Spring Newsletter January 9, 2007 Volume 1, Number 1 In This Issue * A Look Back at Fall Events * Hands-On-Learning Display in Orange Hall January 17th- Feb 22nd Opening Reception-Jan. 17th 2-4 p.m. * Learning Innovation Grants Awarded * Collaborative Engagement: Working With High school Teachers to Increase Student Learning * Paul Loeb to speak on Student Engagement, Feb 2, 2007 * Getting our Students Ready to Learn A Look Back at Fall Events Last semester the CTL was off and running! We were busy offering courses in technology (Blackboard Training, Excel GradeBook, Basic PowerPoint and Digital Photography), running a mentoring program for new faculty, workshops for second year faculty and for new chairs. The CTL sponsored a Book Club and awarded the Learning Innovation Grants. We are getting closer to finally having our own space. Special thanks to the excellent work of the maintenance people over the holiday, LRC 213 and 214 are almost ready for a grand opening! This newsletter showcases the special events we have planned for spring 2007. We hope to see you at a CTL-sponsored event soon! To learn more about Learning Innovation Grants and see the rubric that was used to evaluate proposals see the CTL website History Channel & American Book Association's #3 political book for Fall 2004 "You are part of what's good about this world and I admire your work very much. This book can even make one hopeful about the future despite so many signs to the contrary."-Bill Moyers For more on Paul Loeb see paulloeb.org For an application for the collaborative faculty partnership see the CTL website Hands-On Learning Exhibit-Jan 17th-Feb 22nd Orange Hall Theater The works of over 90 students will be featured in this exhibit. Faculty members Diedre Costic, Elizabeth Tarvin, John Wolbeck, Sandra Graff, Nadia Rajsz, Maria Blon, Sandra Wardell, MaryBeth Gleason, Ellen Warren, Flo Hannes, Max Schaefer and Mildred Melchionne worked with their students last semester to develop the display which will showcase student learning. Student projects will be on display from January 17th through February 22nd in Orange Hall Gallery. The opening reception is Wed. January 17th from 2-4.There will be food, prizes and musical entertainment from student Joe Gattuso. Learning Innovation Grants Awarded The CTL is pleased to announce the following Learning Innovation Grant recipients-- John Wolbeck for "Measurement and Engine 'Blueprinting' Exercise", Bob Misiak and Roberta Smith for "Video POD Casting", Max Schaefer for "Portable Lighting Laboratory" and Cheryl Ward-Simons for "Development of Cultural Competence Workshop for Professionals and/or Students Who Work in the Health Care Setting". Last semester a team of 7 faculty and staff members from the Faculty and Staff Development Committee and the CTL Advisory Group reviewed 11 grant applications. We were thrilled about the excellent ideas put forward to benefit our students. Many thanks to all who applied. We will keep you up to date about the implementation of these innovative projects. Paul Loeb to Speak on Civic Engagement Friday 2, 2007 Are you worried about your students' detachment from broader community involvement? Would you like to see them more civically engaged? We thought you would be interested in a major lecture on how citizens, and students in particular, can learn to take responsibility for our common future. On Feb 2nd, at 12:00 p.m. in HA 111, our office will be sponsoring Paul Loeb's talk on his award-winning books on civic engagement, "Soul of a Citizen." "The Impossible Will Take a Little While" and "Generation at the Crossroads". We'd also like to invite you to a faculty workshop on Teaching for Engagement, at Feb 2nd at 3:00 p.m. in LRC 214. Nationally acclaimed author and speaker Paul Loeb will visit Orange County Community College. He will present a session on Civic Engagement for students and will host a faculty workshop on Teaching for Engagement. Collaborative Faculty Partnerships: Bridging the Academic Gap by Developing Common Academic Expectations The Office of Educational Partnerships & the Center for Teaching and Learning are happy to offer Collaborative Faculty Partnerships: Bridging the Academic Gap by Developing Common Academic Expectations in spring 2007. We are looking for 10 SUNY Orange faculty to work with high school teachers to promote students' academic success. A stipend is available for participants. Applications are due January 31st. For more information contact Rosana Reyes-Rosello (x4760) or Jennifer Merriam (x4178). Click Here to Read "Learning (Your First Job)" By Robert Leamnson, Ph D Getting Students Ready to Learn This warm weather has got me thinking about spring and it dawned on me that what we do as educators is a lot like gardening. Each new semester we plant the seeds of information in our student's minds. With our care and attention we hope that this information will blossom into knowledge in the minds of our students. Of course no growth can take place unless the soil is properly prepared-that is, unless our students are ready to learn. I found an article that is a nice reflection on the process of learning. It is written for students, but I found it helpful in reminding me what I can do to help my students be ready to learn. Enjoy! ?? ?? ?? ??