Volume 2, Issue 18 | January 30, 2020
Our Mission

We champion excellent teaching and build connected community to promote meaningful learning.
Faculty Cafe  brought to you by Nathanael Gough
Sandra Aguirre Umholtz

Veteran educator Sandra Aguirre Umholtz has joined our Spanish instructors this semester. She was born in Cali, a city close to the Pacific Ocean in Columbia, South America, that is known for being both beautiful and hot. Sandra has been living in the US for over seven-and-a-half years. 

Sandra was seemingly born to teach.  “ Since I was in Elementary and High school I remember myself teaching my siblings and friends. I was involved in many activities at school and church and I always was in charge of the teaching stuff. So the decision about what to do for a living was not difficult.
 
“I loved English music since I was very young. So, I thought learning a foreign language would open doors to work abroad and to travel, to know many places, people and learn more about culture. I studied Modern Languages at the University of Valle in Cali Colombia. It is a public institution that is recognized as the third best in Colombia. I got my master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language with the International University of Puerto Rico UNINI. Teaching is my passion I have been teaching for 23 years.”
 
Sandra has been teaching elementary and high school for a very long time. She wondered what it would be like to experience teaching college-level students, and soon afterward joined DCCC. “Teaching on the college level has been one of my goals, and I’m ready to learn as much as I can to improve at my job every day.”
 
Sandra concludes, “This country has offered me a huge opportunity to grow up and spread part of my cultura latina with my students and the community. Living abroad has made me strong, brave and determined woman.


Moodle Minute
Moodle Minute

Are you or your students getting too many emails from discussion forums? Learn how to manage forum emails in this " Moodle Minute Classic ."


Podcasts
Amy Archambault
Looking for a good podcast? We've got a few geared towards teaching and learning, specifically engaging students in the classroom!  
Lecture Breakers (Episode #16)  Dr. Barbi Honeycutt's interviews Mark Collard, an experiential trainer who shares tips and tricks for engaging people who are unwilling to be engaged (among other things!)
Teaching in Higher Ed (Episode #236) : Bonni Stachowiak interviews various individuals working and teaching in higher education. In this episode, she interviews Elizabeth Barkley who shares resources and knowledge on teaching in the classroom.
Don't forget to check out all of the resources that accompany the podcasts! Who doesn't love a 'handout'??? Enjoy!

Best,

Amy Archambault MSIT MLIS
Instructional Designer
336.249.8186 ext. 6209

Upcoming Events
Monday, February 3rd: Irish Conversation Hour, 12 - 12:50 pm , Gee N139
Evening Student Coffee Break, 5:30- 7 pm, Gee North Lobby

Tuesday, February 4th : The Defamation Experience, 9:30 - 10:45 am, Rittling Conference Center
International Student Panel, 11 - 12, Reich 100

Wednesday, February 5th : French Conversation Hour, 12 - 12:50 pm, Gee N. 139
Basketball, Home Game 7 - 9 pm, Brinkley Gymnasium

Thursday, February 6th : Coffee House Music, 11:30 - 1:30 pm, Storm Cellar

Friday, February 7th
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Saturday, February 8th: Baskeball, 3 - 5 pm, Gymnasium

The Office of Learning Design staff - Mary Vance, David Whitehead, Nathanael Gough, Christie Bundy, Dori Lloyd, Amy Archamabult.
We Want To Hear From You!!
If you have ideas for our next issue, please contact anyone from our team.

  • Suggest a faculty to spotlight
  • Share a favorite course design or teaching technique
  • Showcase a favorite instructional strategy/tool
Office of Learning Design, located in Briggs 225