Teaching, Learning, &
Global Engagement
Weekly News & Updates
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February 29, 2024 | Volume 10 | Issue 25 | |
Five Things to Know About William Pass | |
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By William Allen Pass, College Recruiter and Admissions Counselor
I was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York: Relocated to Winston-Salem after graduating from Mount Vernon High School, to attend Winston-Salem State University: Obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology and minor in Mass Communications: At WSSU, met and married my wife of going on 33 years, Betty Sturdivant Pass: So grateful to have two children and one grandson , Miracle (19), and Jalen (23), and Messiah (2). Also still Blessed to have my 96 year old Mother, Helmer, alive, and my one and only sibling a sister Diana. As far as hobbies, that would be the sport of bowling that I've shared and enjoyed competing in with my son.
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Five Things to Know
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Travel: As a child, traveling to Leasburg, NC (Caswell County) annually for two weeks in July for our Summer vacation to visit my grandparents. As an adult, traveling to Tennessee to visit my son and grandson; and traveling with my son to different states for bowling competitions that includes Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, and the home of "AMERICA'S TEAM" Dallas Texas and having the opportunity to tour AT&T stadium and go on the field and stand on the Dallas Cowboys Star.
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Music: Traditional Gospel, Old School Hip Hop, and R&B
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Food: Pork Chitlins, Seafood, NY Pizza
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TV: Krush Groove, Law & Order-Special Victims, Chicago Fire/PD Series
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Joyful experience: Getting married, the birth of my children and grandson, graduating from WSSU, throwing 2 perfect 300 bowling games, being Ordained as a Deacon, and being hired by DDCC and having Cailin Asip as my Supervisor who allows me to do what I love doing, and to do the thing that my father taught my sister and I and that is to "just do what is right and your life will always be filled with Blessings" .
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Demystifying the Course Build Process Part 4/Rubrics: Improving Student Success While Supporting Transparency in Grading - March 5 from 12:00-1:30 pm on Zoom. Register through the Piedmont Hub
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Women’s Rights Day - March 11 from 11:00 am - noon in Gee S124 or on Zoom
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Celebrating the Accomplishments of Latinx Women (Gallery Walk) - March 12 at 11:00 am in Gee N139-142
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Level Up Your Online Classroom with Discord | |
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By Mandy Christian
Hey there, fellow educators! Let's talk about turning your online classroom into a buzzing hive of excitement with none other than Discord. Picture this, a digital space where your students not only learn but connect and collaborate in real time.
In today's digital age, finding inventive ways to engage students in an online classroom is vital. As an Assistant Professor in Psychology and Human Services, I've discovered Discord as an invaluable tool that not only facilitates communication and collaboration but also fosters a sense of community among my students. Yes, you read that right Discord, the app synonymous with gamers and virtual hangouts, has found its place in the realm of education, and let me tell you, it's a game-changer.
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Why Discord, you ask? Well, let me break
it down for you:
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Private, Organized Spaces - Discord allows you to create a private server exclusively for your students, ensuring a safe and controlled environment for communication. Within this server, you can set up different channels (think of them as virtual rooms) for various purposes, such as Q&A sessions, casual conversations, or project collaborations. This organized structure streamlines communication and keeps everyone on the same page.
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Familiarity Equals Engagement - Many students are already familiar with Discord, thanks to its widespread use among gamers. This familiarity eliminates the learning curve typically associated with new tools, allowing students to dive right in and start interacting from day one. Plus, the app's user-friendly interface makes navigation a breeze for both educators and learners.
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Versatility at Its Best - From text chats to voice calls and video conferences, Discord offers a plethora of communication options to cater to diverse learning preferences. Whether your students prefer typing out their thoughts or engaging in real-time discussions, Discord has them covered. Additionally, the ability to share files and multimedia further enhances collaboration on group projects and assignments.
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Endless Possibilities for Educators - As an educator, the possibilities with Discord are truly endless. Not only can you facilitate discussions and provide timely feedback, but you can also create interactive learning experiences through multimedia-rich channels. Also, Discord's role management feature enables you to assign different permissions to students based on their roles, ensuring a controlled and secure environment. The best part is you can see all the interactions, and conversations and engage as needed within the channels you create.
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Easy Accessibility - Did I mention that Discord is free and accessible across multiple devices? Whether your students prefer using their smartphones, tablets, or computers, they can seamlessly access the platform without any hassle. This accessibility encourages inclusivity and ensures that no student is left behind due to technological constraints.
In conclusion, incorporating Discord into your online classroom is like adding a turbo boost to your teaching toolkit. Discord empowers you to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment like never before. So, what are you waiting for? Level up your online classroom with Discord today and watch your students succeed in ways you never thought possible.
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Travel to Ireland this Fall | |
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By Aaron Prillaman
Greetings world travelers! I am excited to announce that DDCC will be visiting Ireland once again over Fall Break of 2024, and we would love for you to join us for this magical adventure. Ireland is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience studying abroad, and the Ireland adventure is one of our longest running trips. Our history with the amazing Institute of Study Abroad Ireland led by Dr. Niamh Hamill is filled with students who have come home telling everyone about their life-changing experiences. Please share this information with your students and contact me or Sarah Wright if you have any questions, or if you would like for me to give a special presentation to your classes.
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A weekly column brought to you by International Education | |
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International Education Department Attends Conference and Shows FLTAs More of the South
By Germán Alcaraz
This past weekend members of the International Education Department, along with other faculty and staff, including the president of DDCC, attended the Community Colleges for International Development Conference, held in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Community College for International Development (CCID) was founded in 1976 and has contributed since then to further community colleges internationalization initiatives and to develop globally competent workers. This prestigious organization holds annual conferences in different states every year. This year, the 48th annual
conference was held in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where many different community college members, exhibitors, and sponsors attended in order to network and share best practices.
Sarah Wright, Director of International Education; Dr. Aaron Prillaman, Faculty Coordinator of International Education; and the three Fulbright FLTAs (Germán Alcaraz, Eibhlín Nic Cormaic, and Louise Simeon) attended and presented the topic “Bringing the World to Rural North Carolina: FLTAs as Catalysts to Knowledge, Language, Culture, and Future Opportunities.” In this presentation, they provided attendees with
information on how to internationalize other community college campuses with other international agencies and programs such as Fulbright, CBYX, and the Institute of International Education (IIE). The emphasis was placed on the tasks of FLTAs at Davidson-Davie Community College and their impact on other faculty members,
students, and community members. Passport (cultural) events, globalized courses, and culture classes were also the focus of this presentation, which was well-received by those in attendance.
Upon the conclusion of the conference Monday morning, the group traveled through the South Carolina Sea Islands to Johns Island to visit the Angel Oak and then on to Charleston to visit one of the most history-rich and cultural cities in the country and especially the South. There was also a small excursion to Cracker Barrel, which is a hub of southern culture. The conference and the whole experience was an amazing
learning opportunity for people affiliated with community colleges across the globe. We were grateful to be there representing Davidson-Davie Community College and humbled to be there continuing the legacy.
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By Jason Setzer
Need help finding your next read? DDCC Library provides access to NoveList Plus, a comprehensive reader recommendation service for fiction and nonfiction. You can search by title, author, or enter topics of interest to receive book recommendations. NoveList Plus also allows you to browse books by theme, subject, age group, and Lexile level. It provides synopses, book reviews, and teaching ideas to inform your choice of next read. Please contact DDCC Library if you have questions.
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Do You Have a Story to Share? | |
We want to promote faculty and staff stories! Please contact Amy Holmes (amy_holmes@davidsondavie.edu) if you have ideas or referrals for stories. | |
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