Volume I Number 3
February 1995

Faculty Center Opens Doors

Monday, January 30, marked the opening of the Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, housed in the Cooper Homestead. It will be open every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoon between 3 and 5 p.m. The Advisory Board of the Faculty Center invites all faculty to pop in for tea any Monday through Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. We will provide tea, cups, and perhaps a biscuit or two. You will provide fascinating discussion related to the teaching and learning process. Together we will have regular opportunities for the informal exchange of ideas and for identifying and addressing issues pertinent to the teaching and learning process. During this semester we will share the Cooper Homestead with the nurse. Please, when you drop by, use the door with the Faculty Center sign on it.

The Faculty Center's Newsletters will keep you current on the schedule of programs offered. The last page of every issue is likely to ask you for your suggestions and preferences for the Center's programming. We will use the last page also to engage your help in developing the Center. We are starting slowly and with very little. However, we hope to expand hours with the help of volunteers, and we hope to make the Center more comfortable through donations. Please complete and return the last page of this newsletter to let us know what you are looking for in the Center as well as to tell us how you can contribute.

Kerber & Korb Initiate Facilitators' Programs

Our first two Faculty Center Facilitators are Gwen Kerber (Division of the Arts) and Barbara Korb (Division of Business, Mathematics, and Information Science). Many of you learned of their projects on In-Service Day. Those who would like additional opportunities to meet with the Facilitators and learn what they are offering faculty are invited to attend open sessions in the Faculty Center on Monday, February 6 and Thursday, February 9 at 3 p.m. In addition, Gwen (extension 8422) will be available in the Faculty Center every Thursday from 3-5 p.m.; Barbara (extension 8043) every Monday from 3-5 p.m.

Getting Started

Because the Faculty Center is opening with very little, we are seeking donations to make the Center feel inviting. Please check your basements, attics, and garages for comfy furniture in good condition that you can let us use in the Cooper Homestead. We are also looking for a microwave oven, a capuccino machine, lamps, and any other items you feel will contribute to making the Center a comfortable place for faculty. We had planned to request a refrigerator, but a faculty member has provided one already!

In-Service Day Reports

The first reports from In-Service Day sessions have begun to arrive. Several sessions served to elicit faculty thinking about a range of issues. Reports follow. 

The Grants Process

Rebecca Stevenson, Grants Coordinator, led two sessions on the grants process. Based on her interactions with faculty attending the sessions, she forwarded the following observations: Faculty are interested in the Center's serving as a conduit, site, or facilitator for: 

Providing access to:

• The College Grants Bulletin Board
• The College Grants Bulletin Board
• A "grants corner," complete with computer workstation, appropriate databases, and training and support
• Information according to identified areas of interest among faculty (distributed via e-mail) 
• A database listing faculty who have written proposals who are willing to serve as resources for those seeking mentoring or encouragement
• Addresses for sources on grants information available on the Internet

Sponsoring:

• Panel discussions led by experienced campus grant applicants, recipients
• Use of the Center newsletter to distribute information on fellowship opportunities and on proposals and projects in progress

Ideal Teaching/Learning Environments

Faculty attending the brainstorming sessions on Ideal Teaching/Learning Environments discussed minimal conditions necessary for learning to occur. Recommendations are being forwarded for consideration in future building projects. Participants in the two sessions built on the work of the Teaching/ Learning Subgroup of the Information Technology Group and came up with:

Every learning space requires:

• Uniform lighting that is controllable (e.g., dimmers, directable light sources)
• A source of natural light with provisions for blocking (e.g., shades)
• Comfortable temperatures
• Acoustics that support, rather than interfere with, learning
• Flexible seating arrangements to suit function (e.g., interaction, performance)
• Chalkboards, chalk in good condition
• Safety and ventilation standards met
• Secure storage area
• Local control of presentation
• Institutional maintenance and support for any and all learning devices
• Multiple outlets, fiber optic, and network connections near or in desks
• Large desk surfaces
• Consistency in time-telling sources

Some learning spaces require:

• Accommodations for individual program needs determined by program areas
• Flexible seating, flexible walls
• Provisions for multimedia use
• Provisions for confidentiality

Every learner requires:

• Quiet study areas
• Collaborative study areas where groups can work and talk
• Access to communication networks within and beyond campus
• Acxcess to learning resources
• Access to technological support

Every teacher requires:

• Local control of programming/ presentation, security codes, storage
• Means of contacting help in emergency
• Quiet work areas and collaborative work areas
• Access to communication networks within and beyond campus
• Access to professional development & research resources
• Access to technological training, support

Facilitators' Projects

Summaries of the two Facilitators' projects follow. Please contact either of the Facilitators to explore further how they may contribute to your teaching efforts.

Visual learning across the curriculum

Gwen Kerber's goal is to work with faculty, individually or in small groups, to strengthen the visual aspect of presentation of materials in order better to reach students who learn more effectively through visual means.

 It is fairly well established that not all people learn in the same manner. A linear/ verbal approach works well for some, while for others a spatial/visual, or even kinesthetic approach is more effective. By strengthening the visual aspect of how material is presented, perhaps a greater portion can be accessible to more students. From this perspective, any attempt to enhance the visual aspect of all presentations can be viewed as a step toward accommodating the range of learning styles.

 A faculty member might want to learn to sketch simple anatomical illustrations while lecturing. Another might prefer help in redesigning overhead slides and handouts so they are more quickly and clearly understood. Another might want help in finding or creating some visual material where none is currently used. The precise form of this project will be shaped by the needs of the particular faculty members who choose to avail themselves of Gwen's experience.

 Using the computer outside the classroom

Barbara Korb aims to provide support for faculty using computers to organize and display information. She is available to help us look good in print and to provide general purpose help on computer software.

Using any wordprocessing program, faculty can enhance their handouts (e.g., course information sheet, project descriptions, tests). Possibilities include various print spacing options and layouts; selection of print fonts; different print sizes; different print styles (bold, italics, underline); inclusion of borders, clip-art, and graphics.

 Barbara is willing to aid in the development and/or enhancement of spreadsheets and databases for course or program of study management tasks such as grade calculations, graphs, data organization, data selection criteria, or report generation.

Now It's Your Turn

 Please comment on the two sessions in which you participated on In-Service Day and on what else you would like the Faculty Center to make available. The Advisory Board will use your responses to try to improve future offerings and to schedule sessions according to your interests

Reminder:  The following programs were offered on In-Service Day:

• Panel Discussion on Distance Learning Multi-Media Demonstration
• Approaching the Information On-Ramp Facilitators' Projects
• Ideal Teaching/Learning Environment The Grants Process
• Informal Discussion on Alternatives to Lecturing

1.  Which session did you attend first?
   • What were its strengths?
   • What would you improve, and how?
2. Which session did you attend second?
   • What were its strengths? 
   • What would you improve, and how?
3. Which sessions would you like us to offer again in the Faculty Center?
4. What additional sessions would you like us to offer in the future?
5. Are you satisfied with the Center's hours of operation (M-Th, 3-5pm)?
   • If not, what alternate hours do you recommend?
6. Would you like the Center's hours extended?
   • If so, are you willing to volunteer to spend one hour per week in the Center?
   • What time(s) are you available?
7. We are seeking donations or items on loan to make the Center more comfortable. For example, two faculty members from the Division of the Arts have allowed us to brighten our walls with their art work. Another has lent us a small refrigerator. Do you have furniture, a microwave, a small lamps, or other items you are willing to contribute or lend to the Center?
   • Items available:
   • Do you need help with delivery?
8. What else do you want to suggest for the Faculty Center? How better can we serve the faculty?