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Professional Development

Bolster your teaching and scholarship with a wide range of faculty development forums and workshops. Topics include everything from applying interdisciplinary theories such as sustainability to the complexities of copyright and plagiarism.

Also available: The University System or Georgia offers a variety of Professional Development workshops each month. Visit the USG Faculty Development Workshops for more information and registration.

Spring 2013 Workshops

Promotion and Tenure Workshop

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Location: CTE Flexible Classroom Presenter: Becky Rutherfoord

This workshop will discuss the general requirements and procedures of promotion and tenure review. This includes promotion from lecturer to senior lecturer, tenure and promotion from assistant professor to associate professor, and promotion from associate professor to professor. Each year by April 15, the vice president for academic affairs issues the schedule of deadlines relevant to the process.

Outcomes:

  • Know the tenure review policies and procedures
  • Know the promotion policies and procedures
Dates & Times February 7 12pm - 1pm

One-World School House

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Location: CTE Flexible Classroom Prerequisites: None

Can even straight A students reach a barrier based on what they don’t know that stops them from advancing? How can remedial students at a Middle School pass advanced students over one semester? Is there a way to teach that allows mastery of all topics by any or all students in a class? And why is the subtitle of the book “The One World School House” …”Education Reimagined”?

Join us in a discussion about why the Khan Academy, a tutoring resource of 6,000 Youtube videos, is attracting millions of dollars of funding from multiple philanthropists, including Bill Gates. Opine about whether the “free university” movement can be used to improve the learning of university students, starting with this discussion of the basic concepts underlying Salman Khan’s approach to teaching and learning. Are the problems in education, the teachers, the students, or are they systemic? And which is the place the problems can be most easily solved? What do you think?

Join us for this presentation of what this curious book says and an open discussion about what it could mean for us. February 12 in the Center for Teaching Excellence (Room H-202), at 11am until 1pm.

And bring your opinion.

Dates & Times February 12 11am - 1pm

Adult Learning Workshop

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Location: CTE Flexible Classroom Presenter: Chi Zhang & Jack Zheng

Adult learners are loosely identified with a larger group characterized as “non-traditional” learners or adults age 25 or older considering going back to college or attending college for the first time. As more working adults consider going back to college and taking distance or e-learning education courses, it is essential for educators and administrators to recognize adult learner characteristics and learning profiles, design and deliver the courses to meet their needs and support adults students to reach their goals. This workshop will introduce adult learner characteristics and review teaching strategies and best practices. The workshop will be helpful for those who design and deliver distance learning courses and/or who support adult learners.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Discuss common adult learner characteristics
  • Discuss teaching strategies, technology adoption, and future trends
  • Discuss adult education support and PLA (prior learning assessment)
Dates & Times March 12 12pm - 1pm

Elements of Voice Recording

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Location: CTE Flexible Classroom Presenter: TBA

More Information Coming Soon

Dates & Times March 21 12pm - 1pm

LinkedIn: Professional Networking and Student Engagement

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Location: CTE Flexible Classroom Presenter: Jack Zheng

LinkedIn is a social networking service for professionals. It becomes more important not only for us scholars but also for students to advance their careers. This workshop will discuss the ways that faculty and students can use LinkedIn for professional purposes.

Outcomes:

  • Discuss how LinkedIn can help build professional networks with scholars and professionals worldwide
  • Discuss how social network service like LinkedIn can help student engagement in a professional manner
  • Use LinkedIn to network with scholars worldwide and discuss educational and research issues
  • Use LinkedIn to create professional groups to engage students on career and continuing education even after graduation
Dates & Times April 16 12pm - 1pm

PLA Coordinator Training

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Location: CTE Flexible Classroom Presenter: Sonia Toson and Becky Rutherfoord

A two-hour workshop designed for all departmental PLA Coordinators. Participants will review all PLA materials, procedures, and handbooks and learn about the role of PLA Coordiantor. Participants will also learn to review and make credit recommendations on a portfolio.

Outcomes:

  • Describe the SPSU PLA Plan
  • Discuss the role of the PLA Coordinator and the SME
  • Be familiar with and be able to use the PLA Handbooks (faculty and student) and related forms
  • Be able to implement the PLA Procedures for Portfolio Review
  • Explain the other PLA options available to SPSU students
  • Successfully complete a case study
  • Accurately review and make credit recommendations on a portfolio
Dates & Times April 26 1pm - 3pm