Can Students Survive Without Social Media?

Readers,


Sometimes, I ask myself - "Can college students actually survive without technology?" Well, one college actually decided to see how college students would react to a sans technology campus. This university blocked Twitter and Facebook on campus computers. Here's the interesting caveat, I wonder if the students accessed the technology on their cell phones. hmmm.... Would this be considered "cheating"?

Well, the article addressed this as well...

Critics noted students could visit the sites with smartphones or by walking to nearby buildings with free WiFi. But Darr said the point was not to prevent access so much as to get people to think critically about the role of social media in their lives.

In my opinion, this was an ingenious strategy to enable college students to see what their lives would actually be like without having technological interruptions every few minutes.

Here were some interesting "findings":

But during the ban, 33 percent of students reported feeling less stressed. Twenty-one percent said they used their normal social networking time to do homework, while 10 percent said they read online news.

Some students changed their study methods. Darr cited a Facebook-based tutoring effort that was failing to explain a complex biology process to students; they grasped the concept only after a face-to-face meeting during the blackout, he said.

Here's the link to the article - http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2010/12/10/pa_college_social_media_blackout_wins_converts/

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

American Council on Education Report - "Recent Graduates Say Degrees Are Worth Time, Money Spent"

Readers,

Today, the American Council on Education released a reported, "Recent Graduates Say Degrees Are Worth Time, Money Spent".

This article featured the following figure:

Prepare for employment	28%
Prepare to be responsible citizens	11%
Teach to learn and think critically	31%
Conduct research that benefits community	1%
Serve the community	2%
Prepare to solve problems facing our country	17%
Produce innovations that fuel economic development	6%

This report focuses on the curricular and extra curricular benefits of higher education.

Here's the link to the article - Nearly 90% of Young Alumni Say Going to College Was Worth It, Survey Finds - Government - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Enjoy!

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

iPad Pilots at U Houston and CDI College Take Off -- Campus Technology

Readers,

As all of you probably know by now, I am a technology junkie. However, I love integrating technology in my courses. Unfortunately, I have only seen two other iPads (aside from my own) on campus and they belonged to the Communication Department and to another department on campus. As of today, I have not seen ANY students with iPads OR e-readers. However, a large amount of the students and faculty have iPod Touch devices and/or an iPhone.

Today, I read an article titled, "iPad Pilots at U Houston and CDI College Take Off -- Campus Technology". This is an AMAZING venture from the University of Houston's College of Communication and the U of H Educational Technology department. They have a course titled "Information and Communication Technologies", in which they equipped their students with iPads for the next eight weeks. Here's some more information about the project.

Kudos to the University of Houston right now. I would LOVE

to provide my students with such an exciting experience! I wonder where the research will be published. :)

Here's some additional information about the project:

"At the University of Houston a joint project between the School of Communication and the Education Technology and University Outreach organization will research the impact of 'anytime, anywhere' learning over the final eight weeks of the current semester. A team of professors has created an iPad application for an Information and Communication Technologies course with 30 students. COMM 3353 iApp, which will be used in an elective class in the journalism program, contains learning modules with video lectures, textbook material, presentations, tutorials, and simulations"

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Google vs. Blackboard - Is It a Reality?

Readers,

My husband and I are huge Google fans. In fact, I integrate Google into my blackboard course ANY POSSIBLE way that I can! Through my non-existent "power point slides"... they are all Google Presentations now... to my online assignments through Google Forms, I do not even have to log on to Blackboard (which can sometimes be a cumbersome process) to check students' progress on an assignment.

Lately, my husband has been asking... "So, why doesn't Google complete with Blackboard"? Apparently, a lot of people have been pondering the same question. Here's an article that I discovered today, "Google: Groupon? Not Blackboard?"

In the article, the author states, "Google should buy Blackboard and take the following actions:

• Move gBlackboard as quickly as the market will bear to an all cloud-based, multi-tenancy delivery system. This will drastically reduce implementation costs, allowing the price of the software to drop quickly.

