College of Education Offers Technology Training to Faculty, Staff, Students
The College of Education Technology Committee is offering a series of technology training sessions for faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and work study students. The training sessions are designed to enhance individuals’ technological skills, increase the efficiency of faculty, departments, the college, and the Professional Education Unit, and foster a technology friendly environment. The training is divided into two categories: traditional technologies, and online technologies.
Traditional technology training offers opportunities for improvement in the use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sundae Fowler is offering a session on the resources available in the Technology Learning Center. Other sessions target classroom technology utilization (i.e., video projectors, document cameras, and Smartboard technology).
Renee Le Beau Ford, Torreyson Library, is hosting a session on library resources and how to effectively utilize them for online teaching and learning. An online teaching and learning forum will be offered. The topic for the forum is synchronous vs. asynchronous learning environments. Tonya McKinney will host a session on the use of Tegrity for video capture and video streaming in the online classroom. Faculty also have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one training with Dr. Stephanie Huffman on the use of Centra and Blackboard. Additional training will be offered in the Spring 2011 semester.
First Ten-Year Self-Study Completed for CSPA Program
The site visit for the external program review of the College Student Personnel Services and Administration (CSPA) program in Leadership Studies at the University of Central Arkansas was held Feb. 1.
Prior to the on-site visit, two external reviewers were provided more than 150 pages of documentation on the program. Specifically, this self study was designed to illustrate how successfully the program and faculty met the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board Existing Program Review criteria adopted in October 2008. The policy requires that an internal review by institutions and an external review by consultants occur every 7-10 years.
Dr. Tony W. Cawthon, Clemson University, and Dr. Maureen Wilson, Bowling Green State University were the external reviewers for the self study. Prior to the on-site visit, both individuals reviewed the AHECB guidelines, the department’s self study document, andidentified issues and questions to be used in the evaluation process.
Listed below are a few excerpts from Dr. Cawthon’s and Dr. Wilson’s report:
Strengths: Current students, alumni and collaborative partners consistently throughout the day spoke to the strength of the curriculum. The breadth of this curriculum emphasis (counseling and administration courses) enhances the likelihood that the program will be able to compete nationally.
All constituent groups identified the program faculty as the “glue” of the program. They were reported to be content experts, student—centered, committed to outstanding teaching and instruction, quality research and scholarship, and service.
After one day, I saw that the program not only speaks about creating personal relationships with students, but their behavior reflects this philosophy. Graduates of the program are very successful in achieving jobs in student affairs, with 88% getting a job and 86% employed three years out from graduation.
Recommendations: (1) addition of at least one faculty position; (2) more library resources; (3) review existing admissions criteria, especially the GPA and GRE requirements; (4) review the number of hours awarded for thesis credit; (5) increase the number of graduate assistantships;and (6) improve communication and collaboration between program and the Division of Student Affairs.
The CSPA faculty has responded to the recommendations with a report that addresses each recommendation.
2010 National Virtual Case Study Winners
UCA’s College Student Personnel Services and Administration (CSPA) team was selected as a national case study winner in the “Most Educational” category, taking third place in the 2010 National Virtual Case Study.
Teams were asked to create two, 1-4 minute, New Student Orientation videos. The CSPA team consisted of Joe Wheeler, Mike Simpson, Nathan Lynch and James Goin. Each team member received a $50 award. Prizes were awarded for Most Educational and Most Creative.
Past performances by UCA/CSPA grads include Third Place for Most Creative in 2009; Fourth Place in 2008; Second Place in 2007; and Third Place in 2006.
Additional information about the case study competition and the videos can be found in the Spring Edition of The Journal of Technology in Student Affairs The National Virtual Case Study Competition sponsored by Student Affairs. Com is open to graduate students matriculating in a Masters level program in student personnel administration, higher education, or counseling for at least six credits during the corresponding spring semester. This year marked the 9th Annual Virtual Case Study Competition.
Summer 2010 Internship Leads to National Recognition
One of the current CSPA students, Nathan Lynch, wrote a blog about his Summer 2010 internship experiences in China. Recently, Nathan began collaborating on a national blog with Stuart Brown who coordinates the website studentaffairs.com. To learn more, you can go to Nathan’s China Blog at: http://theotherclassroom.wordpress.com/.
Department of Teaching and Learning Attend annual Bookcase Literacy Banquet
Faculty and staff from the UCA College of Education Department of Teaching and Learning attended the 3rd Annual Bookcase Literacy Banquet held at Bob Courtway Middle School in Conway on Oct. 21. Former State Senator Stanley Russ presided over the enjoyable evening. Bookcase Literacy Project founder Jim Davidson delivered the keynote address.
Since its inception in 2005, the members of the Conway Bookcase Literacy Project Committee, with bountiful help from the community, have built and presented 300 quality, personalized oak bookcases featuring a starter set of books to preschool children in the Conway Housing Authority and Head Start Program. This volunteer project uses no tax money or grants of any kind. The project focuses on giving back to the community with a focus on literacy.
Faculty and staff from the Department of Teaching and Learning generously bought a table for the event. The funds will be used for building 50 bookcases to be presented to young children in April 2011. Additionally, books for young children were donated to the Bookcase Literacy Project by faculty and staff from the College of Education. Filling the bookshelves with high quality books for preschoolers helps to get books in each child’s hands and to promote a head start on school. Special thanks to Jamie Alea, Tammy Benson, Gary Bunn, Mara Cawein, Sue Farris, Terri Hebert, Maree Herring, and their families, along with other faculty and staff from the Department of Teaching and Learning who contributed to this worthy cause. If you would like more information about or to contribute to Bookcase Literacy Project, contact Dr. Tammy Benson, chair of the COE Department of Teaching and Learning, who serves on the Conway Bookcase Literacy Project Committee.