Please save the dates and mark your calendars for the following Brown Bag Information Sessions and Instructional Design events for December:
Friday, December 7 — Lynda.PSU.edu: Software Training at your Desktop
Need to learn a computer software application? Want to learn at your own pace, at your own desk? Penn State has provided the ability to do so for all faculty, staff and students through Lynda.com. Adobe and Microsoft, graphics, multimedia and office tasks, you will find training tutorials on them all. Come to this session and learn how to get the most out of this valuable tool.
Thursday, December 13 — ANGEL How-To: The Course Copy Tool
Don’t reinvent the wheel, copy materials that work in your ANGEL courses from semester to semester. Piloting a new course? Create a group, test, and transfer. ANGEL includes a built-in tool to easily transfer valuable lessons and other files between courses.
Wednesday, December 19 — Digital Photography: Take Better Pictures
The Holidays are upon us and no doubt you will be taking pictures, either with a digital camera or your smartphone. If you’re not always happy with the way your photos turn out, bring your camera and practice some basic picture taking techniques. We will also discuss available software that can turn your snapshots into better photographs.
Don’t forget to attend our final presentation in the Online Course Instructional Design Series!
Wednesday, December 12 — Course Evaluation and Revision
At the conclusion of your course, delivery methods and materials need evaluation. What worked, what didn’t? This session focuses on course revision based on summative evaluation of your learners’ outcomes. Come and discuss different ways to evaluate your course design and delivery methods.
We are also hosting University Park Webinars on Clickers this month:
Thursday, December 6 — Engaging Students in STEM Courses: A Presentation with Douglas Duncan, University of Colorado [Room: D117] 11:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Douglas Duncan, director of the Fiske Planetarium and faculty member in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, will describe his department’s strategies and initiatives in teaching STEM curriculum to undergraduates.
Over the past decade, the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences has had remarkable success in increasing student comprehension and retention in the STEM disciplines. Duncan’s current research is in the area of teaching physics and astronomy, especially to non-science majors. He often works with the University of Colorado Physics Education Research Group, one of the most successful research programs in the nation studying university-level science teaching.
Thursday, December 6 — Teaching with Clickers: A Workshop with Douglas Duncan, University of Colorado [Room: D117] 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Duncan’s current research is in the area of teaching physics and astronomy, especially to non-science majors. He often works with the University of Colorado Physics Education Research Group, a program which includes Nobel laureate Carl Wieman and is one of the most successful research programs in the nation studying university-level science teaching.
Topics will include:
* Why the success of clicker use varies so much from class to class
* Dos and don’ts when implementing clickers
* Writing good clicker questions
* Using “peer instruction” and other types of questions
* Giving points for answering questions
All events are hosted in Dawson 117 from Noon to 1:00 PM unless otherwise noted.
If you are interested in any of these presentations, or have any questions, please let me know. I look forward to seeing you in the Instructional Design Center!