• Deeply integrate gBlackboard with Google Apps for Education, gDrive (Google Storage), and the content available on YouTube/EDU.

• Follow a plan to bring the licensing fee for public institutions to gBlackboard down to zero.

These actions may prove to be great moves for the increasing amount of cash-strapped higher education institutions who are actively seeking cost-cutting measures to help them stay afloat.

Google - If you hear us, we need an intervention!

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Publication Opportunity! - The Internet and Higher Education: Online Learning Environments (Due Date - June 1st)

Readers,

I just discovered a great publication opportunity on the "Instructional Systems @ FSU" blog. for anyone focused on emotions in online learning environments! :)

Here's the information:

The Internet and Higher Education

Special Issue Call for Papers on Emotions in Online Learning Environments: Theory, Research, and Practice

Special Issue Editor: Anthony R. Artino, Jr. Ph.D.

Scholars have recently called for more inquiry on the role of emotions

in education. Although the dynamics of emotions that emerge during

online learning may be less apparent than those experienced during

traditional classroom instruction, limited empirical evidence suggests

that emotions are important contributors to learning and achievement

in online environments. However, educators currently know little

about the complexity of student and teacher emotions and their

potential influence on academic outcomes in online contexts.

Accordingly, The Internet and Higher Education (INTHIG) invites papers

for a special issue focusing on understanding the role of emotions in

online learning environments (OLEs). Specific areas of interest

include, but are not limited to:

How emotions develop and evolve in OLEs;

How students and teachers regulate their emotions in OLEs;

Emotional states and traits in online learning processes;

Assessing emotions in OLEs;

The influence of emotions on cognition, motivation, behavior,

collaboration, and achievement in OLEs;

The emotional experience of being an online instructor;

How emotional factors can be integrated into existing theories of

online learning; and

OLE design features and instructional activities that impact student

and teacher emotions.

Manuscripts that focus on theoretical, empirical, and practical issues

will be considered, and manuscripts that employ qualitative,

quantitative, and mixed-methods designs are welcomed and encouraged.

All submissions should follow the usual format for INTHIG submissions

and should adhere to existing INTHIG Author Guidelines, which can be

found on the submission website (see link below).

Authors are requested to submit manuscripts via the Elsevier Editorial

System no later than June 1, 2011. The submission website can be

found at http://ees.elsevier.com/inthig. To ensure all manuscripts

are correctly identified for inclusion into the special issue, authors

are asked to please select <<>> when they reach the

“Article Type” step in the submission process.

To request additional information, please contact the Special Issue Editor:

Anthony R. Artino, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Phone: (301) 319-6988, Email: anthony.artino@usuhs.mil (email preferred)

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

My December Grading List - I see the finish line!

Happy December Everyone!

This is always crunch time for me! I am grading assignments like CRAZY this weekend!

Here's my grading list:
- Undergraduate Research Reflections (on Blackboard)
- Undergraduate Research Reflections (on Chalk and Wire)
- Post-Research Reflection of Google Documents (EXCEPT Online Sections)
- "Make Your Own Test Question" Assignment (EXCEPT Online Sections)
- Upload Tests on Blackboard and Type Test Questions
- 10 Days of Twitter Extra Credit Assignment
- "Become a Researcher" Extra Credit Assignment
- Note Cards and Post-It Note Assignment (In-Class Mini Tests)
- Grade 45 COMS 101 Informative Speeches
- Virtual Office Hours Assessment (Added 12.7.2010)
- Cross Apply REAL Paper Grades from Blackboard
ONLINE ITEMS:
- AItem - Ch. 15 - MMS Critique DQ
- AItem - Ch. 15 - Persuasive Propositions
- AItem - Digital Dirt Presentation DQ
- AItem - Ch. 5 - Listening Apprehension
- AItem - Ch. 11 - Research Your/Business
- AItem - Ch. 12 - Main Points and Transitions
- AItem - Ch. 6 - The Relationship Stages
- AItem - Ch. 7 - Conflict Outcomes and Characters

I would LOVE to continue decorating and shopping for the holidays, but I LOVE to scratch items from my to do list.

