Current PDC Program Descriptions

View descriptions of current programming based on series. For a chronological listing of our events and to register, click here or view our calendar.

• Associates Series
• Technology for the Office
• Technology for the Classroom
• Special Topics

Associates Series

For a chronological listing of our events and to register, click here or view our calendar.

Integrating Sustainability Across All Disciplines

This interactive workshop will focus on creating an awareness about what sustainability and will demonstrate how sustainability can be relevant to all disciplines.  Faculty (and staff) will discuss methods for incorporating sustainability into student learning experiences, and participants will be encouraged to generate ideas and methods tailored to their learning goals.

The Paperless Classroom: using the Web to Teach & Manage Course Content

This introductory workshop is designed to introduce various methods of managing course content on-line. Concepts covered will include: using Google Drive for course syllabus, schedules, and assignments, and linking all course content with a simple, free website.

Advising Student Organizations: The Basics

There are more than 150 student organizations recognized by the Student Association on our campus. Each of those organizations is required to have a faculty/staff member as their advisor. While the role of advisor is voluntary, it is one that is very meaningful to the success of a student organization and the relationship between professionals and students outside of the classroom. There are varying levels of involvement on the part of advisor depending on the needs and wants of each organization. This workshop  will be useful to current and potential student organization advisors who would like to learn more about:

• The general responsibilities of a student organization advisor
• What FSU4U is
• Common campus and Student Association policies

Upon completion, participants will be able to: • Explain the types of clubs recognized by the Student Association. • Recognize what student clubs must complete in order to use campus facilities, post advertisements, or seek funds for activities or events. • Identify campus departments that can assist student organizations or advisors with programming or problems. • Acknowledge what responsibilities the advisor has to the student organization.

Introduction to Enrollment, Recruitment & Retention: Strategies & Best Practices

This workshop will provide an overview enrollment, recruitment and retention practices, providing information on how these three areas operate and interrelate. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on and discuss how their roles contribute to these important campus functions.

Sustainability in the Strategic Plan As It Applies To Campus Employees

This interactive workshop is designed to create awareness regarding sustainability issues and initiatives. Participants
will have the opportunity to discuss the "Sustainable Community" section of the Strategic Plan and its impact campus employees. Participants will be provided with further educational resources related to sustainability issues, as well as  resources for implementing sustainable work practices within their departments.

Introduction to World Music Pedagogy and Smithsonian Folkways: Part I

No formal music knowledge and/or training is required to participate.

The presenter will introduce participants to the concept of World Music Pedagogy, and the ways in which they can explore familiar and unfamiliar cultures with their students through the familiar media of music (primarily listening and musicing). Participants will learn about strategies for including opportunities for attentive listening, engaged listening, and enactive listening as part of their class. By using such World Music Pedagogical strategies, participants can help their students make connections between their culture and the culture of people unlike themselves. Using technology (computers, basic internet, and PowerPoint) and Western and World Music instruments, the presenter will introduce participants to the resources offered on the Smithsonian Folkways website, and will demonstrate how to use the resources to engage students in various world cultures through the three types of listening (attentive, engaged, and enactive). The presenter will introduce an unfamiliar or familiar culture through the voices of people from that culture; engage participants in directed listening of music from that culture; engage participants in music-making while listening to the recorded music; and direct reflection regarding the unfamiliar culture, the culture of the participants, and the social, cultural, and political similarities and differences that make each culture rich.

Diversity Matters in Higher Education: Learning to Teach/Work with International Students (Part I): A Personal Journey

This workshop starts with a personal account of challenges and issues faced by the presenter as an international student. It further discusses why diversity matters in today’s higher education arena, and what the theoretical framework is to work with diverse population, especially international students. Finally, it presents lessons that the presenter has learned through the Cross-Cultural Living Learning Community (CCLLC). The presenter will invite the Korean participants of the CCLLC to talk about what have helped them to transit from Korean culture to American culture, and acculturate to a new life here in the United States.

Introduction to Spreadsheets with Excel and Google Drive

This introductory workshop will introduce basic concepts and use of spreadsheets for academics and for professional staff. Participants will learn how to create spreadsheets to track data, to do simple formulas and to create charts to display data. The instructor will demonstrate how he uses a single spreadsheet to track attendance and grading for courses.

Club Advisors as Creative Problem Solvers

All student organizations face challenges. Most seek help from an advisor when they have reached a high level of discord among group members or feel frustration due to poor planning. Often these groups find themselves fighting one another because they fear change or have a small number of club members forcing their ideas upon the group. This workshop would provide advisors with tools to assist student groups in generating new ideas, evaluating new and useful solutions, and creating action plans. In this interactive session participants will learn to facilitate activities that deliberately apply creativity to the challenges student groups may face. These activities are based on the six-step Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model developed by Dr. Sidney Parnes and Alex Osborn in the 1950’s and its contemporary adaptations.

