Tanya's article

Tanya found this source for those of us who are preparing to teach hybrid courses.

http://www4.uwm.edu/ltc/hybrid/faculty_resources/questions.cfm

Hybrid Classes

Bob has given his approval for some of us to pilot hybrid-type courses next semester.  If you have a class you want to add an online component to and would like to be involved in this planning, let me, Jennifer, or Tanya know.  We will all get together the last week of classes to write something up for the department.  PS: Submission of an assignment or accessing Blackboard on a given date or by a given deadline suffices as attendance.

Chronicle Article of Interest

http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/

Based on our discussions of a learning centered university, I thought this (disturbing) article was germane. It describes how plagiarism occurs when learning fails, and the author seems to indict educators for this failure--or for just being out of touch with our students. I'm interested to see your comments.

Thank you to everyone

Thank you for a great meeting on Friday.  I have placed a copy of our very rough report in your box in 228.  Please look over everything, add comments where you would like to add them, and return these to me by Wednesday.  I know that the lists are not parallel -- do not worry, I will edit everything before sending in the report :).  Let's keep this blog going.  If you have ideas to share concerning a Learning Centered University, post them here.  Also, I would love to host another round table at the beginning of the spring semester.  What do you think?

Experimenting with Hybrid Courses

Gena's idea about experimenting with a hybrid course has really made me reconsider how I might more effectively teach 101. It seems to me that not meeting formally/physically for every class meeting would give me more time to grade each student's writing more closely and to provide more one-on-one feedback (which I think would be even more effective at improving each individual student's writing than talking about writing in general to the entire class). I'm interested in what Dr. Felgar feels about this within the context of the attendance policy. If it is possible to try developing a hybrid 101 freshman comp. course, I'd be willing to give it a try. I think it would be exciting to reconsider how we deliver composition instruction and to focus more on application/workshopping/discussion during our face-to-face time with students, while poviding lecture-based information via Distance Learning.

The Red Balloon Initiative

Learning Centered is “Where We’re Going” and we need your help to get there. The 2011-2016 Strategic Plan will be developed with a focus that supports JSU becoming a Learning Centered University. Campus-wide discussion groups will help answer these Learning Centered questions:
• What does a Learning Centered University look like?
• What will JSU, as a Learning Centered University, look like in five years?
• What values will influence our decision-making?
• What is our mission?
• How do we have to change to become more Learning Centered?
• How is it different from JSU now?
• What are our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to becoming more Learning Centered?
• What are some strategies that will help us reach our vision?

Strategic Plan Goal

These are the goals our University has established.  Which of these do you feel are most important for us to discuss in our meeting on the 12th? We probably should limit ourselves to 3-4 goals.

1. Educate students to be productive, responsible citizens and effective leaders.
2. Advance student learning through academic excellence.
3. Increase student and faculty participation in research and service activities.
4. Create a diverse learning community that facilitates academic and professional excellence.
5. Effectively use technology to support learning, research, information management and evidence-based decision-making.
6. Continuously improve administrative processes and services.
7. Enhance revenue growth and financial planning to ensure adequate fiscal resources for the university