Here's goes nothing! :)

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

32 Colleges Are Named Most Friendly to Junior Faculty - Labor & Work-Life Issues - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Readers,

Recently, I received an e-mail from an administrator friend who always keeps me abreast of new developments/issues regarding higher education faculty.

According to this article, "32 Colleges Are Named Most Friendly to Junior Faculty", there are a few colleges in the United States that are focused on retaining their faculty. These innovative retention policies focus on the following: better policies for faculty with families, clarity of expectation for tenure, and other important issues.

So, I started to think about that policies that would matter to junior faculty from the millennial generation. Here's my list:

- Clear research and teaching expectations for the tenure process.

- Opportunities to collaborate with other junior faculty on research.

- Funds for travel to academic conferences.

- A flexible teaching policy for teaching, research, and service AND for junior faculty who are parents (maybe an option to teach online or hybrid courses).

These would be the faculty benefits that I would look for in a department if I were on the academic job search.

What items would YOU add to the list?

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

The NEW Issue of Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education

The latest issue of "Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education" is now available on the Ed/ITLib Digital Library.

Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education Vol. 10, No. 3 (September 2010)
Table of Contents

Copying Right and Copying Wrong with Web 2.0 Tools in the Teacher Education and Communications Classrooms
Ewa McGrail, Georgia State University, USA; J. Patrick McGrail, Jacksonville State University, USA
Abstract: http://www.editlib.org/p/30354

Making Sure What You See is What You Get: Digital Video Technology and the Pre-Service Preparation of Teachers of Elementary Science
Paul Bueno de Mesquita, Ross Dean & Betty Young, University of Rhode Island, USA
Abstract: http://www.editlib.org/p/32406

Using Digital Primary Sources to Teach Historical Perspective to Preservice Teachers
Scott Waring, University of Central Florida, USA; Cheryl Franklin Torrez, The University of New Mexico, USA
Abstract: http://www.editlib.org/p/29480

The Impact of and the Key Elements for a Successful Virtual Early Field Experience: Lessons Learned from a Case Study
Lily Compton, Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching, USA; Niki Davis, University of Cantebury, New Zealand
Abstract: http://www.editlib.org/p/30479

Grounded in Theory: Immersing Pre-Service Teachers in Technology-Mediated Learning Designs
Donna DeGennaro, University of Massachusetts - Boston, USA
Abstract: http://www.editlib.org/p/32358

Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education
http://www.aace.org
E-mail: info@aace.org

© Copyright 2005-2009 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

NAGAP Announces Research Grant ~ Deadline for Submission December 15

The National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals is the only professional organization devoted exclusively to the concerns of individuals working in the graduate admissions and recruitment environment. The NAGAP Graduate Student Enrollment Management Research Grant is designed to encourage emerging knowledge and understanding of the complexities of graduate enrollment management including all aspects of admissions and recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation in higher education. The grant is open to all graduate students who desire to conduct research in the wide range of graduate enrollment management activities and programs including any aspect of recruiting, enrolling, retaining and graduating professional, masters, and doctoral level degree students.

This award includes:

 *   $2,500, payable directly to the individual researcher. NAGAP will not pay institutional overhead or indirect costs.
 *   One year of NAGAP membership with full privileges.
 *   Travel to and registration for the NAGAP national conference during the year of the award.
 *   Recognition at the NAGAP national conference.

The deadline for submissions is December 15. Please visit our website for more information and guidelines http://www.nagap.org/research/. Please contact Kristen Sterba (kmsterba@uams.edu) with any questions.

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Students Remain Reluctant to Try E-Textbooks, Survey Finds - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Students Remain Reluctant to Try E-Textbooks, Survey Finds - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

How connected are your professors? More so than some might think. | The Daily Collegian

How connected are your professors? More so than some might think. | The Daily Collegian

"The May 4 survey asked 939 professors at two and four-year colleges if they had at least one account with Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Google Wave, Skype, LinkedIn or Slideshare. Eighty percent said they used at least one of these functions, with 60 percent reporting that they had accounts with more than one social media site."

