CAST

3 Cheers for Gitte and Chris!

Remember just two years ago, when the bunch of us (see #2) were griping and belly aching about the replacement of our own, local efforts to provide faculty development activities with the mandated week long District organized “faculty-led” (cough cough) vendor showcase? “Give us back our local days,” we pleaded and shouted/grumbled. “We can do (and have done) it better.”

Well, we got three of them back and Gitte Maronde (ELL/World Language) and Chris Sabino (Math), co-chairs of CAST put together an interesting and experimental and educational program of learning opportunities, despite scheduling confusion and other complications. They both provided constant, but invisible, presence and support and made sure that everything ran smoothly from the solicitation of presenters to the provision of session feedback.

Three big cheers to our CAST coordinators for a job well done. Thanks for all the hard work!

The Final Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT) of Spring 2012

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

Though not the most animated speaker, what he has to say is very interesting.  This is a somewhat selfish post on my part given my admiration for Noam Chomsky.  It’s rather long and I don’t expect you to be able to watch this in its entirety this week.  But for a nice little snippet, fast forward to 1:20:30 for some interesting discussion about open courseware, online education  (and student engagement0) in general.  See you all Thursday at 4 at Emerald.

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT)

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

The semester is near its conclusion.  Have you hit the wall (like a marathon runner) or are you more geared up than the start?  Enough of my questions, how about you ask some.  For FDW this year, we’re toying with the idea of having an session in which we answer our burning questions about teaching at HW (and CCC) and hopefully have them answered by one another or an expert.  Here’s one to get the ball rolling. 

When a student repeats a course after getting a D or F, does the new (presumably better) grade trump (for GPA calculation purposes) the old grade or do both factor into the final GPA?

Post yours here so we can include them in this session.  Of course, if someone knows the answer, he or she is more than welcome to answer here.  Thanks and remember that today’s the last CAST meeting of the semester in 1046 and next Thursday will be the last CASTivity, occurring off-campus.

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT)

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

We didn’t want to eclipse the post about PhiloDave so we waited until Wed. to post the TTT.  Congrats to our distinguished professor from your friends in CAST.  The honor is truly well-deserved! Bravo!

Anyhow, since it’s Wednesday at 4:44 a.m., this is no longer a TTT.  That’s ok because it’s brief.  CAST got a special delivery yesterday.  Some of the books we requested are in.  Come to 1046 to check them out, and if you’d like, check them out if you catch my drift.  In the meantime, click here to see the list of books.  The link is a Google doc.  If you’re planning to borrow a book, please fill out the Google doc via the link above,  here again.  I’ll also will soon have a paper version of the doc given that the computer in 1046 doesn’t save anything, including bookmarks, once restarted.  Buona lettura!

DWFDW3: Call for Proposals

Our Veep passed an email along today for posting that you might find interesting:

 

Colleagues,
Get ready for the annual Faculty Development Week.  It promises to be an enlightening and engaging event and will get us ready for the new academic year. 
 
This year we will host a 2-day event scheduled for August 6th and 7th at Malcolm X College (1900 W. Van Buren).  Times and logistics will be finalized and confirmed shortly.  Attendance is mandatory for all full time faculty members.
 
Day One (August 6th): 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. Faculty Development Week begins with addresses from administrative leadership and a keynote speaker, followed by a breakout session.
 
Day Two (August 7th): 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. The second day of Faculty Development Week will be comprised of a series of concurrent breakout sessions, and opportunities for faculty to meet as disciplines.
 
Theme:  This year, Faculty Development Week will be themed around the ‘Talents of Teaching’ with these areas highlighted:
 
1.     Teaching and Learning:  Developing and using highly effective teaching strategies that meet students’ diverse needs and that promote the acquisition and application of knowledge, and the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
2.     Measuring Learning: Assessing learning using multiple techniques (formative/summative, informal/formal), providing students with meaningful feedback on their learning progress, and designing activities to help students refine their abilities to self-assess.
3.     Student Support: Employing approaches that account for how learning is affected by students’ motivations, attitudes, perceptions and values as well as helping students overcome obstacles to learning by encouraging informed academic decisions and connecting students to appropriate campus resources and support services.
 
Call for Submissions:  This is where we need you to get involved. Academic Affairs is calling for submissions for general sessions during faculty development week.  All faculty and staff are encouraged to submit a session by filling out the following form:  
 
 
Submissions will be reviewed, accepted, and scheduled by a committee of faculty and administrators in early May. 
 
Deadline for session descriptions: 5:00 PM, Saturday May 5th
 
As always, we look forward to the start of another academic year together.  If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mike Davis
Mike Davis
City Colleges of Chicago
Associate Vice Chancellor for STEM
Phone: 312-553-2773

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT)

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

We’re going to use this space to advertise two very exciting CASTivities happening next week and an initiative.

