31 Spooky Ways to Integrate Adobe Software in Higher Education (Post 1/31) - Introduction to the Series!

Readers,

Starting this week, I am starting a NEW series (at least for the month of October). I am very excited to explore one of my favorite software packages - Adobe Software. Over the summer, I received the Adobe Master Suite 5.5 in the mail and I have been super excited to use this software during the summer and also this fall! 

I have been an active user of Adobe Products for the past seven years. In fact, my first software program was Adobe Photoshop when I started working in the Student Services Department at Sam Houston State University. When our student graphic designers were away for the holidays, I was forced to edit event flyers by myself. Through this process, I learned key elements about Adobe software and I started to integrate Adobe software in my everyday life (designing logos, t-shirts, etc.).

Every week this month, you can look forward to some GREAT ideas for the "31 Spooky Ways to Integrate Adobe Software in Higher Education" series. This series is intended for everyday faculty and student affairs professionals (non-designers) who are interested in using Adobe Software Products (i.e. - Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.) in their classrooms, student organizations, and departments!

Wandering Wednesdays - Adobe Edition

Every Wednesday, we will feature a higher education professional who uses Adobe software in their courses. We will highlight their blog/website, etc. If you would like to be considered for our special "Wandering Wednesdays" series on Adobe Software in Higher Education, please let me know! jennifertedwards@gmail.com

Freebie Fridays - Adobe Edition

Every Friday, we will feature a neat tutorial video on Adobe products. In addition, we might have some free giveaways throughout the week. Check back frequently!

Look forward to a wealth of great activities this month! Also, PLEASE send any Adobe activity ideas to me (jennifertedwards@gmail.com) and I will feature you (and your idea) on the Millennial Professor Blog!

Enjoy!

J. Edwards

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

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Tenure Revisited (5/5) - (Freebie Friday) Download a Free Song (or Two) from Amazon.com (Great for Grading and Commuting)!

Readers,

I love listening to music when I grade papers, conduct research, and organize my office. As a result, I was so excited to receive a free offer for a $2 MP3 credit for Amazon.com! For $2, you can download one (or two) songs from the website!

Click here (LINK) and enter FALLMP3S in the "enter your code" box!

Enjoy and take a SMALL break from the tenure process!

Thanks! About.com Guide Stacy Fisher!

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

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

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Tenure Revisited (4/5) - The Barry B. Thompson Service Award & Texas A&M University System's Teaching Excellence Award for Teaching Excellence

Readers,

This past spring, I was very blessed to receive two wonderful awards from my university! These awards were the Barry B. Thompson Service Award (LINK) and the Texas A&M University System's Teaching Excellence Award for Teaching Excellence (LINK). 

            

I hope these awards will help me in the tenure process because I work very hard in the classroom (and on the weekends). A wealth of people supported me in this tenure track process and when I am finally awarded tenure (if I am awarded tenure), I will dedicate this process to my family, colleagues, current/former students, and friends from across the nation.

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

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

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Tenure Revisited (3/5) - (Wandering Wednesdays) - National Clearinghouse on Academic Worklife

Readers,

Before this week, I did not know that there was a "National Clearinghouse on Academic Worklife". This website is offered by the University of Michigan Center for the Education of Women" and I look forward to actively exploring this website to read each and every article that they have to offer researchers.

Here are a few of their articles focused on tenure:

http://www.academicworklife.org/search/search.php?sType=B&keyword=tenure

This website has the following pieces of information:

- Articles

- Research and Policy Reports

- Policies

- Demographics

- Additional Websites

- Narratives on Institutional Policy Change

Some of the most interesting interactive aspects of the website is the "join our community" and the "suggest resources for the clearinghouse" links.

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

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Tenure Revisited (2/5) - "The Faculty Lounge & Other Reasons Why You Won't Get the College Education You Paid For" by Naomi Shaefer Riley

Readers,

A few days ago, my husband and I were persisting through our normal Saturday night activities. These include cooking dinner, grabbing a laptop, preparing lesson plans for the upcoming week, reading tomorrow's Sunday School lesson, and watching TV. This night, we were focused on CSPAN. As we flipped through the channels, we heard a book author on CSPAN mention the tenure process and we immediately stopped on this program. I love the weekend programming on CSPAN and I love Book TV, but this program was slightly different.

This program focused on a recent book titled, "The Faculty Lounge & Other Reasons Why You Won't Get the College Education You Paid For" by Naomi Shaefer Riley. I would  love to read and review this book because it seemed to contain a wealth of information focused on large research universities and it ignored professors who teach at smaller public and private colleges and institutions. Typically, we do not make over $50,000 and we teach more than four courses a semester. We volunteer to advise student organizations and to involve our students in extra curricular activities. For her next book, she should focus on mid-sized institutions and community colleges to give the public a holistic perspective of the faculty experience.

Enough of my commentary, here's the video:

What do you think of the video? I plan to order the book through our library's interlibrary loan program.

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

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

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Tenure Revisited (1/5) - My Personal and Ongoing Journey...Persisting Through the Tenure Process

Readers,

During this month, I have been focused on the tenure process. Every year, I set goals for my teaching, research, and service requirements. This year, I am more focused on undergraduate research, large-scale university events, and cross-collaborative research efforts. I hope to start working with a few of the professors from the STEM fields on a grant (or two).

This week's post is focused on the tenure process. Tenure is such a topic of conversation in Texas (as well as the nation) and there are various positive and negative views focused on the tenure process. Despite the attacks to the tenure process, I revisit my tenure portfolio and the tenure requirements for my department to determine how I can exceed my own expectations regarding teaching, research, and service. I attempt to integrate all three of the requirements in every activity that I choose to pursue. 

Despite the individual nature of the tenure process, I try to make each of my research projects and service activities a collaborative process to help early career faculty in their tenure process. Sometimes it is hard for others to persist through this process and I try to help as many people as possible.

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

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

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41