"Social media may be too broad a term to use when examining professors’ online activity. In a May 4 article on the college news site Inside Higher Ed, journalist Steve Kolowich wrote that, “not all Web 2.0 tools are created equal. Among respondents to the Babson survey, YouTube was the preferred tool for teaching, with more than a fifth of professors using material from the video-sharing community in class.”

Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards

Let the 2010-2011 National Learn & Serve Challenge Begin!!!

Let the 2010-2011 National Learn & Serve Challenge Begin

This week, thousands of young people, educators, community partners, civic leaders, and parents/families will commit to speaking up for service-learning in their local schools and communities. Our goals are simple:

1. To increase public awareness about service-learning as an effective strategy for school success, youth development and civic engagement;
2. To increase the number of service-learning opportunities available to young people in both school and community-based organizations; and
3. To increase public support for service-learning in local schools and communities nationwide.

ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE. Be a voice for service-learning this school year. Commit to spread the word about the power of service-learning. The Challenge will provide you with simple, but strategic ways to take action from October 2010 through April 2011 to build public awareness and support for service-learning.

Get Started with 3 Simple Steps:

1. SIGN-UP. Put your service-learning site on the national map of voices for service-learning. Enroll as an individual, classroom, youth group, club, school/campus, school district, organization, or community-wide initiative. Accept the Challenge now. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lschallengeregistry-2010

2. BECOME A CHALLENGE PARTNER. List your school or organization as a proud supporter of service-learning and a partner in the National Learn & Serve Challenge. Become a Partner today. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lschallengepartners-2010

3. INVITE 5 FRIENDS TO PARTICIPATE WITH YOU. Download sample language to email friends, post on your website or share through your social networks to encourage others to help spread the word about service-learning. http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/site/DocServer/LSChallenge-VirtualNetworking

For updates and information about ongoing opportunities to increase awareness and support for service-learning this week and throughout the year, visit the Learn & Serve Challenge website ( www.learnandservechallenge.org) or follow us on Twitter (@nslp).

Sign up today. Your voice matters! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lschallengeregistry-2010

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Your Classroom as a "Chick-Fil-A" Leadercast Venue!

Readers,


I just applied to be a host for a "Chick-Fil-A" Leadercast! I think our students would benefit from the experience and I think it is a low-cost, no-cost experience for our university personnel (professional development)!!!


Through this opportunity, the students (and other participants) will hear from NATIONALLY KNOWN speakers through a webcast at the university (or another venue)! 



Chick-fil-A Leadercast - Ben Carson from GiANT Impact on Vimeo.




Apply for this opportunity! - http://www.chick-fil-aleadercast.com/


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Strategies for Teaching Writing to Online Students

Readers,

Please take advantage of this great opportunity (it's free)!

Strategies for Teaching Writing to Online Students

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

2010 Student Research Symposium - Our Undergrads ROCKED It!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausatpsu/

Readers,


Today was a very rewarding day! I admit, before attending the "Tarleton Student Research Symposium", I was quite nervous and excited (at the SAME time). However, the students in my COMS 304 - Interpersonal Communication and COMS 332 - Intercultural Communication courses ROCKED the symposium! They did such a GREAT job! By the way, these Google Docs EXPERTS created their collaborative papers using Google Documents, analyzed their data using Google Spreadsheets, and I created their presentations using Google Presentations (which they edited).


Two of our favorite librarians attended the symposium to support our students and to hear their research results! We APPRECIATE our LIBRARIANS! :)


Here are their abstracts - LINK.


Congratulations to such WONDERFUL undergraduate students!


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Sustainability in the Classroom Events for Fall | Center for Teaching | Vanderbilt University

Sustainability in the Classroom Events for Fall | Center for Teaching | Vanderbilt University

I thought this article was REALLY neat! We had a "green" conference last year and I hope we incorporate some of these ideas from Vanderbilt University! :)

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Working with NINE Student Groups on Undergraduate Research Papers - Whew!

