Author: Rosemary Miketa

Happy Monday, Hawk Nation,

Coming off a St. Patrick’s Day weekend, here’s hopin’ that no one is residually feeling…um…shall we just say, too “green.” 😜💚 Speaking of St. Patty’s Day, let’s all congratulate our students and faculty in 5101 for a beautiful Irish-themed buffet, over which Rosemary and I enjoyed a CTEI planning luncheon last Wednesday.  Finally, on one last important note, before we get down to CTEI business here in this week’s Digest, we would be remiss if we failed to give a shout-out to HFC’s own men’s basketball team, who, on the heels of a fantastic season, enter the NJCAA National Championship Tournament tomorrow in Danville, IL, as the nation’s #3-seeded team.  GO HAWKS! 

As for upcoming CTEI programming, this week’s Monday Morning Mentor examines the topic of grading – how to do it more quickly and efficiently while having a more significant impact on student learning.  This week’s clip is available today through midnight this Sunday, March 26, and as always, log in details are provided below.

Next, we are delighted to be joined by Tazeen Ayub for our next Teamwork Tuesday, which will occur tomorrow at 2 p.m.  Tazeen is a recent recipient of a fellowship with the Detroit Equity Action Lab (DEAL). During this week’s session, she will discuss the great work that she has been doing with this group and share what she has learned.  As usual, you can join in on the conversation in-person in the CTEI Hyflex Room (N-01) or via the Zoom link below.

We are also excited to remind you once again that The Fourth Annual Black Male Retention, Success, and Best Practice Conference will be held at HFC on Friday, April 7, 2023 (8:00-5:00).  We hope that you can find the time to attend – and possibly even present at – this event.  While the call for papers officially expired on March 11, if you wish to offer a talk, there is still a chance that this due date could be extended for another few days – but I would recommend acting fast if you still hope to speak at this conference.  Please refer to the additional information supplied below for proposals and event registration.   

Meanwhile, Academic Impressions offers a free webcast on March 29 titled Future Trends in Higher Education — Defining the Impact of the Metaverse in Higher Education.  More specifics and a registration link are supplied below. 

Similarly, though it may seem a long way off, June will be here before we know it, and we have been informed by recent LAND conference attendees that “The Grading Conference” is definitely a worthwhile event.  It is virtual with a registration fee of only $50, and this year it takes place on June 9 and 10.  Below, you will find further details. 

Finally, please remember that the Michigan College, University, Partnership (MiCUP) at Lawrence Technological University will also run immersive in-person sessions for instructors, examining how students learn through authentic scientific experiments in the classroom.  Though the first of these has already passed, two more are still upcoming, with the next taking place this Friday, March 24. Both remaining sessions will be held on HFC’s campus in room J-110.  Scott Corp, project coordinator, has provided a flyer for these events, posted on the CTEI Moodle hub and accessible here through this link.    

As usual, please e-mail either of us if you have any questions or recommendations.   

Upcoming Events 

*Denotes a sponsored CTEI event that qualifies for AFO reimbursement. 

**Denotes a partner activity that may qualify for AFO reimbursement. Please see your area representative for further information.   

As we begin this final week of classes before spring break, we hope that you and your students are coasting into this midway point of the semester smoothly.  Brief programming note: as you might imagine, due to the break next week, you will not see a Digest in your e-mailbox on March 6.  “Publication,” of course, will resume on Monday, March 13, which is when you will receive the next edition. 

With this in mind, you will find highlights for the next two weeks’ Monday Morning Mentors here this week.  To date, however, Magna has only provided the password for the current clip.  Accordingly, while I will not distribute a full version of the Digest until after the break, for all who may want to view next week’s MMM, I will send along a brief message solely forwarding the corresponding password once it is provided to me.

This week’s online tutorial explores the question: “What Are 7 Ways to Assess Students in an Ungraded Classroom?”  It will be available today through March 5, and all pertinent details are provided below.  Then, next week’s video asks, “What Can Engagement in Games Teach Me About Engagement in My Courses?”  You will subsequently have access to that clip from midnight on March 6 through midnight on March 12.

Next, please join us tomorrow at 3 p.m. – either virtually or in person – as we host our second Teamwork Tuesday of the semester.  This one will focus on the Critical Thinking Institutional Learning Outcome, and it will be led by CASL co-chairs Ruth Haller, Jolie Stepaniak, Deb Zopf and Bob James.  More details are available below.