Participants will be able to to: • Identify methods in which to frame problems or challenges into statements that help student seek solutions. • Apply the appropriate divergent or convergent thinking activities to a student organization challenge. • Have knowledge of various creativity resources available to them online.

Diversity Matters in Higher Education: Learning to Teach/Work with International Students (Part II): 6 Ideas and Strategies for Teaching International Students

Based on the culturally and linguistically responsive teaching pedagogy, this workshop will focus on six practical ideas and strategies that faculty can use to engage international students in class, and make them feel as a part of the class, rather than an outsider. The strategies aim at promoting international students’ interaction with peers and with the instructor. This workshop will have the participants try the strategies first hand.

Introduction to World Music Pedagogy and Smithsonian Folkways: Part II

No formal music knowledge and/or training is required to participate.

The presenter will introduce the concept of World Music Pedagogy, and the ways in which it can be used to explore familiar and unfamiliar cultures with students through music media. The presenter will demonstrate how the resources provided on the Smithsonian Folkways website and World Music Pedagogy can be used to create engaging experiences for the undergraduate and graduate students in classes across the disciplines. Using technology (computers, basic internet, and PowerPoint) and Western and World Music instruments, participants will develop their own plans to apply world music pedagogical strategies in their classrooms to engage students in various world cultures through the three types of listening (attentive, engaged, and enactive). Participants will share these resources with each other, and engage in discussion regarding how they and their students might use these and other resources, similarly and in collaboration, to develop a deep understanding of social, cultural, and political contexts and how they interact.

Technology for the Office

For a chronological listing of our events and to register, click here or view our calendar.

Google Mail (Level 1)

This workshop will provide participants with the basic knowledge of how to use Google Mail. Topics covered in this workshop include: General Settings, Inbox Settings, Labs, Layout, Sending Mail, Labels

Google Calendar (Level 2)

This workshop will provide participants with some tips for getting the most out of Google Calendar beyond the basics. Participants should already have a basic familiarity with Google Calendar. Specific topics covered include: Tasks, Keyboard Shortcuts, and Labs

Google Docs/Drive (Level 1)

This workshop will provide participants with the basic knowledge of how to use Google Drive and create and share documents in the cloud. Topics covered include: Getting Started, Creating a Document, and Sharing a Document

Google Groups (Level 1)

This workshop will provide participants with the basic knowledge of how to use Google Groups as well as some practical examples of how to implement groups for use in your department or committee. Topics covered include: Getting Started, Creating a Group, Managing a Group, and Interacting with a Group

Getting to Inbox Zero

Do you feel overwhelmed by your email inbox? Do important emails get lost in inbox clutter? If you would like to learn new strategies to help deal with email overload, then this workshop is for you. Participants will learn techniques for handling incoming information and how to best use the tools available within GMail to better manage their inbox.

Organizing Computer Files

This workshop will provide participants with methods to organize their computer files for easy retrieval and backup. 

Office Productivity with Google Apps

This workshop will provide participants with a holistic view of using Google Apps to increase productivity. Specific Apps covered in this workshop include: Mail, Tasks, Calendar, Drive/Docs, and Groups.

Introduction to Microsoft Excel

This workshop will provide participants with a basic introduction to Microsoft Excel, including how to create spreadsheets, basic formulas, and formatting.

Introduction to Omni-Update

In this session we will cover everything that is necessary to be a basic editor of content in Omni-Update. We'll learn how to log in, make edits to existing pages, create new pages and sites, upload/insert images into pages, link to uploaded documents and publish content to the live web.

Advanced Omni-Update Techniques

In this session we will cover advanced content management techniques in Omni-Update. We will learn how to insert forms and videos into web pages, file maintenance of images and documents, creating and maintaining reusable content such as assets and snippets, and other techniques.

Technology for the Classroom

For a chronological listing of our events and to register, click here or view our calendar.

Introduction to ANGEL

ANGEL is the course management system used at Fredonia. This workshop will introduce the basic features in ANGEL and discuss ways to use it to enhance a course.

ANGEL Gradebook

This hands-on workshop will cover all features of the ANGEL Gradebook. At the completion of this workshop faculty will have set up a gradebook with guidance and assistance. Please bring your syllabus or assignment values to the workshop.

ANGEL Drop Box

This workshop will cover creating and effectively using ANGEL drop boxes to collect, grade, and return student papers and any other digital works. 

Clickers in the Classroom

This workshop will discuss the technical set up of using clickers in your classroom but also discuss how this real time interaction can impact learning. Using the Turning Technology product we will look at what is possible and how the available features can engage your students. 

Elluminate Live!