Readers,


This has been a very busy semester! It is been busy, yet VERY rewarding! Today, the Undergraduate Research Office at my institution just released the schedule for the "9th Annual - Tarleton State University - Student Research Symposium". Six of my student groups will present their research! I have been working TIRELESSLY helping them prepare their research papers and to distribute their surveys.


This was our grant proposal for the project:

To prepare for the “Diversity and Communication Research Symposium",  students in COMS 304, 332, and 406 will work in groups to write collaborative research papers focused on the course emphasis (interpersonal, intercultural, and group process/decision making) and diversity in the workplace. When the students finish their research papers, they will present their research at the symposium for students, faculty, staff, and members of the surrounding communities.

My colleague and faculty partner-in-crime - Cristi Horton, the students, the QEP committee, the library personnel, the undergraduate student body, my department head, the IRB committee, Career Services, and the Center for Diversity Initiatives have made this PROJECT WORK! It has been SIMPLY AMAZING! I hope the students will have their work published in an undergraduate journal OR an applicable scholarly journal. This is too exciting!


Read their titles and the symposium schedule here - http://www.tarleton.edu/studentresearch/student_research_symposium/Symposiumprogram2010.pdf 


In addition to my wonderful students' publication efforts, I've been serving in my roles for two state and regional associations. I am learning A LOT this semester and I hope this hard work will pay off in the end.


Any suggestions or words of encouragement? I am in SEVERE need of pep talk right now.


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Considering grad school? Advice in a flat job market - USATODAY.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ideologie/2116139016/in/photostream/

Considering grad school? Advice in a flat job market - USATODAY.com

Readers - As faculty, we have a responsibility to answer undergraduate students' questions about their future. This week, I met with an outstanding student in my department who did not have a resume for his job search. We met for an hour to prepare his resume and I left him with some "resume homework". He will send his resume back to me via e-mail and I will offer feedback. This will be an ongoing process.

Some undergraduate students are interested in attending graduate school and I remain objective. I present the positive and negative sides of this investment. Yes, it is an time and financial investment. It has been a great choice for me, but I do not try to infringe my beliefs on my students. 


For example, I incorporate undergraduate research in my courses and some people use this engagement tactic to recruit for their graduate programs, but I tell my students that they can incorporate these skills in their future career or their future endeavors (even if they plan to become a stay-at-home mom (or dad) - which a few students aspire to become). Anyone can incorporate scholarly research in their lives by gathering family perspectives on a subject while remaining objective or conducting research using scholarly databases. Many of my students are REALIZING this!

Grad school may not be for your students, but it is an option...and a job is an option as well! :)

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

My 10 Year High School Reunion - The Class of 2000

Readers,


I am finally realizing that I have been out of high school for 10 years! It is hard to believe, but our class reunion is coming up in a few days and it will be nice to see everyone.


So, in preparation for the Carthage HS Class of 2000 reunion, I give you our senior class "funny" picture:

I am the one in the middle of the picture by the principal (red shirt, khaki pants). 


Just think, 10 years ago, I was in my freshmen students' shoes. This reunion shall be interesting, more information to follow... 


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Netflix in the Classroom?

Readers,


Personally, I LOVE Netflix! I watch Netflix while I research, grade papers, and while spending time with family. I think Netflix is a great resource for households who have diverse film interests and who value documentaries. Historical, education-related, adnd social documentaries are a favorite in our household. In addition to the documentaries, we love Bones, CSI, Law and Order, and I recently developed a love for The Commish.


This summer, I started a list of movies that I would like to incorporate in my classroom (ordering them from the university library). Netflix enables me to preview documentaries/movies for my classes and then I am able to order these films through our library.


I really wish Netflix would enable educational institutions to subscribe to Netflix. Our faculty would WELCOME the additional "educational" media tool (AND they would not have to drag videos from classroom to classroom).