Meanwhile, a common theme in the Digest this semester – and one that appears to be creeping into many corners of our lives – consists of dissecting the details emerging each week about exponentially unfolding advancements in AI, not the least of which is the large language model (LLM) known as ChatGPT.  If you don’t know already, this interface is essentially a “chatbot on steroids” – one that, according to a recent edition of NPR’s 1a, has proven capable of passing both a final licensing exam required to become a medical doctor and the comprehensive exam administered toward the conclusion of the MBA program at the Wharton School of Business.  With all of this in mind, Rosemary and I intend to share a series of programming on this topic as it evolves throughout the rest of this semester, into the fall semester and beyond.  One such forum takes place this Thursday and is hosted by the company behind Hypothesis, a social/digital annotation application that several of us here at HFC are piloting this semester.  Details on how to attend this free, virtual session are supplied below. 

Likewise, while it is still a few months off, we have heard from attendees at the recent LAND conference that “The Grading Conference” is also worth your while to attend.  It is virtual with a registration fee of only $50, and this year it takes place June 9 and 10.  Bellow, you will find further details as well. 

Finally, once more, applications for the Library Book Improvement Fund are still being accepted, and this form will remain available on the CTEI Moodle Hub through the March 6 deadline.  Any interested parties should complete this document and submit it via e-mail to Ruth Ann Schmitt and/or Tessa Betts.  Also, please remember that Michigan, College, University, Partnership (MiCUP) at Lawrence Technological University will be running immersive in-person sessions for instructors as well, examining how students are learning through authentic scientific experiments in the classroom.  Though the first of these has already passed, two more are scheduled after spring break, and all of them will be held on HFC’s campus in room J-110.  Scott Corp, project coordinator, has provided a flyer for these events, which is posted on the CTEI Moodle hub and here through this link.    

Whether it involves catching up on grading or catching some rays in a tropical location, we sincerely hope that you enjoy a safe and peaceful spring break, and as always, we welcome your questions and suggestions.  To that end, if you have any to share, please never hesitate to e-mail either or both of us.   

Upcoming Events 

With just two weeks left until break, it really is beginning to feel a lot like spring around here, isn’t it?  I’m reluctant to get too optimistic – we all know just how fickle Michigan weather can be – but I can’t help but hope that the worst is behind us for this winter.  Either way, let’s enjoy these mild temperatures while they last.  As for the upcoming programming that we have available for you, there is quite a bit, so whether it be coffee, tea or OJ, maybe grab a cup of your favorite morning beverage and settle in for a bit.

To kick things off, this week’s Monday Morning Mentor queries:  “Beyond Syllabus Policies: What Strategies Help Students Take Responsibility for Learning?”  The link and password below will grant you access to this clip through midnight on Sunday of this week, February 26. 

Please also remember that the final event in the Digital Education Days series, a joint project with the University of Michigan – Dearborn and Flint and Mott Community College, takes place this week.  We want to thank all those who attended talks during the first two days of the conference – Friday, February 10, and Wednesday, February 15.  DED will wrap up tomorrow, February 21, with two separate virtual sessions featuring HFC faculty and executive administration.  Melinda DeWitt, Sarah Castillo and Jessica Shamberger will offer a presentation titled “‘Our Thoughts, Our Voices,’ an English language Learner Podcast” while Lori Gonko will engage in a discussion titled “A New Baseline: COVID 19’s Lasting Impact on Enrollment and Student Success Trends.”  Let’s, please do our best to show our support to our colleagues by attending these sessions if at all possible.  Additional details and registration information for these remaining events are available through the below link. 

Similarly, in this hectic week, don’t forget that the Liberal Arts Network for Development virtual conference is upon us now, too, taking place this Wednesday through Friday with a variety of awards being presented to HFC students and faculty this year – not the least of which is the Institutional Award honoring HFC’s Black Male and QUEENS Focus Group (BMQFG).  Again, let’s make a great showing by attending as many sessions as possible in solidarity alongside our College’s award recipients.  Once more, updates on the restructured format and revised program dates for this conference remain available below.  Meanwhile, please also be aware that HFC Graphic Design student Christopher Namyst’s first place award-winning design is featured on the LAND t-shirt, sweatshirt, and swag, so you just might want to pick up one or two of these items too! 

Next, did I say busy week already?  Another workshop that appears to be fairly worthwhile takes place this Thursday, February 23: “Helping Faculty Navigate Top Challenges in This New Blended Learning Environment.”  This free, virtual event is sponsored by Fierce Technology with various sessions running from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Additional information is supplied below. 

I think I said busy, right?  Yet another timely and intriguing workshop sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education will also be held on Thursday, February 23, at 2 p.m.  It is co-sponsored by Adobe, free to attend and will tackle the subject “From ‘Digital Native’ to Digital Competency.”  Please see further details on this below. 

