2014 - 2015 Professional Development Days
Fredonia is a community of learning in which faculty and staff recognize the importance of modeling lifelong learning for our students. As such, two days were designated in the 2014-2015 academic calendar, during which faculty and staff from all divisions were encouraged to participate in campus-wide professional development dialogues and activities.
Fredonia's Spring 2015 "Professional Development Day" was held on Friday, February 6, 2015. A wide variety of activities were available for students as well. Click here for the Student Activity Schedule
Framing the Future: Helping Students Succeed
Friday, February 6, 2015
Click Here for a Printable "Schedule At a Glance"
Topics Offered:
Health & Wellness:
Yoga with Lindsey Bauza
Introduction to LehrerDance technique
with Jon Lehrer and the LehrerDance company
LehrerDance is an inspiring and innovative professional dance company based in Buffalo, NY. Under the direction of Jon Lehrer, the company showcases Jon’s unique choreography and embodies his definitive style. Jon’s extensive background in both the modern and jazz dance idioms fosters choreography that is organic, artistic, accessible and often humorous, reflecting life experience and the human condition.
Happiness Advantage
with Christopher Taverna, Professional Development Center
The Happiness Advantage training video gives you a formula for improving productivity, overcoming challenges, increasing cognitive abilities, and improving teamwork – all while improving your mindset. This comprehensive training program is based on Shawn Achor's book, The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work
Ballroom Dance
with Jon Lehrer and the LehrerDance company
Drugs of Abuse Used by Today’s College Students
Michele Caliva, RN, Director of Upstate Poison Control Center
Janette Zhu, RN, Professional Education Coordinator, Upstate Poison Control Center
This program provided an open discussion regarding new drugs that have been introduced and used primarily by the 20 to 40 year old populations throughout communities within New York State. The presenters also encouraged dialogue with the attendees to gather data representative of drugs found in the community in which they are presenting. The program would particularly benefit emergency response personnel, including Building Safety Coordinators, CERT members, University Police, Residence Hall directors, custodians, counselors and anyone who works with students or shares an interest in this topic.
High Impact Teaching Practices:
Building Living Learning Communities: Lessons from the four years of the Honor House
with Dave Kinkela, History; and Honors Students Jacob Schermerhorn, Julianna Grabowski, and Ken Starr
Since 2011, the Honors Program has developed a strong residential component to its academic mission. The Honors House exists to expand the classroom experience by integrating learning through campus and community engagement. Students have the opportunity to be in an environment with other students who like academic challenges and that enriches their learning through special programs with faculty and staff, visiting speakers, cultural activities and events, service projects, and shared meals. This session was designed to highlight some of the High Impact Practices of the Honors House, while reflecting on some of the difficulties in creating a vibrant living and learning community (LLC) on campus. It also drew on the literature on High-Impact Practices to address how we can better integrate classroom learning in a non-classroom environment.
Teaching Writing vs. Assigning Writing: Writing Process Elements in the Classroom
with Susan Spangler, English
The purpose of this Workshop was to have participants 1) examine their personal writing processes 2) learn new writing process elements 3) articulate methods for teaching writing process elements instead of merely assigning writing projects. Participants were to draw their writing process in order to engage in a discussion about their own writing processes. In small groups, participants looked for similarities and differences in their processes and begin to articulate writing process elements. A handout was provided on descriptions of teaching writing vs. assigning writing. Participants were to articulateways they could incorporate the "teaching writing" descriptions into their own courses in their department
Engaging Undergraduate Students in Research
with Scott Medler, Biology
Engaging Undergraduate Students in Research Undergraduate (UG) research provides students with valuable experience that enriches their understanding of basic processes they’ve learned about in the classroom, and exposes them to the process of science. Several studies have shown that UG research experiences result in gains in critical thinking, oral and written communication skills, personal and professional development, and a better understanding of how science works as a process. In this seminar, a focus on the history and definitions of authentic undergraduate research, and then present examples of some of the ‘best practices’ that can be taken from successful models of UG research. The goal of this workshop was to engage attending faculty and administrators in an active discussion about how to facilitate meaningful undergraduate research at Fredonia.