Here is a snippet from the "Academic Libraries Add Netflix" article in the Chronicle of Higher Education:


Copyright lawyer and librarian Kevin Smith, a scholarly communications officer at Duke University, said academic libraries are taking a risk with these programs. Although copyright law allows faculty members to use the material in the classroom, he said, they may be opening themselves up to legal action from the company.


Read the rest of the article here - http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Academic-Libraries-Add-Netflix/27018/?sid=wc&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en 


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

What's In YOUR Business Card Holder? - Simple Strategies to Differentiate Your Business Cards from the Rest!

Readers,


Here is another great article from the Chronicle of Higher Education titled, "Hacking Your Business Card". 


I used the university business cards for awhile, but I wanted to make myself stand apart from the rest of the faculty who attend research conferences. So, I logged on to Office Max and created some GREAT business cards with their online software. 


I chose purple and white (my university's colors) and I chose to include the logo. They were very professional and Office Max runs a LOT of sales on business cards!


In addition to regular information, I decided to include my Twitter and Yahoo IM information.

What's on YOUR business card?


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Your Curriculum Vitae - Common Questions

Readers,


As faculty, (adjuncts, instructors, professors), etc., do you have a CV (curriculum vitae) to record your accomplishments, service, and teaching records? How often do you update your vitae?


One of the commonly asked questions in higher education is about the length of the vitae. According to an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, "Creating and Maintaining Your CV", the average CV is three (postdoc) to 20+ pages (senior professor).


Currently, my CV is 13 pages and I have all of my presentations and publications listed. Is this too much? Should I include all of my presentations? Until told differently by one of my mentors, I will keep my CV in its current state.


According to the Chronicle of Higher Education article, people should include the following pieces of information.

• Contact Information (email, postal address, telephone)
• Education (list all of your degrees including undergraduate)
• Professional Employment (list all of your positions, with dates and ranks)
• Research Experience (might be subdivided into publications, presentations, grants, etc)
• Teaching Experience (might be subdivided into courses taught, theses supervised, curriculum development, etc)
• Honors and Awards
• Professional Service (might be subdivided into Department, College, University, Professional Organizations)

What items should you include and what items should you exclude?


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Cram101 - Barnes & Noble - A Review

Readers,

As a big fan of Cliff Notes for literature courses in college, I thought that these small yellow books were a great idea for "revisiting books" if a person does not have time to read the novel again.

However, college textbooks are a DIFFERENT animal. Most college textbooks are 300 - 400 pages long and most instructors only include a percentage of the chapters on their syllabus and in their classes. With the reduction in the number of chapters assigned in a class, why would a student need Cram 101 (Cram101 - Barnes and Noble)?

Textbook companies produce an array of resources for their consumers! MOST of these resources are FREE.

However, I know that some students will LOVE this product. In fact, as a college student (a few years ago), I probably would use this same product to check my knowledge of the book. In fact, I would probably have purchased several of these books with my friends and swapped these books back and forth.

What do you think? Would your students use this product?

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

OpenStudy - An Online Study Group for College Students

Readers,

I realize any of you teach courses online and these courses consist of students from around the world! It would be GREAT if they could all meet at one location and "study" together, wouldn't it?

Well, now they can! Here is a website that will enable students to "study" together online.

Check it out! Let me know what you think? Do you already use this in your classroom?

Millennial Professor/Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards

Free Seminar on September 13th - Online Teaching Success (By Ednak)

Have you ever wondered what is the best way to break in to the online teaching industry? Join us for this free event that will highlight a case study of online teaching success. Each of the panelist will share their experiences and best practices for succeeding in the online teaching field. Get answers to these frequently asked questions:

- How difficult is it to get started?
- Are there any pitfalls in teaching online and if so, what are they?
- What are some of the best practices an online teacher should demonstrate?
- Survival tips for your first assignment.
- Tips for time management and creating an appropriate between online teaching / work / home life

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/473511256

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

USA Today - Collegiate Case Studies (A Great Resource for College Faculty)

Higher Education Faculty,

If you are EVER looking for good case studies to help you emphasize key concepts in class, you might find a good one at USA Today!

