating a new master’s program in educational technology; and supporting awards, travel, lectures and training related to the new learning technologies. A secure testing center for standardized tests, such as the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, will also be installed at a cost of $170,000.

William G. Jackson has a long-standing affinity with Michigan Tech, evident in the guidance, resources and support he has extended to the University over the years. Jackson, of Scottsdale, Arizona, graduated from Michigan Tech in 1958 with a BS in Electrical Engineering and is a member of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy. In 1999, he and his wife, Gloria, established the William G. and Gloria J. Jackson Endowed Scholarship. Jackson has received the Board of Control Silver Medal and Michigan Tech’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

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Upcoming Events

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During the fall and spring semesters, faculty and instructional staff will be invited approximately monthly to either a lunchtime workshop or coffee chat on a topic of current interest.  eLearning workshops are also available year round to help you use technology to enhance your courses. These events provide an opportunity to network with faculty from other departments, learn new instructional strategies and tools, and become aware of instructional policy changes.  Please contact us with ideas and suggestions for future events.

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Coffee Chat – For and About Graduate Teaching Assistants

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What’s Working, What’s not, and What’s needed?

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are often on the front lines of Tech’s important undergraduate hands-on teaching mission.  This discussion-based session, which will be held on Thursday, April 11 from 3-4pm, will give GTAs  and their supervisors an opportunity to share both what is working for them and what further support is needed to make their teaching mission a success.

Please register online here or call 487-2046.

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Lunch and Learn: Integrated Communication – March 28

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The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) will hold a Lunch and Learn entitled “Integrated Communication” on Thursday, March 28 from noon-1.  During the next academic year, Michigan Tech will focus on assessing and improving the way communication is taught, both in general education and across all disciplines.

“Students will be able to communicate effectively, orally, in writing and in new media, to a wide variety of audiences.” – University Learning Goal #5

First, you will watch short videos of faculty and students initiating this effort, and select your lunch partners for further conversation.   Then, hear tips from programs that have already started this process, and learn about resources available!

To ensure an accurate count for lunch, register for this workshop at RSVP by Monday, March 25 or contact CTL at 487-2046. Once your register, you will receive an email confirmation that will give you the location and a reminder about the date and time.

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February Coffee Chat: Interactions Unlimited

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Thursday, Feb 21 from 3-4 PM in the library’s East Reading Room

Connected students are more likely to be retained.  This munch and learn session, in collaboration with Nilufer Onder’s NSF funded ENGAGE project, will help faculty explore ways to better connect with students.   Four speakers will initiate faculty discussions about connections in the classroom, through research, in career discussions, and in other small but effective ways.

Coffee and light refreshments will be provided to those who register by Monday 2/18. Please register by calling 487-2046, or click here to register online.

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January Lunch and Learn

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The first 2013 luncheon workshop, “Great Groups,” will be held from noon to 12:55 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 24. Lunch will be provided to those who register by Monday, Jan. 21. Click here to register.

Michigan Tech instructors use a wide variety of pedagogical and technological approaches to help motivate and guide student groups to learn interactively.  In this workshop, you will get time-saving ideas and gather best practices from eLearning staff and experienced faculty! Prior to the event, we will provide you with short videos of faculty describing their most effective techniques. You will have the opportunity to discuss your favorite topics from these videos during the luncheon.

To ensure an accurate count for lunch, register for this workshop at RSVP by Monday, Jan. 21, or contact CTL at 487-2046. Once your register, you will receive an email confirmation, which will give you the location and a reminder about the date and time.

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Workshop Blitz & Computerized Testing Center

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Workshops

To help prepare for spring semester, the Center for Teaching and Learning will hold a total of eight faculty workshops during the week of January 7 -11.  This workshop blitz includes not only sessions targeting best practices in Canvas, but also use of clickers and video.  Faculty can sign up directly from the CTL Website.

Testing Center

The computerized testing center in Rekhi Hall is now scheduling spring term exams for any interested faculty.  The 40 seat center requires instructors to provide their own proctors but has been used for courses with up to 200 students, who take the exam in groups.  The CTL will help faculty understand the process and can help faculty draw  from a wide variety of question types (even essay and calculation questions) to build exams.   A meeting of all those interested in using the center will be scheduled during the week of Jan. 8.   Interested faculty should contact Mike Meyer (487-2046, or mrmeyer@mtu.edu) by Jan. 8 to be included in this conversation.

Walk-In Hours

CTL walk-in hours will be held as usual throughout the break EXCEPT on scheduled holidays AND December 27 and 28.   We are located on the second floor of the library and encourage you to stop in and let us help you get ready for next semester!
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