1.  Next Tues. 4/24 is CAST’s first Handout Swap.  Stop by 1046 between 3 and 4:30 (right after next week’s CAST meeting) with or without a handout (yes paper) that you’ve given out to your students that you really like.  It can be an assignment, a rubric, a project, etc…

 

2.  Next Thurs. 4/26 at 3:30 is CAST’s monthly food-oriented event, Drink and Think.  We’ll discuss items that are very relevant for the end of the semester, exams, essays and extra credit.  We’ll meet in 1046 and then possibly venture elsewhere to grab a juice, or coffee.

 

3.  CAST wants to donate books to Open Books.  Drop any unwanted books off in 1046, in the US Postal Service box next to the SMART board.

See you around.

 

 

 

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT) Welcome Back!

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

It’s all downhill from here.  This is not to say that it’s getting worse, but rather to say that before we know it, another semester will be in the books.

For part of today’s TTT, look up at the post right above. The second part is a quick story.  Here goes.

Since people are possibly reading, I figured I’d share a quick story from yesterday.  I walked into my first class of the day energetic, ready to finish the semester on a high note.  I was hit with a wall of exhaustion and what smelled like sadness and resignation to be back after the break.  Despite my best efforts and worst jokes, I just couldn’t break through the wall.  I was also missing about 1/4 of my class.  At the end of both of my classes, students nearly knocked each other over getting to the door.  I share this not brag about how dull my classes must have been today, but rather to see if anyone else had a similar experience today.  I remain optimistic and will chalk today up to post-break shock.

Finally, the last bits are some quick adverts.

1) TIE 2012 is almost upon us.  Join us this Friday at 8 a.m. for all the technology you can handle is roughly 5 hours.  Registration is from 8-8:45 with an early bird raffle at 8:30 and some welcomes at 8:45.  There will be 3 rounds of breakouts (one of which will be done by your CAST coordinators) and several other done by HW faculty.  There will be lunch.  The registration deadline was yesterday but you can try this link or let me (hwc_CAST@ccc.edu) or Ephrem (erabin@ccc.edu) know you’re coming.

2) Last but not least, in case you missed this great news before the break from the CAST website.

Check this out!
Thank you John Kieraldo!
Our HWC library has a direct link to the Chronicle!
” The library, with impetus from CAST, has just added online access to The Chronicle of Higher Education web edition http://0-www.chronicle.com.colib.ccc.edu/. Access The Chronicle  from the library web page http://hwclibrary.ccc.edu/ for access to all print issues content from 1989, and additional content not available in the print edition. There are also blogs, surveys, job announcements and commentaries. Sign up for any number of online newsletters including Academe Today, a weekly report, or a newsletter with a focus on community colleges, among others. Text from the current print edition is published every Monday morning. There is a searchable archive of issues from 1989. “

P.S.  There’s also that FDW 2012 survey.   Click here if you’re not one of the 10 thus far to complete it.

FDW 2012!!

Faculty Development Week 2012 is right around the corner, sort of.  It will occur, most likely, 2 weeks before the start of classes (Aug. 6-10).  It is the biggest event that CAST is tasked with organizing.  As such, we will work very hard to make sure that it is fantastic once again.  Please complete the survey to help us gather some info from you.  Thanks and enjoy your well-deserved break.

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT)

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

 

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT)

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

Check out this VoiceThread to have an online discussion of What the Best College Teachers Do, even if you haven’t read it.  My apologies for not embedding; wordpress is out to get me.  I’ll figure out a work around when midterm grades aren’t due.  Instructions are provided.  VT is a great, fun tool.  The only stipulation is that you’ll have to register.  You might find yourself using it for your class.  It does embed in Bb.

http://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=2844745

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT)

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

Guess what?  It’s Open Education Week.

 

What do you think?

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT)

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

What do you think of this?

Tuesday Teaching Talk (TTT)

Tuesday Teaching Talk is a regular feature which, as the name implies, is an opportunity to talk explicitly about teaching (and learning) in the practical and philosophical sense that happens on, you guessed it, Tuesday. Hold on to your hats.  The CAST coordinators (yes there are 2 of us) are tasked with supplying TTTs to you.  Look for questions, videos, tips, etc.  Enjoy!

Here’s today’s teaching tip from the BOK Blog.

Be honest. Be clear. But above all, be passionate.

Connect an out-of-class passion with in-class topics. Love camping or mixology? Point out that you sometimes think about the chemistry of caramelization while cooking smores over the campfire, or relate your efforts to recreate F. Scott Fitzgerald’s favorite libation. Students like a multi-dimensional teacher, and your ability to bring your extracurricular interests to bear on course materials will encourage students to do the same.

 

What do you think about this?