Dean's Corner
Hello Faculty!
I trust that you are having a productive semester. Our Spring programming continues with the After School Academy tutoring program, which is now being held at Percy L. Julian High School and our Race to the Top math intervention program at George H. Corliss and Percy L. Julian high schools. One of our new initiatives for Spring 2015 is the pilot of a collaborative faculty and student learning community, Integrated Learning Across Disciplines (formerly referred to as The Learning Community Project. This is a theme-based Faculty and Professional Learning Community (FLC). FLCs are usually theme-based or cohort-based. Handouts regarding theme-based and cohort-based learning communities were distributed at the last STEM CTL Advisory Group meeting held on November 25, 2014. For Fall 2015 we are proposing the following FLCs:
We will be sending out a follow-up email with a description of our four proposed FLCs, along with an accompanying application so that you may indicate your interest.
Inside this issue you will get an update on other activities sponsored by the STEM CTL. Technology trainings, workshops and webinars will continue to be provided, and we welcome you to share your expertise with your colleagues. Please stop in to see one of our technology staff or our Activity Director if you have questions or wish to update your skills on various techniques. We appreciate your continued support!
I trust that you are having a productive semester. Our Spring programming continues with the After School Academy tutoring program, which is now being held at Percy L. Julian High School and our Race to the Top math intervention program at George H. Corliss and Percy L. Julian high schools. One of our new initiatives for Spring 2015 is the pilot of a collaborative faculty and student learning community, Integrated Learning Across Disciplines (formerly referred to as The Learning Community Project. This is a theme-based Faculty and Professional Learning Community (FLC). FLCs are usually theme-based or cohort-based. Handouts regarding theme-based and cohort-based learning communities were distributed at the last STEM CTL Advisory Group meeting held on November 25, 2014. For Fall 2015 we are proposing the following FLCs:
- Integrated Learning Across Disciplines
- Service Learning
- Effective Teaching in the STEM Disciplines
- Promoting Student Engagement and Active Learning
- Course, program and institute-wide assessment
We will be sending out a follow-up email with a description of our four proposed FLCs, along with an accompanying application so that you may indicate your interest.
Inside this issue you will get an update on other activities sponsored by the STEM CTL. Technology trainings, workshops and webinars will continue to be provided, and we welcome you to share your expertise with your colleagues. Please stop in to see one of our technology staff or our Activity Director if you have questions or wish to update your skills on various techniques. We appreciate your continued support!
Supplemental Instruction
SI In Action
Our Spring 2015 Supplemental Instruction program is well underway with 9 SI leaders working with 15 courses in Biology, Chemistry, Spanish, and Economics. If your students are enrolled in any of the courses below, encourage them to attend an SI session to see what it’s all about.
View the slideshow below to see some of our SI leaders in action. Our SI leaders use classroom technologies (SMART Boards, document cameras, Idea Paint walls, and white boards) to engage students in study sessions and peer-facilitated learning activities.
Our Spring 2015 Supplemental Instruction program is well underway with 9 SI leaders working with 15 courses in Biology, Chemistry, Spanish, and Economics. If your students are enrolled in any of the courses below, encourage them to attend an SI session to see what it’s all about.
View the slideshow below to see some of our SI leaders in action. Our SI leaders use classroom technologies (SMART Boards, document cameras, Idea Paint walls, and white boards) to engage students in study sessions and peer-facilitated learning activities.
STEM CTL Journal Club
February 2015
The STEM CTL hosted their monthly Journal Club on February 15, 2015. Dr. Pergams, Prof. Kruger, Prof. Johnson and Dr. Fullard participated in the Journal Club facilitated by Prof. Kruger. The article examined was “Teaching and Learning in the Interactive Classroom” by D. U. Silverman published in Adv. Physiol. Educ. 30: 135-140, 2006. This article was written in response to the growing need for teachers to move science education away from memorizing facts to emphasize better conceptual understanding of basic principles. The author poses and considers three questions in examination of teaching in the 21st century. They are: “1) What happens in an interactive classroom, and how does it differ from the traditional lecture? 2) What happens to students when they come into an interactive classroom and are asked to change from passive note-taking mode to active participation? 3) What happens to faculty when they either decide on their own or are told by administration to change their teaching to a more interactive student-centered format?”
Join us on March 25, 2105 at 2:30 - 3:30 in Room 3307 for our next Journal Club meeting. The next article selected is Exploring Gamification Techniques for Classroom Management hosted by Dr. Oliver Pergams.
The STEM CTL hosted their monthly Journal Club on February 15, 2015. Dr. Pergams, Prof. Kruger, Prof. Johnson and Dr. Fullard participated in the Journal Club facilitated by Prof. Kruger. The article examined was “Teaching and Learning in the Interactive Classroom” by D. U. Silverman published in Adv. Physiol. Educ. 30: 135-140, 2006. This article was written in response to the growing need for teachers to move science education away from memorizing facts to emphasize better conceptual understanding of basic principles. The author poses and considers three questions in examination of teaching in the 21st century. They are: “1) What happens in an interactive classroom, and how does it differ from the traditional lecture? 2) What happens to students when they come into an interactive classroom and are asked to change from passive note-taking mode to active participation? 3) What happens to faculty when they either decide on their own or are told by administration to change their teaching to a more interactive student-centered format?”