The case studies are divided into three categories: business case studies, Hubble case studies, topical case studies, and student life/FYE case studies.

Each of these case studies are available in html and PDF format (for an easy download).

Here are some of the case studies:

Social Media's Effect on Marketing - Link

Curbing Campus Violence - Link

Media Literacy - Link

USA TODAY Collegiate Case Studies | USA TODAY College - A student focused web portal

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Blackboard Users: EMBEDDING is your BEST FRIEND!

Readers,

Since blackboard is my BEST friend, this summer I started embedding EVERYTHING. Surveys, rubrics, etc. I teach two courses online and two upper-level courses and it is not an easy process to change (or update a power point/document). Uploading is a cumbersome process and it requires users to:


1. Plug in the external drive.
2. Find the file.
3. Correct the file.
4. Log on to blackboard.
5. Find the course.
6. Find the document I need to replace.
7. Delete the document I need to replace.
8. Find my new document on the external drive (the corrected file).
9. Upload the corrected file.
10. Change the username.
*I have to go through these steps EVERY semester!


Now, with my favorite program of all time (Google Documents). I can create a document, embed the document, and add a link (for users who have a firewall).


Here are the steps that I follow:
1. Create the presentation.
2. Share the presentation (upper-right hand corner).
3. Embed the presentation on blackboard.


If I EVER need to update the document, I simply log on to my Google Docs account and correct the document without EVER logging on blackboard! Voila!


Here is a sample Google Presentation for my Intercultural Communication course:

Here is a sample Google Presentation for my Online Communication course:

There are numerous opportunities for Google Presentations! Any additional ideas?


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

My Co-Sponsored Fall Project - “Diversity and Communication” Research Symposium

Readers,

Good afternoon! This semester, my colleague and I received a "Real-World Experiences Applied to Learning Real" (Keeping it R.E.A.L.) grant for undergraduate research and to plan our conference. Yay!

This conference is open to students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, and staff. We are PLEASED that the grant committee picked our project! Here is the call for proposals I sent this afternoon:

If you are interested in presenting, please let me know! :)

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

The Tarleton State University – Communication Studies Department will sponsor a “Diversity and Communication” Research Symposium on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 in TSU Dining Hall.

The conference planning committee is seeking panel and paper submissions from STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF focused on, but not limited to the following topics:

- Cross-Generational Communication (i.e. – baby boomers communicating with millennials)
- Small Group Communication and Diversity
- Organizational Communication and Diversity
- Instructional Communication and Diversity
- Social Media and Diversity
- Political Communication
- Interpersonal Relationships and Diversity
- Great Ideas For Teaching Education and Diversity (G.I.F.T.E.D.)
- Communication in Student Organizations and Diversity
- Diversity Programming Ideas

Panels (including roundtables and discussions) or papers/abstracts are possible forms of submission. Panels: Include a title, 100 word abstract, name of the contact person, and names, emails, affiliations, and addresses of all participants.

Papers/Paper Abstracts: Maximum length is 25 pages (excluding tables & references)
for a full paper submission or a one page abstract (with the expectation of a full paper at least two weeks before the conference). Include a separate title page to
conceal the author(s)’ identity. Title page should contain a 100-word abstract. Remove all author references. Designate “Student Authored” papers. *Full papers will be given priority over abstract submissions.

***Awards will be given for the Top Faculty/Staff Papers and Top Student Papers***

Deadline: Complete the conference submission form (http://www.tinyurl.com/diversityandcommunicationform/) AND e-mail papers/panels to Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards (jtedwards@tarleton.edu) no later than Friday, October 15, 2010 (midnight CST).

Attachments: E-mail submissions as e-mail attachments in MS Word (2003 or 2007) or Rich Text format.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards (jtedwards@tarleton.edu) and Prof. Cristi Horton (horton@tarleton.edu) via e-mail or telephone (254-968-9638).

***We are also seeking conference sponsors (on-campus and community sponsors). If your department is interested in co-sponsoring this conference, please contact us.***