Past Events: 2014-2016
Fall 2016 Events:
Faculty Roundtables:
Each of these workshops is presented at two separate times so that you may choose the one that best fits your schedule. All are held in 208 Self Hall.
Data-Driven Teaching: Using What We Know about our Students to Direct Instruction: September 13 or 14, 2:30-3:30
No More Death by PowerPoint: Creating Engaging Presentations for the Classroom or Conference: October 12 or 13, 2:30-3:30
Generational Learning Styles: What We Need to Know about
Gen X, Y and Z: October 25 or 26, 2:30-3:30
Begin at the Beginning: Using Syllabus Design to Drive Course Improvement: November 15 or 16, 2:30 -3:30
Spring 2016 Events
Walk and Talks:
Come and join other faculty in a lunch-time discussion of current issues, as we walk and talk. Information concerning each event will be posted on this website one week prior to the event. Bring your walking shoes and we will provide water and snacks. Walk and Talks begin in 216 Self Hall at noon.
Bb Grade Center Workshops:
Online@JSU will present three independent workshops centered around the use of Blackboard's Grade Center. Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced sessions will be offered a number of times and in a couple of formats. Need help using the Grade Center or just want a refresher course? Sign up for one or more of these workshops.
First Friday Fantastechs:
These stand-alone workshops focus upon innovative classroom practices, cool technology, and idea sharing. First Friday Fantestechs are held in 208 Self Hall from 2:30-4:00 on the first Friday of each month.
Sip N Shares:
Here's your opportunity to get to know faculty members from across campus in a casual setting. Drop by the JSU Alumni House from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, have a beer, a glass of wine, or a soft drink and some refreshments, and enjoy socializing with your colleagues.
Faculty Book Club Meetings:
This is a new program sponsored by the Faculty Commons. Watch for the announcements concerning the books that we will read and discuss each month. You may attend one or all of the Book Club meetings. And, the first 10 faculty members who register to participate will receive a free copy of the book. Book Club meetings will be held from 4:00-6:00 pm in 208 Self Hall.
If you have a book in mind that you think other faculty members would benefit from reading, please contact Gena Christopher, genac@jsu.edu. I welcome your advice.
Activities for 2015-2016
REAL Beginnings: Providing Relevant, Engaging, Active Learning Experiences for First-Time Students
Each year, the Faculty Commons will promote a theme that relates to our university’s Vision, Mission, Goals, and Strategic Plan.
This year’s theme assists the university faculty in developing learner-centered courses that emphasize critical thinking and active learning and include meaningful “real-world” activities to prepare our first-time students for future success.
REAL Teaching Grants and Fellowships
Each year, REAL Teaching Grants will be awarded to support research, the purchase of needed equipment, and the development of pedagogical materials. During the 2015-2016 year, two Faculty Fellowships will also be awarded for the development of professional development dealing with the First-Time Student and Faculty and Student Engagement. Applications will be available on the Faculty Commons website.
Faculty Mentor Training
It is the task of the Faculty Commons to oversee the completion of our Quality Enhancement Plan for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Reaffirmation Process. Fast Forward: Using 21st Century Tools to Promote Critical Thinking includes teacher training in the areas of innovative technologies and the incorporation of higher order thinking skills into the general education curriculum.
Faculty Lecture Series
Four prominent speakers will be invited to campus this year to present REAL issues in education to the full JSU faculty. The first is scheduled for August 24, 2015.
Learning Communities
Faculty initiated learning communities are supported through the Faculty Commons. The first of these is studying the Gamification of the Classroom. Faculty members are encouraged to initiative learning communities to involve faculty from across the JSU campus.
ENGAGE Workshop Series
Are your students engaged? Are you? Learning requires engagement. How do we actively involve all parties in the educational process? Watch for this series of four workshops concerning student and faculty engagement, offered through the Faculty Commons in conjunction with the School of Education.
First Friday Fantastech Workshops
The Faculty Commons will host technology conferences the first Friday of each month. Watch for further details on the Educational Technology and Support website.
