“How Can I Connect the Common Reader With My Class?”

Dates/Times: Tuesday, September 15, 3:30–4:15 p.m.; Wednesday, September 16, 3:45–4:30 p.m.

Join us for a session introducing the common reader and its themes. We will cover how the common reader introduces first year students to the Public Affairs Mission and how we can help students see the connections between what they are learning in their classes and the common reader.

FCTL Open Fridays for Faculty

Time: 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Location: Meyer Library Rm 204

Dr. Eric Nelson, FCTL Faculty Fellow, and the FCTL instructional designers are hosting walk-in consultation sessions for faculty. No appointment necessary! Faculty may come and go at their convenience. All faculty are welcome to drop in and receive assistance with any course design, assessment, technology integration, or teaching needs. We look forward to seeing you Friday!

Keep Calm & Do Research: Clean up your Data Act

Dates/Times: Tuesday, September 22, 2:30–3:30 p.m.; Wednesday, September 23, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Location: Meyer Library 205
Instructor: Todd Daniel

Good research starts with good data. Before you begin your analysis, you should clean your dataset. The course will address each of the steps of proper data cleaning and ways to address potential problems by dealing with outliers, transforming variables, or imputing missing data. This course will teach you how to use graphs and tests to explore your data and make sure that they meet the assumptions of the tests you plan to run. Basic familiarity with SPSS is assumed.

Upon completing this course, students will be able to…

• Graph a single variable and examine it for normality, skewness, and outliers.
• Explore the relationship between two variables and examine them for linearity and non-monotonic relationships.
• Test the assumptions of multivariate analysis including linearity, sphericity, missing data, and normality.
• Identify and eliminate multivariate outliers with a Mahalanobis test.

Book Discussion: How Learning Works

Join other faculty in a book discussion on “How Learning Works” co-authored by Michele DiPietro this year’s Showcase keynote presentation. The book looks at the theory and research behind the science of learning and then offers seven instructional principles that enhance the practice of teaching and learning.

We will be discussing the seven principles outlined in this book and you may choose from the following dates to participate in the session that best fits your schedule.

Contact the FCTL at 836-3059 to receive a copy of the book and guiding questions.

Discussion Sessions (Meyer Library 204):

How Learning Works Principles #1 – #3
Tuesday, September 22, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 30, 2:30–3:30 p.m.

How Learning Works Principles #4 – #5
Tuesday, October 6, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Friday, October 9, 12:30–1:30 p.m.

How Learning Works Principles #6 – #7
Tuesday, October 13, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21, 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Book Talk: The Other Side of the Wes Moore Story

If you didn’t have an opportunity to pick up copy of this year’s common reader, The Other Wes Moore: One Name Two Fates, and the reflection questions, you may do so by contacting the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. This book talk will look at the “other” Wes Moore within the context of American racial, social, political and economic constructs and realities. Raising issues regarding the impact of institutionalized “isms” and how does cultural resistance seek to redefine the “other”.

Discussion Sessions:

Tuesday, October 27, 2:00–3:00 p.m.                                  
Wednesday, October 28, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 5, 3:30–4:30 pm

This event is co-sponsored by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning and Diversity and Inclusion.

Fall 2015 Digital Professor Academy Orientation

Date: Wednesday, September 16
Times: 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m.
Location: Meyer Library, Room 204

The Digital Professor Academy provides faculty with practical hands-on experience using new technologies and proven best practices for teaching blended and online courses.

Faculty teaching traditional face-to-face courses are also encouraged to participate since the program focuses on student engagement and enhancing learning through the use of technology.

During the orientation meeting, faculty will be introduced to Missouri State University’s course development guidelines and specific best practices for blended and online learning. The course development peer-review process will also be discussed.

For more information, email the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. Please register through My Learning Connection.

 

Monday Morning Mentor Series

What Is the Best Way to Grade Participation?

A new program begins Monday, September 21

You know how essential it is for students to be active participants in their education. But how do you grade them on it? In this program, you’ll learn an overview of what not to do when grading participation, activities worth doing, how to do them, and how to evaluate your own process.

To access the Monday Morning Mentor programs, email the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning or call 836-3059.