Join us on March 25, 2105 at 2:30 - 3:30 in Room 3307 for our next Journal Club meeting. The next article selected is Exploring Gamification Techniques for Classroom Management hosted by Dr. Oliver Pergams.
Faculty Highlights
Professor Shadi Assaf - Chemistry Deparment hosts a STEM Speaker Series
The Physical Science department is inviting individuals/speakers who work in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields to speak to Olive-Harvey students about the application of STEM subjects in real-life professions. The STEM speakers will encourage students to pursue careers in the STEM fields. The first presentation was hosted on Wednesday February 25, 2015 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm in the Bruce Cherry Theater. Dawn M. David, Intellectual Property Attorney with a background in mechanical engineering shares her expertise on mechanical engineering and law. Students engaged in a vibrant Q&A session after the presentation to learn more about the various avenues of science, research, inventions, and patents.
The next STEM Speaker series is Monday, March 16, 2015 from 4:00 - 5:00 in room 3225.
STEM Speaker Series - G. Giglio
The Physical Science department is inviting individuals/speakers who work in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields to speak to Olive-Harvey students about the application of STEM subjects in real-life professions. The STEM speakers will encourage students to pursue careers in the STEM fields. The first presentation was hosted on Wednesday February 25, 2015 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm in the Bruce Cherry Theater. Dawn M. David, Intellectual Property Attorney with a background in mechanical engineering shares her expertise on mechanical engineering and law. Students engaged in a vibrant Q&A session after the presentation to learn more about the various avenues of science, research, inventions, and patents.
The next STEM Speaker series is Monday, March 16, 2015 from 4:00 - 5:00 in room 3225.
STEM Speaker Series - G. Giglio
Dr. Oliver Pergams - Biology Department
Three former OHC students (David Byrn, Kashawneda Lee, and Racheal Jackson) and OHC Biology faculty Dr. Oliver Pergams are publishing a scientific paper. The paper resulted from research performed in an OHC Biology 299 Independent Research class. Their research showed that rats on Anacapa Island (near Ventura, California) have evolved very rapidly in size, more quickly than any other known mammalian evolution. The paper will appear in the journal PeerJ (https://peerj.com/), a prominent open-access and peer-reviewed scientific journal, on March 3, 2015.
OHC Biology faculty Dr. Oliver Pergams been appointed Senior Editor of an exciting new open-access and peer-reviewed scientific journal called Collabra (http://www.collabra.org/), which begins publication in March. If you click on his photo on the webpage there is a short biography including OHC.
Three former OHC students (David Byrn, Kashawneda Lee, and Racheal Jackson) and OHC Biology faculty Dr. Oliver Pergams are publishing a scientific paper. The paper resulted from research performed in an OHC Biology 299 Independent Research class. Their research showed that rats on Anacapa Island (near Ventura, California) have evolved very rapidly in size, more quickly than any other known mammalian evolution. The paper will appear in the journal PeerJ (https://peerj.com/), a prominent open-access and peer-reviewed scientific journal, on March 3, 2015.
OHC Biology faculty Dr. Oliver Pergams been appointed Senior Editor of an exciting new open-access and peer-reviewed scientific journal called Collabra (http://www.collabra.org/), which begins publication in March. If you click on his photo on the webpage there is a short biography including OHC.
Professor Jacqueline Johnson - African American Studies Department
Student Engagement and Active Learning: Game shows as Study Aids
It is commonly understood that active learning enhances student performance. Herein, l have outlined a way to engage your students in the course content, involve them in group learning and spark their competitive spirit. The two-part Midterm Study Session in Political Science 201 featured the well-known TV Gameshow ‘Family Feud!’
During the first class session, I divided the students into groups. For the first part of class, the students constructed questions based on the study guide.
Student Engagement and Active Learning: Game shows as Study Aids
It is commonly understood that active learning enhances student performance. Herein, l have outlined a way to engage your students in the course content, involve them in group learning and spark their competitive spirit. The two-part Midterm Study Session in Political Science 201 featured the well-known TV Gameshow ‘Family Feud!’
During the first class session, I divided the students into groups. For the first part of class, the students constructed questions based on the study guide.
The questions followed the Family Feud structure. They were directed to write questions with at least three possible answers each. They presented the questions and answers to the class during the second half of the class period. Once the questions were submitted, I selected the most appropriate and included them in the game:
During the following class, the students divided into two groups, played the game, had a ball and learned a lot. Wrong or right answers, they were all required to engage.
During the following class, the students divided into two groups, played the game, had a ball and learned a lot. Wrong or right answers, they were all required to engage.
Moreover, the two-day study session gave the students several opportunities to interact with the course material. Multimodal students benefited greatly from this kind of learning as it addresses the top three learning modalities (reading, writing and kinesthetic) Remember, the key is to be flexible and have fun!
Technology Tip of The Month
Discover Office Mix – A Powerful New Add-in for PowerPoint
Now you can create professional recordings of your lectures using the tools you know and love.
Learn about the history of Mix in an article published last month.
Play with the tool yourself with instructions found here.
Now you can create professional recordings of your lectures using the tools you know and love.
Learn about the history of Mix in an article published last month.
Play with the tool yourself with instructions found here.