Finally, once more, applications for the Library Book Improvement Fund are still being accepted, and this form will remain available on the CTEI Moodle Hub through the March 6 deadline.  Any interested parties should complete this document and submit it via e-mail to Ruth Ann Schmitt and/or Tessa Betts.  Meanwhile, please also remember that Michigan College, University, Partnership (MiCUP) at Lawrence Technological University will also be running immersive in-person sessions for instructors examining how students are learning through authentic scientific experiments in the classroom.  The first of these will take place on February 24.  All of them will be held on HFC’s campus in room J-110, and Scott Corp, project coordinator, has provided a flyer for these events, which can now be found on the CTEI Moodle hub and here through this link.    

As always, thank you for your time and for participating in the events that interest you.  Please also remember that we always appreciate your recommendations and feedback, so if you have any to share, please never hesitate to e-mail either or both of us.   

Upcoming Events 

*Denotes a sponsored CTEI event that qualifies for AFO reimbursement. 

**Denotes a partner activity that may qualify for AFO reimbursement. Please see your area representative for further information.  

Hello again, friends and colleagues,

With tomorrow being Valentine’s Day, we certainly hope that you have a special someone with whom you might exchange a gift or two – a significant other, your children or pets, whomever makes you happy and brings joy to your life – but either way, Rosemary and I know that you’re just going to love many of the offerings that we have for you this week. (Ha!  See what I did there? Valentine’s Day? Love? Get it? Dad joke…I know… long-time dad here. 😜) 

As usual, let’s begin with this week’s Monday Morning Mentor, which, this time around, answers the question, “How Can I Engage Students During a Synchronous Online Class?”  The link and password below will grant you access to this clip through midnight on Sunday of this week, February 19. 

Next, in our continued efforts to revisit the dialogue opened on mental wellness at January’s PIC, we hope that you might take a few minutes to peruse this recent op/ed piece from Inside Higher Education, which Tony Perry and Pam Stewart both shared with us: “Four Ways Professors Can Balance Self-Care with Accountability.”  Once again, please also remember that we have provided a follow-up forum on the CTEI Moodle Hub to facilitate ongoing internal collegial discussions on these issues.  We warmly welcome you to engage in this conversation with our colleagues and coworkers.

Meanwhile, Sam Bazzi, math instructor and chairperson of the Online Course Quality Assurance and Evaluation Committee in the School of STEM, will hold an online training session this Thursday at 2 p.m. for faculty in that area who are teaching asynchronously online.  Likewise, later this week, Rosemary and I will hold the fourth of six HFC 101 orientation sessions, which are required for all new full-time faculty hires.  Further information on all of this is provided below.

Please also remember that the second event in the Digital Education Days series, our collaborative effort with University of Michigan – Dearborn and Flint along with Mott Community College, takes place this week.  We want to thank all those who attended the kickoff event last Friday, February 10, an excellent keynote address titled “We Cannot ‘Return to Normal’” presented by Dr. Amy Collier, Associate Provost for Digital Learning at Middlebury College.  We want to remind everyone, however, that we still have two days of events remaining in this program – this Wednesday, February 15, and next Tuesday, February 21.  Additional details and registration information for these remaining events are available through the link provided below.

Similarly, don’t forget that Liberal Arts Network for Development virtual conference is just one week away now too, and a wide range of awards will be presented to HFC students and faculty this year – including the Institutional Award honoring HFC’s Black Male and QUEENS Focus Group (BMWFG).  Accordingly, let’s try to make a great showing of support with our attendance figures.  Again, updates on the restructured format and revised program dates for this conference remain available below.

Finally, once more, applications for the Library Book Improvement Fund are still being accepted, and this form will remain available on the CTEI Moodle Hub through the March 6 deadline.  Any interested parties should complete this document and submit it via e-mail to Ruth Ann Schmitt and/or Tessa Betts.  Meanwhile, please also remember that the Michigan, College, University, Partnership (MiCUP) at Lawrence Technological University will also be running immersive in-person sessions for instructors examining how students are learning through authentic scientific experiments in the classroom.  The first of these will take place on February 24.  All of them will be held on HFC’s campus in room J-110, and Scott Corp, project coordinator, has provided a flyer for these events, which can now be found on the CTEI Moodle hub and here through this link.

In closing, we appreciate your patronage and engagement in our offerings while we always welcome your input and suggestions.  To that end, please feel free to e-mail either or both of us with any questions or suggestions.   

Upcoming Events 

*Denotes a sponsored CTEI event that qualifies for AFO reimbursement. 

**Denotes a partner activity that may qualify for AFO reimbursement. Please see your area representative for further information.