Learning Design Newsletter

Volume 2, Issue 18 | February 6th, 2020

Our Mission

We champion excellent teaching and build connected community to promote meaningful learning.

Faculty Cafe brought to you by Nathanael Gough

Demetria Nickens

New Coordinator of Disability Access Services

Demetria Nickens, the college’s new Disability Access Services Coordinator, was born and raised in Winston-Salem. Except for her college years in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and a year spent in Savannah, Georgia, she has continued to live in Winston-Salem. Demetria earned two bachelor degrees, in Psychology and Sociology, from North Carolina Wesleyan University. She earned a Master’s of Science in Psychology from Capella University.

While looking for employment specifically within the North Carolina Community College System, Demetria researched Davidson County Community College and ”…the mission stuck out to me. Not all colleges believe in equitable learning experiences, and being in an equitable environment was an employment goal of mine.”

When asked how her job as the Disability Access Services Coordinator will affect faculty, she responds: “[My work] involves faculty because I send them Academic Support Plans every semester on students who are enrolled in their prospective courses. I hope to work closely with faculty to ensure that all students have an equitable chance at success in college. I hope that faculty will look at students for their abilities, and not their disabilities.”

Read more about Demetria and Disability Access Services, including Academic Support Plans Dos and Dont's, in the Faculty Cafe .

Bright Ideas: Writing Professional Emails - Part II

Señora Myers Plan For Better Emails Works!

Back in December, Señora Myers was frustrated with how her students were writing their emails. She shared with us her plan to create an assignment and use a fun video to help her students have better netiquette. I followed up with her this week to see how her plan was working.

How are your student doing with etiquette after showing the video? Any change?

DEFINITELY! think it has made a world of difference. I gave them an assignment with it which helps me to know something about them and opens the lines of communication between us. I will continue to do this each semester!

Collaboration

Señora Myers and another Spanish instructor worked together to use the video and craft an assignment.

Access the Google Doc to read the assignment details and the video link .

Thank you, Señora Myers, for sharing your work with us!

Got a great teaching idea, tip/trick or tool you use?

Please share it with us and we'll feature it in the newsletter!

Upcoming Events

Monday, February 10th: Irish Conversation Hour, 12 - 12:50 pm , Gee N139

Basketball, 7 - 9 PM, Brinkley Gym

Tuesday, February 11th : Voter Registration Tuesday, 11:30 - 12:30, Brooks Lobby

Wednesday, February 12th : French Conversation Hour, 12 - 12:50 pm, Gee N. 139

South Korea retrospective, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Briggs 224

Basketball, Home Game 7 - 9 pm, Brinkley Gymnasium

Thursday, February 13th : Acrobats, 9:30 - 10:30, Rittling Conference Center

Friday, February 14th

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