teaching creativity · 2014. 1. 1. · teaching creativity as we all know, our challenge is to...
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Center for Teaching and Learning Monthly Newsletter View this email in your browser
Teaching Creativity
As we all know, our challenge is to prepare students for a world that is rapidly changing. Helping
students think creatively is one way to prepare them.
We know creativity can come through experimentation, from taking risks, and through
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combining very different ideas. This is one reason why interdisciplinary teaching is often so
satisfying. You can help students learn to think creatively by having them frame questions,
allowing them to bounce ideas off each other, and by creating an environment in which it is OK to
make mistakes as long as you also learn how to test your answers to be sure they are valid.
For a humorous but thought provoking talk on this subject see:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
(It’s from 2006, but as Sir Ken is always ahead of his time, it doesn’t matter….)
If you’d like to contribute to an informal blog on this subject, I’ve started a blog here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p1xOwnnp1LobwoPDDSPJs8qg52WmoPhCniJlHtEKEBI/edit?
usp=sharing
If folks like the idea of a teaching blog, we’ll set up a blog site for this purpose.
Please contact Anne Marchant [email protected] with any questions.
SUpr SummitShenandoah University projects & research Summit
WHO: Undergraduate and graduate students.
WHAT: A great opportunity for students to share their work. This is open to all majors and
includes examples such as empirical research, projects, portfolios, presentations and
demonstrations. This includes on-going research projects.
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WHEN: April 23, 2014
Set-Up: 7-9:45am student project drop-off and set-up
Students registering to participate will need to pick one of the four allotted time-slots to be
in Ferrari and "present" their project to be judged:
*1) 10-10:45am
2) 11-11:45am
3) 12-12:45pm
4) 1-1:45pm
Awards/Celebration: 3-4pm Open to all of SU
Clean-up/Project pick-up: 4-7pm
*Faculty judges are needed for the four time slots listed above. If you are interested in
judging and available during any of the four time slots, please contact Terri Masiello at
WHERE: Ferrari Room, Brandt Student Center
HOW: To register, please use this Google form
WHY: To learn more about the Summit, please visit our webpage
Great Course Design Website"Designing Significant Learning Experience"
This site has several resources and materials on exceptional course design.
It also has templates and examples loaded by other professors, which are broken
down by category.
Click HERE to visit the webpage.
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Updates from IC"Maintain Your Mac", OS X Mavericks & Windows XP
There’s a new “Maintain Your Mac” section in Self Service (see screen shot above). Please check it outto see what is available. It includes links to install Apple updates and Microsoft Office updates. It alsoallows for troubleshooting if your computer is "acting strangely".
OS X Mavericks will be made available this semester through Self Service. While the upgrade is availablethrough the App Store, IC is asking users to not upgrade until it is in Self Service. We customize ourupgrade so it is easier for you to perform and should result in a smoother upgrade process. More detailscoming soon!
After April 8, 2014, technical assistance for Windows XP will no longer be available, including automaticupdates that help protect your PC. Without regular patches and fixes a Windows XP computerbecomes vulnerable. For that reason, Institutional Computing will be either upgrading or removingWindows XP machines from the network by January 31, 2013.
Any questions, contact [email protected]
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ExamSoftExam Management, Delivery and Analyitics
Shenandoah University now has a school-wide license for ExamSoft. ExamSoft is a market leader
in exam management, analytics and secure test delivery. This software suite enables schools and
departments to more efficiently and practically administer exams and analyze resulting data to
improve curricular design, test design, and accreditation compliance.
ExamSoft reduces network reliability and internet issues associated with exam delivery by loading
the test onto student computers in a secure locked-down browser, allowing for offline completion.
The Center for Teaching and Learning is currently offering several workshops on ExamSoft.
Please see the schedule below and follow the links to register if you are interested:
1. Faculty Session part 1 of 3: Click HERE to register
2. Faculty Session part 2 of 3: Click HERE to register
3. Faculty Session part 3 of 3: Click HERE to register
4. General Information Session lunch and learn: Click HERE to register
Reminders From the Registrar AdvisorsImportant Dates to Remember when advising students:
last day to add/drop a courselast day to apply for May graduation
first day of online registration for summer terms and 2014/FA (the first dayis open for grads and seniors . . . full schedule to follow as we get closer to openingonline registration)
January 17 March 1 March 24
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last day to withdraw from a course
***For Degree Audit to work properly it must be updated. Please remember to reviewDegree Audit with your advisees. Any necessary changes should be submitted to yourschool admin who will work with Val Taylor to make corrections.
