Center for Teaching and Learning > Programs > Workshops

NCC FACULTY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP OFFERINGS: 
Fall 2008

Please view the monthly workshop offerings by clicking on a month from the menu located in the left margin. Workshop titles, dates, times, and locations are posted by month. Every workshop title is hyperlinked to its description.

How to Register:

If you are interested in attending any of the listed workshops PLEASE REGISTER for the workshop(s) by e-mailing the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl@northampton.edu. Please specify the workshop name, and identify your department and contact information in your e-mail. In order to attend, you must register AND receive a confirmation.

Workshop Locations:
Bethlehem campus - Richardson 101 unless otherwise noted.
Monroe campus - see monthly schedules.

ADVISING WORKSHOPS

Advising Education Students

Learn the ins and outs of advising students in the Education program, with emphasis on the differences for students who want to teach at the elementary vs. the secondary level.

Advising Update for Monroe

This session will provide updates important for academic advising. Advisor will also cover frequently asked questions and most common mistakes made by students when selecting courses.

The Role of an NCC Advisor

We know an Advisor plays an important role in the success of students. This session will cover how advisors can empower students to take a more active role in their educational planning.

Understanding the Curriculum, General Education, & Degree Audit

NCC Advisors will review NCC General Education requirements and how they relate to various programs. They will use the degree audit to illustrate the curriculum requirements and common mistakes made by students when choosing courses.


COURSE/PROGRAM ASSESSMENT WORKSHOPS

Assessment: L et's Get Practical

Tired of the rhetoric of assessment?  This interactive seminar will show you how to turn that rhetoric into reality.  Participants will learn how to apply assessment methods to enhance teaching and learning.

Course Outline Seminar

Demystifying the new Course Outline format. In this two-workshop program, participants will learn how to adapt either a new or current Course Outline to the recently adopted assessment-based format.

Learning Theory & Student Motivation

A workshop/seminar exploring current ideas about the link between how we learn and why we learn. How faculty can increase a sense of ownership/self-direction in students.

Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

A two-workshop program designed to introduce SoTL models to faculty interested in pursuing course/department/program based projects-where faculty focus, frame, and investigate their own, important questions related to student learning, within departmental/programmatic contexts.


CRITICAL THINKING WORKSHOPS

Critical Thinking Seminar

A multi-workshop program focused on defining, teaching, and assessing Critical Thinking, across the disciplines.


LEARNER CENTERED ASSESSMENT WORKSHOPS

Assessing Your Students' Oral Presentations

What do you want to accomplish when you have individual students do oral presentations/speeches in your class? This workshop is designed to assist faculty in assessing their students' presentational skills, in a way that complements matters of course content.

Assessment: Let's Get Practical

Collaborative Learning: Getting It Done With Groups

How and when can I use group work in my courses? This session explores how to design and assess group work with attention to the unique challenges these types of projects present.

Learner-Centered Assessment Seminar

A multi-workshop program, using the Huba & Freed text: Learner-Centered Assessment on College Campuses. Learn the techniques, and the ideas behind the techniques, of learner-centered teaching.

Learner-Centered Classes & Lecturing

How to blend more traditional lecturing approaches with the ideas/techniques behind a more student/learner-centered pedagogy.

Learner-Centered Classes & New Observation Rubric

A discussion of the origin and intent of the new classroom observation rubric being used when your class is visited by your supervisor.

Linking Rubrics to Grading

How to build rubrics around course/assignment outcomes, and then use those rubrics to improve grading practices and communicate expectations more clearly to students.

Linking Your Syllabus to the Course Outline

Discussion on how to connect your syllabus, lecture topics, assignments, and exams with departmentally established learning outcomes, as articulated on the Course Outline.

Planning Your Courses With Assessment In Mind

Ways to integrate course objectives and assess student learning in all aspects of a class, from syllabus design through classroom discussions, assignments and examinations.

Using Classroom Assessment Techniques

Best practices, using the Angelo & Cross text of the same name, for getting immediate feedback on the learning that's happening in your classes.

Writing-Intensive Seminar

A multi-workshop program to assist faculty assigned to teach Writing-Intensive sections of courses in their discipline.


STUDENT SUCCESS/INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING WORKSHOPS

Advising Workshops

A series of workshops related to key aspects of being a good advisor, e.g.: Advising EDUC majors; using the Graduation Audit; advising on the General Education curriculum.

Civic Engagement Pedagogy

A discussion of Service Learning, Project-based, and/or Problem-Based Learning, i.e. how to engage your students in real-world applications of course content, with these similar but different approaches.

Classroom Controversy

How to handle class discussions on controversial topics, dealing with "intellectually" disruptive behavior, managing your own point of view under such circumstances.

Classroom Management

Discussion of how to establish a learning environment, limit disruption, and collaborate with your colleagues on these challenges.

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Techniques for working with ESL/second-language learners in your classes. Evaluate your own intercultural communication apprehension.

