CETL Weekly Announcements
September 8, 2022
Dear Colleagues:
Minnesota State has an Educational Development Committee that connects folks from across the system to discuss initiatives and strategies to support our work as educators in the classroom and beyond in other areas of student success. This academic year, the Committee has adopted the following theme: Creating Equity through Connection.
“The theme of connection allows us to intentionally explore ways to create belonging for students, colleagues, and ourselves. As we work to create change for equity in our classrooms, we will inevitably experience the ‘implementation dip’ – the feelings of self-consciousness and chaos that occur when we implement new practices,” (Fullan 2007).
This theme was selected in recognition of some lost connections that we have experienced throughout the pandemic. As we wrap up week 3 of the semester, I encourage you to consider ways that you can connect with colleagues and give new and continuing support to one another’s work. The same goes for students. Consider ways to help them make connections with one another, to create a community of support, whether that includes time for a quick conversation, placing them in groups to meet new classmates, or a shared online notebook where they can all contribute notes on the material.
How will you make connections with others this semester?
Take care,
Brooke Burk
In this issue:
- Call for Applicants: Associate Director, Writing Across the Curriculum
- CETL Program Highlights
- Scholars at Work Conference Call for Proposals
- New Quiz Experience in D2L Brightspace
- Writing Equitable Learning Outcomes Webinar
- Professional Development Opportunities from NED
- LinkedIn Learning
- Whiteness in Plain View
Call for Applicants: Associate Director, Writing Across the Curriculum
CETL is seeking applications for the Associate Director, Writing Across the Curriculum. A letter of interest and a CV may be sent to Brooke Burk, Director for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at brooke.burk@mnsu.edu. Please submit applications by September 26, 2022. You may also contact Brooke if you have any questions about the position.
This position will begin the first duty day of the 2023-2024 academic year. You can view the full call here.
Associate Director of CETL, Writing Across the Curriculum
The Associate Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Writing Across the Curriculum works in harmony with the CETL staff to design and implement faculty programs that support teaching and learning activities at the University in ways that advance social justice and racial equity. A particular charge of the Associate Director, Writing Across the Curriculum is to oversee writing instruction-focused faculty programming and to advance academic anti-racist policies and processes related to student writing.
Terms of Appointment
The Associate Director of CETL, Writing Across the Curriculum receives a 0.5 reassignment for the academic year to carry out the responsibilities described above. Appointment for this position is for a period of three (3) years, with potential for reappointment. The academic department of the selected faculty will receive resources for a fixed-term or adjunct faculty, as determined in collaboration with the college dean.
Become a Racial Equity Advocate
Racial Equity Advocates participate in professional development, self-reflection, and on-going discussion to advance racial equity in their own practice as a member of the MSU, Mankato community. To apply to begin or return to the Racial Equity Advocate program, complete the online form by Friday, September 9th. You can view the full call for participants here.
CETL Program Highlights
CETL Fall Certificates are starting soon. You can learn about some of the program offerings below. These particular certificates are starting soon, but there are also more certificates for later in the semester. You can learn more about all of the CETL programs and register for them here.
Evidence-informed Learning Design - LAST CALL
Facilitated by Dr. Carrie Lewis Miller
How do we know what trends in teaching and learning are fads and which ones are based on empirical research? Through reading and discussion of the book Evidence-informed Learning Design, we will explore strategies for distinguishing between fads and evidence-based practice. Books will be provided books to those who register at least two weeks before the start of the program.
Dates: Meets monthly on Wednesday (September 21, October 12, and November 2) at 1:00 pm
Through the Eyes of Students
Facilitated by Dr. Laura Jacobi
Would you like the opportunity to hear from students what strategies work best in helping them to learn? In this 5-week certificate program facilitated by Laura Jacobi (University MavPASS Faculty Liaison) and students who have been trained in or experienced various learning strategies, we will explore learning from the student perspective. Through participation, we hope to answer the following questions:
- What pedagogical strategies work best in the classroom in supporting student learning?
- What environment supports student learning, and how can professors foster it?
- What are the best ways to create and foster an inclusive classroom environment?
- What types of assessments help students to best comprehend and retain the curriculum?
Topic suggestions will also be collected from participants.
Dates: Thursdays (Sept 22 - October 20) at 3:00 pm in ML 94B
Research Power Hour: Atomic Habits
Join CETL and CESR to get a productivity boost on your scholarship. Work on your scholarship in a supportive Zoom environment. Come as an independent researcher or as a research team. All participants will receive a complimentary copy of Atomic Habits and will have opportunities to exchange ideas with fellow researchers.
Dates: Meets weekly on Fridays (September 30 - November 4) from 9:00-10:30 am.
Scholars at Work Conference Call for Proposals
The call for proposals for CETL's Scholars at Work conference is now open! The conference will be a virtual conference on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The theme for this year's conference is Advancing Equity in Teaching and Learning.
The Scholars At Work Conference allows faculty to share their teaching, research, and innovations with peers and colleagues around our institution.
We will have three tracks: scholarship of teaching and learning, scholarship and creative activity, and graduate research.
Join and present from where you are by Zoom. You can submit a proposal here. The deadline for proposals is September 30, 2022.
New Quiz Experience in D2L Brightspace
This webinar is a 30 minute introduction to using the new Quizzes experience in D2L Brightspace. Choose one of the following dates/times for registration. Each date/time has the same session/information.
- Sept. 26 - 9:00 am (CST)
- Sept. 28 - 1:30 pm (CST)
- Oct. 4 - 1:30 pm (CST)
- Oct. 6 - 9:00 am (CST)
Writing Equitable Learning Outcomes Webinar
All new CDS proposals need to include learning outcomes that address Equity 2030. Join this webinar to learn more about how to strengthen the language of your learning outcomes from Dr. Timothy Berry, Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs and Equity Initiatives, and Dr. Beth Beschorner, CETL Associate Director for Equity Initiatives. This webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28 at 2:00 pm.
If you have questions about this webinar, you can email cetl@mnsu.edu. If you would like to attend, you can register here.
Professional Development Opportunities from the Network for Educational Development
The following are a few professional development opportunities that are available through the Network for Educational Development (NED). Click on the course name to view information about that individual class. Registration information is available on each course page.
- Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Learning Community: Fall 2022
- Equity 101: Fall 2022
- Cultural Competence for Professional Fluency
- What’s New in D2L Brightspace: September 2022 (release 20.22.09)
- D2L Brightspace: Create Assignments
- OEN Webinar – Prepare to conduct a peer-review of an open textbook ($200 stipend once the review is completed)
LinkedIn Learning
Explore new skills with LinkedIn Learning! Check out this month’s featured LinkedIn Learning opportunities:
Whiteness in Plain View
Join community members on Friday, September 16, from 4:00 - 5:45 pm at MSU's Ostrander Auditorium in the Centennial Student Union for a book talk with Chad Montrie, who is the author of the new book Whiteness in Plain View: A History of Racial Exclusion in Minnesota. This event is free and open to the public.
A livestream option is also available. Registration for the livestream is available here.