FacultyReminders:
Please remember to take attendance in Blackboard
WEAVE WorkshopsEntering Findings
Information about entering appropriate findings in WEAVE will be provided. All
programs are required to maintain their WEAVE site by entering findings in May that
align with specific learning objectives. Don't wait until May to learn how to enter this
information.
Session 1: Thursday, 3/6/14 from 3-4pm in Smith Library, room 318
[Click HERE to register]
Session 2: Wednesday, 3/26/14 from 3-4pm in Smith Library, room 318
[Click HERE to register]
To learn more or schedule a training session, please contact Terri Masiello
Course Copy Tool Has
ReturnedDid you know that the COURSE COPY tool
has been returned to Blackboard?
April 21
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This means that copying materials from an
existing (source) course to another existing
(destination) course just got easier! Some
of you may remember we had this function
a few years ago, but for a time, it was
rather ‘buggy,’ and seemed to be causing
some problems in some courses.
Now that it’s back, you may want to take a
moment to review the new quick reference
sheet called COURSE COPY IN
BLACKBOARD.
Please contact George
Hoffman [email protected] with any
questions.
Media ServicesNeed help?
Do you have a class that meets after ? Do you need help
understanding the controls in your classroom? Do you need one-on-one Smartboard
or Smart Podium training?
Please contact Media Services to set an appointment with Val Gangwer. Write her
at [email protected] or call 540.665.4637 to set an appointment.
US Professors of the YearNominate now!
The U.S. Professors of the Year awards program celebrates outstanding instructors across
the country. Sponsored by CASE and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of
5pm or on Saturday
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Teaching, it is the only national program to recognize excellence in undergraduate
education.
To learn more or to nominate a professor, click HERE.
Meeting Your Class for the First Time?
It turns out the tone you set on the first day is very important, so when you meet classes
this week, be upbeat and enthusiastic about the class. Take some time to have students
introduce themselves. A news item that makes the class relevant may be helpful.
Think about alternative strategies to simply reviewing the syllabus. Perhaps 1) divide them
into groups, have them read the syllabus, and then ask you questions or 2) simply talk about
what they need for the first week and then review the syllabus in the second week when they
are not so overwhelmed. Start with some content to get them hooked on your class.
Your enthusiasm is your single greatest teaching tool!
SU Book ClubMeeting January 23rd
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The Book Club will be meetingon
in room 318 on the third floor ofthe library. Please encourage studentsto attend a meeting so they can learnmore about our upcoming events. Wewill be "reading in the community"throughout the months of January andFebruary.
This is a great time to join the BookClub because we are preparing to starta new book. Group discussions arelively and involve critical thinking as wedebate literary themes and evaluate thetraits of many interesting bookcharacters.
Faculty are also encourage toparticipate.
If students would like more information,
please have them contact Terri Masiello
AdvisorsReminder from the VPAA
Advisors are reminded that they can be reimbursed for up to $100 peracademic year for taking their advisees out for coffee or a meal.
January 23, 2014 from 3:00-3:45pm
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App of the Month Click Here to check out the App of the
Month!
CTL WorkshopsSpring 2014
We have already scheduled several
workshops for the spring term.
Please click on the button below to see
the list of workshops being offered.
Spring 2014 CTL Workshops
SPACE STILL AVAILABLE!
Faculty Research DayLibrary of Congress
Join us for a one-day trip to the Library of
Congress (LC). All faculty, full time and
adjunct, are invited. Transportation will be
provided; participants will be responsible
for their own lunches.
Space is limited to 20 faculty members,
and registration is required. Use the
button below to register.
Click here to register
Center for Teaching and Learning, Smith Library, room 322
Anne Marchant, Director: [email protected] Masiello, Assessment Coordinator: [email protected] Hoffman, Instructional Technology Training Coordinator: [email protected] Johnson, Instructional Support Coordinator: [email protected]
Copyright © 2013 Shenandoah University All rights reserved.
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www.su.edu/ctl
Shenandoah University 1460 University Drive Winchester, VA 22601
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