Colleagues,

MIDWEST FACULTY SEMINAR

We may imagine that natural disasters strike indiscriminately, yet Hurricane Katrina brought home that natural disasters do not level but rather exacerbate extant inequalities and injustices. This seminar will use Katrina and its aftermath as a lens through which to analyze a wide range of topics in contemporary American society and politics. These topics range from the impact of the disaster on both the public and the academic imaginary, the roles of political leadership and civil society in the contemporary U.S, deep divisions in American political opinion, the relationships between media and political institutions, and the cultural representations of race and the South.

THANK YOU TO MICHAEL HUSTEDDE AND RICHARD HANZELKA

Many thanks to Michael Hustedde for organizing and Richard Hanzelka for presenting the seminar on Tuesday that dealt with a novel use of journal writing in the classroom. Michael briefly presented several conventional uses of journals/journaling in the college classroom and then Dick Hanzelka presented his own creative approach to using journaling in content classes. His approach maximizes the learning value to students and reduces the grading demand on the instructor. This was AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION. Copies of the handouts from the presentation are available through Michael Hustedde who also has a video tape (less than an hour) of the entire presentation which is available to anyone who was not able to attend.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED THIS WEEK

The Professor in the Classroom (vol. 13:2) "Techniques to Keep Everyone Thinking When You Ask Questions."

National Teaching And Learning Forum (vol. 15:5) September 2006.

More information on these publications next week. They are both available in the 3 wall pocket locations on campus as well as in the College of Business (per Allison Ambrose) or at the ACCEL Center (per Neala McCarthy).

Strongest Link Teaching Circle: I appreciate emails from those unable to attend and we will look forward to seeing you at the next circle at noon on October 17, 2006 in which we will have a guest faculty member from the Netherlands joining our group for one session. I’ve added people who indicated they couldn’t attend the circle, but thought you might appreciate the resources we talked about. If you don’t want to receive emails from me regarding this teaching circle, please let me know.

 The Teaching Circle, Alternatives to Lecturing teaching circle met this past week and prioritized topics for this semester. They will be discussing: Engaging Students, Using Technology, and Critical Thinking. On October 11th at 4pm they will meet to discuss Engaging Students. Each person is asked to bring an idea that has effectively engaged students in the learning process. Please contact Carol Lyon or Jessica Gosnell for more information. Location will be announced at a later date.

SOME EXCELLENT WEBSITES ON COLLEGE TEACHING

CTE PERIODICAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE

The Center subscribes to College Teaching and CHANGE: The Magazine of Higher Learning.  Back issues of both of these publications are in the Ambrose Room, 3rd floor of the library.

Three other publications subscribed to by the Center are available in several places on campus.  The Teaching Professor, The Professor in the Classroom and the National Teaching and Learning Forum are available as they arrive in three wall pocket locations: in the old snack bar area in Ambrose Hall, in the Cosgrove Hall private dining room near the drink dispenser, and in the coffee shop on Harrison St.-- as well as in ACCEL and through Allison Ambrose in the College of Business.

Back issues of these publications are kept in the Ambrose Room on the third floor of the Library along with the Center's book collection. Stop at the library director's office to have the Ambrose Room unlocked for you.