Integrative Education

Drawing on the seminal work of Parker Palmer and reporting what we learned from a cutting-edge conference in early 2007, we will engage our colleagues in a rich and productive conversation about what motivates us and keeps us motivated in the classroom

Students With Disabilities & Pedagogy

How faculty can work appropriately with students who have learning/physical disabilities; how to access and help students access support services.

Understanding Your Hispanic Students

As the minority population increases in the United States, its impact at NCC becomes evident. This workshop will serve as a dialogue about Hispanic students at NCC.  Discussion will focus on the classroom setting, as well as on student services. We will discuss frequent stereotypes, as well as some of the positive characteristics associated with them.

SUPER SATURDAY SPRING 2007 MONROE CAMPUS

Classroom Management: Discussion of how to establish a learning environment, limit disruption, and collaborate with your colleagues on these challenges.

Collaborative Learning: Getting It Done With Groups: How and when can I use group work in my courses? This session explores how to design and assess group work, with attention to the unique challenges these types of assignments present.

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Techniques for working with ESL/second-language learners in your classes. Evaluate your own intercultural communication apprehension.

Evaluating On-Line Resources: A look at best methods for helping students evaluate websites, databases, blogs, wikis, etc., as they do research for your classes.

"Hybrid" Pedagogy: Ideas and techniques for combining on-campus classroom methods with electronic approaches, i.e. e-mail, Blackboard, blogs, wikis, etc.

Learner-Centered Classes & Lecturing: How to blend more traditional lecturing approaches with the ideas/techniques behind a more student-centered pedagogy.

Linking Your Syllabus to the Course Outline: Discussion on making best efforts to connect your syllabus with departmentally established learning outcomes, as articulated on the Course Outline.

Pedagogy for Students with Disabilities: How faculty can work appropriately with students who have learning/physical disabilities; how to access and help students access support services.

Project-Based Learning: How to engage your students in real-world applications of course content. Some discussion of Service Learning.

SmartRoom Workshop: A hands-on workshop where faculty will learn the "mechanics" of SmartRoom equipment/software, and have an opportunity to practice and become comfortable with the various components.

Using Classroom Assessment Techniques: Best practices, using the Cross & Angelo text of the same name, for getting immediate feedback on the learning that's happening in your classes.

TECHNOLOGY & LEARNING WORKSHOPS

Automated Formatting With Word

In this introductory workshop, you'll learn how to take advantage of Word's many automated features to simplify the process of formatting documents.  You can quickly change character formats such as bolding or foont style and paragraph formats such as line spacing or indents.  Word can automatically add page numbers or text that repeats at the top or bottom of every page.  The basics of saving, naming, finding and transporting files will also be covered.

Blackboard Assessments/Tests

Blackboard provides the option to administer online tests and quizzes for online or campus courses. Most question types can be graded automatically, and Blackboard can randomly select questions so that each student can take a different version of your test. In this hands-on workshop, you will create tests and find out the optimal settings for deploying your test. Prerequisites : Completion of the "Introduction to Blackboard" course and/or experience in setting up a course and a gradebook in Blackboard.

Blackboard Assignment Function

This hands-on workshop will focus on the Assignments tool in Blackboard, which enables you to easily manage student assignments. You can collect the assignment and enter a grade and feedback to the student all in one step. We will also discuss the many advantages of this tool over the Digital Dropbox and ways in which feedback can be provided in a Microsoft Word document. Prerequisites : Completion of the "Introduction to Blackboard" course and/or experience in setting up a course and a gradebook in Blackboard; familiarity with Microsoft Word is also recommended.

Blackboard Enterprise Features

Come and learn what new features are available through Blackboard Enterprise. You can now track if students have reviewed a course document, display content to students based on predetermined requirements, customize what language the navigation for your course is in, and much more! Prerequisites : Completion of the "Introduction to Blackboard" course and/or experience in setting up a course in Blackboard.

Blackboard Gradebook

Through Blackboard, you can post grades for all assignments, and your students will always know how they are doing in your course. In this hands-on workshop, you will create items in the Blackboard gradebook, set weights for various items, and post student grades. You will also download the gradebook and work with it in Microsoft Excel. Prerequisites : Completion of the "Introduction to Blackboard" course and/or experience in setting up a course in Blackboard; familiarity with Microsoft Excel is also recommended.

Blackboard Introduction

Although Blackboard is used primarily for online learning courses, it is also very useful for on-campus instructors who would like to make their syllabus and other information available to their students online. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to set up a Blackboard course, add and revise items, upload documents, and enroll students into the course. Prerequisites : Basic computer skills.

Blackboard Seminar

A multi-workshop program exploring the various components of Blackboard--like assignment-posting, testing, and grading--leading to a fuller range of options. For on-campus or online faculty.

Using Blackboard (Online)

This course is designed to introduce you to Blackboard, NCC's course content management program. Blackboard is used primarily for distance courses. However, any NCC faculty member may use its Web-based tools to enhance their on-campus courses. It is available from any computer that has Internet access; however, a user name and password are required.