Casual Monthly Events
Each month, faculty should watch for Sip N Shares, Walk and Talks, Sit and Shares, and Monday Morning Minutes. All faculty are invited to enjoy refreshments as they join in these informal conversations about relevant teaching issues.
Faculty Resources
The Faculty Commons provides resources for faculty development, including a growing library of print resources, space for individual and collaborative work, access to materials for those pursuing promotion and/or tenure, and close contact with instructional designers and educational technologists who can help faculty to develop their classes. We are open to your suggestions and welcome your requests concerning the development of workshops and the purchase of materials to provide the support for all areas of teaching.
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Teaching for REAL: Relevant, Engaging, Active Learning
Activities for 2014-2015
Faculty Mentor Training: Using 21st Century Tools to Promote Critical Thinking
An important part of the QEP, this series of 12 faculty mentor workshops will include active learning models that promote critical thinking, preparing students for success in the 21st century marketplace. Innovative technologies, learner-centered strategies, and real assessments will be the focus of the Fast Forward training.
REAL Classroom Design Project
This project will bring teachers and students together to create collaborative learning spaces that promote active learning. Teachers and students will be empowered to make decisions concerning innovative classrooms. This project-based approach to classroom design will require that teachers connect Student Learning Outcomes and Pedagogy to decisions concerning furniture and classroom layouts. Student and faculty attitudes about their learning spaces will be assessed and help to drive decisions concerning the remodeling of a number of JSU classrooms. Deadline for applications: December 1, 2014.
Learning Communities
Faculty-initiated learning communities will be supported through the Faculty Commons. A list of possible topics for these learning communities includes Hybrid Teaching, Flipping the Classroom, Creating Online Course Materials, Critical Thinking, Assessment of Student Learning, Service Learning, and the Gamification of Instruction; however, faculty members will be encouraged to determine the topics they would like to pursue and create learning communities to explore those topics.
Faculty Lecture Series
Four prominent speakers will be invited to campus this year to present REAL issues in education to the full JSU faculty. The first of these was Dr. Bill Rankin on August 18, 2014. Dr. Erik Christensen will speak to the entire faculty on November 14, 2014. To view Dr. Christensen's talk, go to http://youtu.be/qZFdD5OC2us?list=.
Talk and Walk or Talk and Talk
Faculty members will meet monthly during their lunch breaks to “talk and walk” or “talk and talk.” Before each session, participating faculty members will watch a short video or read an article of current interest. Then, faculty members will meet to walk together as they discuss the topic at hand. Or, for those who do not wish to walk, a group will meet together in the Faculty Commons to talk about the issue at hand. Getting faculty out of their buildings will add to the enjoyment as faculty members engage in REAL discussions. To join this group contact Gena Christopher at genac@jsu.edu, or x5856.
REAL Teaching Grants
Faculty members will apply for $2000.00 grants which encourage good teaching by promoting research on teaching and learning, raising awareness across campus of best practices, and providing incentives for collaboration and pedagogical experimentation. Projects suitable for funding might include but are not limited to developing a new course or new materials for an existing course, converting a face-to-face course to hybrid or online format, developing a cohort of courses with teachers from other disciplines, incorporating technology in meaningful ways to promote active learning, developing innovative pedagogies, or designing new approaches to faculty development.
Recipients will be expected to share their findings with the University faculty through channels of their choosing, which might include conducting workshops, leading small group discussions, demonstrating classroom methods or practices, opening their classrooms to colleagues, and so on. Deadline for applications: November 3, 2014.
Faculty members may initiate other activities that relate to the chosen theme. These will be promoted and supported by the Faculty Commons.
The recipients for the 2014-2015 REAL Teaching Grants have been chosen. The recipients and their topics are listed below:
Jan Gryko and Kelly Gregg: Incorporating Mineralogy into Physical and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratories
Scott Beckett and Courtney Peppers-Owen: FastForward Algebra
Cynthia Connor and Lawrence Beard: Accessing and Utilizing iPads: A Hands-on Approach
Here is a link to the article Dr. Beard and Dr. Connor published about their experiences: http://www.hrpub.org/journals/article_info.php?aid=2891.
Raina Kostova: New Course Development: EH 431G Non-Western Literature