As part of a SUNY Learning Network/ITEC pilot Fredonia now has access to Elluminate Live! via ANGEL. Elluminate Live! is a synchronous webinar solution that allows at a distance teaching, online office hours, and presentations. During this workshop we will walk through the steps of setting up an Elluminiate Live! session from within your ANGEL course, loading presentation material, and using the available interactive tools.This workshop will also cover some best practice ideas for audio, chat room, and whiteboard usage.

iTunes U

iTunes U is the newest tool on campus for sharing audio and video with your students. Access to iTunes U is given through ANGEL so that only your students can see the content. During this workshop we will discuss file types, best practices, and Apple’s guidelines for posting on iTunes U.

Using Echo360 For Course Capture and Personal Capture

Echo360 is recording software and hardware that creates both course captures and personal captures. Course captures are recordings that combine the audio, video and projector into a single recording. Personal capture is software installed on an individual computer to create mini-recordings to enhance your course. This workshop will demonstrate both tools and explore the ways these recordings can be used. 

Using ANGEL’s Actions and Automates

Actions and Automates allow you to schedule events in ANGEL based on individual student actions. You can schedule an email to be mailed after completing a certain task, release content based on a score in an assessment, or create teams based on student usage. While actions and automates are useful in all courses, anyone interested in, or teaching a blended or online course will find these tools especially helpful. The SUNY Learning Network (SLN) will be hosting this event, so please come take advantage of the expertise.

Special Topics

For a chronological listing of our events and to register, click here or view our calendar.

Coffee Connections @ the PDC

Complimentary coffee, tea, and pastries will be available to faculty staff on Thursday mornings from 8:30 - 10:00 am in the Reed Library Exhibit Area.  Drop in to catch up with a colleague from another area of campus, meet with a member of the PDC staff, get impromptu assistance with a technology need, or feel free to just stop in for a cup of coffee on your way to class. We look forward to seeing you!

FRED Talks

FRED Talks provide an opportunity for members of the campus community to come together to watch and discuss videos from the popular TED Talks series. The spring semester Fred Talks will focus on concepts relevant to the Baccalaureate Goals Framework: Skilled, Connected, Creative, and Responsible.

Introduction to Pivot

Pivot is a powerful suite of tools to facilitate grant seeking and research activities, including identification of potential collaborators.Take this opportunity to verify and update the information available in your Pivot scholar profile, including attribution of your scholarly work. In this session you will receive navigation tips that will optimize your search experience, and learn how to set up customized alerts notifying you of funding opportunities that match your specialized research interests.

Handling Incoming Information Using the Six D System

Throughout our day we are bombarded with vast amounts of information. Participants at this workshop will learn how to use the Six D system to manage incoming information, both in email and in paper formats, efficiently.

Crafting Effective Presentations

This workshop will provide participants with ideas on how to create engaging presentations, tips on presentation style, as well as a look at some of the tools used for presenting.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad MOOC?

Come to this presentation if you want to learn what a MOOC is, and isn’t. What trends are appearing and how might they impact online learning and you? There will be time for discussion after the presentation.

Advising Liberal Arts Students

This workshop is designed to present advisors with the basic skills and tools used in advising Liberal Arts Students. Some of the topics that will be discussed include the advising process, the role of the advisor, appropriate course placement, resources available, and the major exploration process. All Academic Advisors are encouraged to attend to learn more about academic advising or to refresh your basic skills. 

This workshop will increase your understanding of the undeclared college student and provide you with techniques, strategies and resources to improve your advising skills with this population.

Advising Students on Academic Warning and Academic Probation

This workshop will discuss how we define students on academic probation, factors that place students at risk for being placed on probation, typical probationary policies, and the role and responsibilities of those who advise these students.

Policies that Impact Academic Advising

This workshop will provide you with information regarding current academic polices that impact academic advising. Policies such as: Freshmen Forgiveness, Fredonia-in-4, Transfer Credit and Academic Bankruptcy will be discussed.

Advising International Students

With the rising recruitment and matriculation of international students, many academic advisors are seeing significantly higher number of advisees who have come to this campus from other parts of the world. This workshop will provide advisors with tools, techniques and strategies for working with the rising international population.

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems using ArcGIS Software

A geographic information system (GIS) lets us visualize, question, analyze, interpret, and understand data to reveal relationships, patterns, and trends. This workshop will introduce participants to the basics of managing, representing, and analyzing spatial data. Using the Esri ArcGIS software, participants will experience a hands-on demonstration of GIS and how it may be used in their own discipline or area of interest.

No prior experience with GIS is required.

Mapping Census 2010 Data using ArcGIS 10

This workshop is a follow-up to the “Introduction to Geographic Information Systems using ArcGIS Software” workshop. Participants will be introduced to some of the demographic and economic data available for download from the U.S. Census Bureau website and use in ArcGIS. This is a hands-on workshop and will provide participants with step-by-step instructions for downloading, formatting and mapping Census 2010 data in ArcGIS.

Teaching Research and Information Literacy Skills:  A Hands-On Approach

Although new members to the book club are no longer being accepted, please contact us at pdc-grp@fredonia.edu if you would like more information or would like to participate in our next book club.