To receive access to this course, send an e-mail to Elaine Vasko at evasko@northampton.edu. Please specify that you would like access to the Using Blackboard course, and identify your department and contact information in your e-mail.

Blackboard Introduction for Online Faculty (Online)

This online course is designed to introduce you to the Blackboard procedures that you must follow as an online instructor at Northampton Community College. Topics include an introduction to Blackboard, using the Discussion Forum, editing your course, attaching files and web links, posting announcements, enrolling students into your course, using the gradebook, online assessments and assignments, and preparing for the new semester.

To enroll into this course, send an e-mail to Elaine Vasko at evasko@northampton.edu. Please specify that you would like to enroll in the Blackboard Introduction for Online Faculty, and identify your department and contact information in your e-mail.

Blackboard Introduction for Campus Faculty (Online)

This online course is designed to introduce you to Blackboard, NCC's course content management program. Topics include an introduction to Blackboard, getting started with Blackboard, editing your course, attaching files, enrolling students into your course, and course setup.

To enroll into this course, send an e-mail to Elaine Vasko at evasko@northampton.edu. Please specify that you would like to enroll in the Blackboard Introduction for Campus Faculty, and identify your department and contact information in your e-mail.

What's New in Blackboard 7.3?

Blackboard 7.3 provides major enhancements to the Discussion Board and minor improvements to other features such assessments, gradebook, and announcements. In this session, we will go over the new Discussion Board as well as briefly cover highlighted changes to several tools in the new version.

Blended Learning

Ideas and techniques for combining on-campus classroom methods with electronic approaches, i.e. mail, Blackboard, blogs, wikis, etc.

Audience Response System (a.k.a "Clickers") - Level I

An introduction on the usage of NCC's standard classroom audience response system called TurningPoint.  Engage your students and obtain immediate feedback of student's comprehension of subject matter in a classroom setting.

Audience Response System (a.k.a "Clickers") - Level II

There’s a lot more to "clicking"! Explore the assessment power of this technology. Use advanced slides & participant lists. Set up groups and run competitions. Learn more about reports and using other content. Keep your students engaged. Prerequisite: Experience with TurningPoint or attendance at previous workshop (Level I).

"Clickers" Seminar

A two-workshop program on how to integrate polling devices into your classes, for classroom assessment/testing purposes.

Copyright Workshop

Keep up on the latest rules related to fair use, whether for class or otherwise, whether from hard-copy or electronic sources.

E-Portfolios - The Whole Story

This workshop will introduce the participants to the use of electronic portfolios. The session will begin with an introduction to the types of electronic portfolio systems and their application in the college classroom. Examples of electronic portfolios will be demonstrated. A portion of the workshop will be a summary of the results of a combined Education and Computer Science Faculty Innovation Grant. Following the presentation, any participant who would like to try out the ePortfolio system will be given a free access code and additional training, if necessary.

Evaluating Online Resources

A look at best methods for helping students evaluate websites, databases, blogs, wikis, etc., as they do research for your classes.

Faculty Blackboard Showcase Lunch & Learn

The Blackboard program enables you to post documents that your students can access at any time via the Internet. It also provides many other tools such as a discussion board, online quizzes, and an assignment management function. This video presentation showcases how various faculty members use Blackboard to enhance their students’ classroom experience as well as to save time and paper. A box lunch will be provided.

The GroupWise Calendar lets you display your personal appointments and will even remind you when the time comes. If you are scheduling a meeting, you can check for a time when all the invitees and resources you need are available. When a person accepts your meeting invitation, the meeting automatically appears on his or her calendar. Learn how to use these functions and more in this hands-on workshop.

Information Literacy

Best practices for improving your students' Information Literacy skills. How to assess those skills. Results from recent FIG.

Excel Introduction

Have you ever needed to tabulate any kind of information?  In this introductory session you will learn the basics of setting up a worksheet and performing calculations.  This will include working with columns and rows and navigating the worksheet/workbook.  Participants must already have a good understanding of Windows XP interface and basic PC file management.

Excel Intermediate

This hands-on session will focus primarily on how to perform calculations in an Excel worksheet. Topics include building formulas, order of operations, copying formulas, using absolute cell references, sorting data, and using the Autofill feature. Participants must already have basic Excel skills such as navigating through a worksheet; opening and printing files; entering and formatting text and data; and creating and saving a simple worksheet.

Meet iMac!

Using NetOp to Control Your Classroom Computers

Have you been frustrated by students surfing the web while you’re conducting a lecture? Tired of students playing games and “IM’ing” when they should be completing a project in the computer lab? NetOp control software gives instructors the ability to view, control and direct all student computers in the classroom. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn the basic features and functions of the NetOp Teachers edition along with pedagogical considerations and application.

PowerPoint Introduction

In this session, you will learn the basic steps for creating a PowerPoint presentation, including how to insert graphics, format text, work with templates, and run the slide show. This is the second of two in a series aimed at creating productive PowerPoint presentations.