Academy News
     September 20, 2017
Are you interested in Teaching Naked?
Join us for the   9th Annual Assessment Conference and Share Fair to find out more about how assessment can improve student learning. Take a look at the agenda, attend all or part of the day. 
  • Date: Friday, September 29, 2017
  • Time: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
  • Location: Wojcik Conference Center
  • CEUs: 0.5
  • Register Now 
This is your chance to experience José Bowen live at Harper!
  • Author of Teaching Naked and co-author of Teaching Naked Techniques
  • Teaching Naked won the 2014 AAC&U Frederic W. Ness Book Award!
  • President of Goucher College
  • His symphony was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize!
  • He has a TED talk on Beethoven as Bill Gates
  • He has written music for Jerry Garcia!
  • Distinguished Stanford Alumni Scholar
José's latest book, Teaching Naked Techniques, will be available for purchase throughout the morning. A few lucky attendees will have a chance to win a free copy! José will also be on hand to sign your book! 
Licensed under CC BY 4.0 by lwtech.edu
Making the 4 Connections in Your Classroom
In 2010, in an effort to improve course dropout rates, Odessa College sought out the common thread between their courses which had the greatest student success. What they uncovered are four simple, yet effective practices that can increase your connection to your students and promote student success in your face-to-face or online classroom.

This two-part workshop, facilitated by Melissa Baysingar, Instructional Design Specialist, explores the "4 Connections" revealed in Odessa's research and explores practical methods and tools for applying them in your own classroom.

Part 1: Thursday, October 5, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.  OR  Friday, October 6, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Part 2: Thursday, October 12, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.  OR  Friday, October 13, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

 

Register Now (Select Workshop 2 of the Cornerstone Series.) 
Start Smart Training Session
With a number of changes with the counselor/advisor roles, FYS common assignments, and a new career tool on the Portal, we understand that you may be looking for an opportunity to ask questions and discuss how your courses are going. This session will get you up to speed on all things Start Smart as well as Focus 2-the new career tool on campus. We also hope that faculty take this opportunity to discuss how things are coming along in their sections, which also gives us feedback to take back to the Start Smart team. Cookies and drinks will be provided. Learn more and RSVP.   
Diversity Symposium
What can we do to help all of our students stay at Harper and successfully complete their educational goals? That is the big question.

This year's Diversity Symposium offers sessions to help every one of us, in whatever role we serve, understand what we can do.

The day is divided up so you can come to as much as you are able - one, two, or all three sessions.
  • Date: Friday, October 20, 2017
  • Time: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
    • 9 a.m. Exercise in Persistence
    • 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Morning Breakout Sessions
    • 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Latin-inspired lunch
    • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Afternoon Breakout Sessions
  • Location: Wojcik Conference Center
Join us for any part that fits your schedule. Register now to secure your spot.
Identifying Inequities in Our Schools Workshop & Dinner 
"The Art of Teaching for Equity" Community of Practice is hosting a workshop and dinner to generate awareness of structural, curricular, and pedagogical practices that may be serving to disenfranchise students at Harper and our neighboring schools. This equity literacy workshop, "Identifying Inequities in Our Schools" will provide an opportunity to explore the particular issues that students may face, develop a shared lexicon for discussing these concerns, and draft action plan ideas so that attendees may continue this important social justice work. Learn more and RSVP.   
Talking Teaching & Learning
visual literacy GEC
Want to explore research on faculty learning styles and student learning? 
Many of us are aware that faculty members tend to teach the way they like to learn, but the larger populations we teach have a variety of learning preferences that may not match ours. Students are multimodal learners with a combination of learning styles, but most benefit from inclusion of visual representations. Do we present material in a variety of formats? Learn more about faculty learning styles and student learning.

If you are a faculty member who may need to carve out time to integrate multiple modes of presenting material to students to increase accessibility, the GEC course Brian Cremins is teaching this fall,  Comic Books and Visual Literacy in the College Classroom will provide you with that opportunity. If you are on the fence, please register now so that we can make sure the class will run; we need just one more person to register by Thursday, September 21. 
community of practice, faculty
Building Communities of Practice
Do you desire to be a part of a small group working together to improve teaching and learning related to a specific interest? Many groups are already meeting, working on their action plans, and planning or attending related professional development opportunities with the support of the Academy.

In order to learn more about how to join or start a Community of Practice (CoP), CoP Facilitation, CoP groups that are forming, and FAQs, please visit the Community of Practice area on the Academy website.
Upcoming Programs & Workshops
calendar
Identifying Inequities in Our Schools
Tuesday, September 26, 4:30 p.m.

Comic Books & Visual Literacy in the College Classroom (GEC)
Starts October 5 (Registration Deadline: 9/21)

Making the 4 Connections in Your Classroom
Thursday, October 5, 6 p.m.
Friday, October 6, 9:30 a.m.

Smart Start Training Session
Monday, October 16, 3:30 p.m.

Writing Strategies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Friday, October 27, 9 a.m.

Constructing Difference: Understanding the Role of Social Justice in our Classrooms (webinar)
Wednesday, November 8, 12 p.m.
What's Happening @ Harper?
Save the Date
October 23 - 29, 2017: "Doing More Together" Giving Back Week: 50th Anniversary Event
January 9 - January 13: Spring 2018 Faculty/Staff Orientation Week
Saturday, April 14, 2018: Community Day: 50th Anniversary Event
Friday, April 20, 2018: Faculty Development Festival
Academy for Teaching Excellence | 847.925.6174 | Building D, Room D281
Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 
The mission of the Academy for Teaching Excellence is to create a vibrant teaching and learning culture for full-time and adjunct faculty that cultivates professional development in support of student success.
Harper College enriches its diverse communities by providing quality, af f or dable, and accessible education. Harper College, in collaboration with its partners, inspires the tran sformation of individual lives, the workforce, and society.