**Programs Notice - Feb. 18-25**
Due to tragic events on February 14, 2008 and the activities scheduled for the following week, Faculty Development programs scheduled for February 18 - 25, 2008 have been canceled. However, our staff is available for consultations on the topics of the canceled workshops or related topics.
Please feel free to contact us for consultation appointments. We will reschedule the canceled programs at a later date. Thank you for your understanding of the situation and if we can be of any assistance, please let us know.
Teaching with the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Bloom’s taxonomy was developed in the 1950’s and is still used today to categorize ways of learning and thinking in a hierarchical structure. A revised model was developed in the 1990’s to better fit educational practices of the 21st century. Learn how you can employ the revised Bloom’s taxonomy to help plan effective instruction and challenge students to move from the most basic skills (remembering) to more complex learning which leads to higher order thinking (creating). Bring a list of instructional goals and objectives to the workshop. Advanced registration is required.
Blackboard I: Introduction to Blackboard
Thursday, February 7, 2008 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Learn the basics of creating and developing a course in Blackboard, NIU's Web Course Management System. Participants will get an overview of course layout and navigation, have an opportunity to place materials in a sample course, and also get assistance with requesting their own Blackboard courses. Participants who wish to request their courses during the workshop need to have an active NIU AccountID. Prerequisites: Knowledge of Web browsing and basic computing skills. Advanced registration is required.
Blackboard II: Building Your Blackboard Course
Monday, February 11, 2008 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am
This hands-on workshop is a follow-up to the Blackboard I: Introduction to Blackboard workshop; we will cover the specifics of developing a course in Blackboard, including personalizing course navigation, setting up a materials-delivery structure and creating discussion areas. Participants will work in their own Blackboard courses and should bring to the session any course materials they want to upload or work with during the workshop. Files need to be on a flash drive (readable in a USB port) or on CD. Prerequisites: Basic computer skills and attendance at the Blackboard I: Introduction to Blackboard workshop or previous experience using Blackboard. Advanced registration is required.
Podcasting Series: Audio Podcasting
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am
While the Introduction to Podcasting workshop provided participants with an overview of podcasting technology, the Audio Podcast workshop will be a more thorough hands-on experience for preparing audio content for online distribution. Topics will include a discussion of the pedagogy behind audio podcasts, a review of hardware/ software necessary for audio capture, editing, and file conversion, and a review of procedures to make content available for students to subscribe. Prerequisite: Introduction to Podcasting workshop or previous experience with Podcasting. No iPods are necessary to participate. Advanced registration is required.
Presidential Teaching Professor Seminar “Learning Through Experience: Using the Five Senses and More to Create Musical Awareness in all its Dimensions” by Robert Chappell (School of Music)
Thursday, February 14, 2008, Capitol Room, Holmes Student Center
Refreshments from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm, Seminar from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
In the musical arts, different senses are involved in the learning and understanding of the aural, visual, and spatial dimensions of music. This presentation by Robert Chappell (School of Music) will focus on employing all of the senses in musical learning and will culminate with the audience performing on instruments Professor Chappell has gathered from different parts of the world. Sponsored by Office of the Provost and Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center. No registration is required. Everyone is welcome!
Configuring the Blackboard Gradebook
Friday, February 15, 2008 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Maintaining a gradebook in Blackboard has many advantages: students really enjoy quickly checking their assignment and test grades online--and faculty benefit as they spend less time distributing this information. But efficiently setting up the Blackboard gradebook can present some challenges. This hands-on workshop provides assistance with creating gradebook settings and downloading and uploading data into the Blackboard gradebook. Participants will work in their own Blackboard courses. Prerequisites: basic computer skills and attendance at the Blackboard I: Introduction to Blackboard workshop or previous experience using Blackboard. Advanced registration is required.
**CANCELED** Personalizing the “Look” of Your Blackboard Course
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Learn the basics of how to customize the interface of your Blackboard course. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn basic interface design principles and have the opportunity to create a customized course banner and buttons for use in their own Blackboard course. Prerequisites: basic computer skills and attendance at the Blackboard I: Introduction to Blackboard workshop or previous experience using Blackboard. Advanced registration is required.
**CANCELED** Dynamic Classroom Discussions
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Classroom discussions can help students better understand content, take a more active role in their learning, and foster a sense of community. This workshop will answer the question, “why have discussions?” and will highlight ways to design and use classroom discussions to create a dynamic teaching and learning experience. Advanced registration is required.
**CANCELED** Understanding and Using Assessment Results
Friday, February 22, 2008 from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm
This hands-on workshop by Ms. Linda Suskie (Vice President, Middle States Commission on Higher Education ) will focus on reviewing sources of the recent increase in pressures for accountability, what higher education’s public is asking for, and how the higher education community might respond. Workshop will focus on (1) the characteristics of “good” assessments that meet accreditors’ expectations, (2) identifying the decisions that an assessment should inform, (3) identifying benchmarks for interpreting assessment results, (3) tips on sharing results meaningfully, and (4) using results to improve teaching and learning. This workshop is designed to assist faculty and staff in improving their use of assessment results. Sponsored by Office of the Provost and Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center. Advanced registration is required. For more information or to register online, go to http://www.facdev.niu.edu/facdev/programs/02222008.shtml.
**CANCELED** Using the Blackboard Content Collection to Manage Your Course Content
Monday, February 25, 2008 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am
With the release of the new Blackboard Content Collection feature, NIU faculty has an easy and efficient way to store, share, and manage their course content. The Content Collection feature fully integrates with the Blackboard System and provides an easy way for faculty to manage files, grant file permissions, and link the same files to multiple courses and sections without the need for duplication. This session will provide a preview of the Blackboard Content Collection and will walk participants through the process of managing course content using the new features and tools. Prerequisites: basic computer skills and attendance at the Blackboard I: Introduction to Blackboard workshop or previous experience using Blackboard. Advanced registration is required.
Creating and Publishing Streaming Media with Real Producer
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am
This hands-on workshop is intended for faculty who intend to stream video/audio clips online. Participants will capture video/audio and encode the clip with Real Helix software for the purpose of streaming. Participants will also be shown how to upload these files to the university's media server using an FTP program. Previous attendance at a video capturing workshop is preferred but not required. Advanced registration is required and seating is very limited.
Blackboard Open Lab
Thursday, February 28, 2008 from 10:00 am 12:00 pm, Adams Hall, Room 323
Open lab provides an excellent opportunity for faculty and staff to ask specific questions about Blackboard and other teaching-related technologies. Staff from Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center will be on hand to individually address your questions. We cannot provide an overview of Blackboard at this session, but will be happy to answer specific questions about using Blackboard and other instructional technologies. No registration required.
Please email Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center at facdev@niu.edu or register online at http://www.facdev.niu.edu/facdev/forms/fsprogreg.shtml. Program locations will be made available when you register. If you register for a program and are unable to attend it, please notify the Center at least two working days in advance so that those on the waiting list can be given the opportunity to attend that program.
Previous Month | Current Month | Next Month >>| Year View
Last Updated: 2/22/2008