Talking about Race and Racism in the Classroom
with Bill Boerner, Chief Diversity Officer & Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Jeffry Iovannone, Women & Gender Studies Coordinator
With an increasingly diverse population of students at Fredonia, our classrooms are becoming opportunities for interracial interactions which may spark racial micro-aggressions and difficult dialogues. Session participants explored these dynamics as well as strategized effective ways to approach incidents of racism in the classroom and co-curricular environment.
From Global to Local, and Keep them Local: Strategies to Recruit and Retain International Students Part I
with Guangyu Tan, Curriculum & Instruction
Learning objectives were as follows: 1) The audience will know the trend of globalization of higher education. 2) The audience will learn the strategies to attract and recruit potential students, especially international students. Methods used: 1) statistics to demonstrate the trend of globalization of higher education. 2) personal accounts to discuss what matters to international students when it comes to choose a higher education institution in the United States.
Ditching the Dull - Dynamic Design Strategies for Teamwork in the Classroom
with Roslin Smith, Communication
In this interactive workshop participants examined team dynamics and explored several ways to incorporate teamwork in the classroom. Sample activities were modeled. Attendees were encouraged to have fun while engaging in short teamwork exercises.
Learning objectives: 1) To explore various team building activities that encourage learning processes 2) How to use teamwork in the evaluation process
Discussion Forums:
Framing the Questions: What Does it Mean to be a Community of Learners?
Colleagues from across campus were encouraged to join lively discussions focused on what it means to be a student-centered campus. This was a time to share thoughts and ideas, along with the opportunity to connect with others while exploring different ways of thinking about teaching, learning and working.
Instructional Innovations Forum
with Kimberly Conti, Mathematical Sciences; Mike Jabot, Curriculum and Instruction; Tiffany Nicely, Music; David Stellhorn, Theatre & Dance; and Peter Tucker, Visual Arts & New Media
Faculty from across the disciplines shared stories of how they have innovated their classrooms with activities and technologies designed to enhance student learning. Colleagues were encouraged to come hear what others were doing, and to feel free to bounce ideas off of others in this free-flowing discussion.
Research & Creative Activities Forum
with Catherine Creeley, Psychology; Timothy Frerichs, Visual Arts & New Media; Natalie Gerber, English; Judith Horowitz, Associate Provost for Graduate Studies, Sponsored Research & Faculty Development; Sam Mason, Chemistry; Joseph McFall, Psychology; Paul Murphy, Music; Jonathan Titus, Biology; Emily VanDette, English; and Birger Vanwesenbeeck, English
Faculty from across the disciplines discussed research and creative projects that they currently have underway.
"Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) Forum
with Lisa Melohusky, on behalf of the Information Technology Advisory Board
In Fall 2014, ITAB (Instructional Technology Advisory Board, www.fredonia.edu/its/itab/) formed several task forces to investigate some of the high profile technology topics on campus. One of the groups created was charged with investigating the development of goals and objectives for instructional technology. This task force has begun by focusing on BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and would like your feedback and ideas on devices being used, support and training needs, and high impact teaching methods impacted by BYOD. This was a discussion on current ways BYOD is being used in the classroom and to help create a wish list that would support future teaching.
General Education Assessment Roundtable Discussion: From Accountability to Quality Enhancement
with Lisa Hunter, Curriculum, Assessment, and Academic Support; Joseph McFall, Psychology; Kathleen Magiera, Education; and Justin Conroy, Physics
Assessment of general education is often viewed as a way to ensure that institutional goals are being met. However, truly meaningful assessment typically happens when the assessment results lead to ways to strengthen and improve the program. This workshop explored this important topic from multiple campus perspectives.
Academic Department Secretaries Forum
with Christopher Taverna and members of the Secretary’s Professional Development Committee
In this session, Academic Department Secretaries were invited to join in a discussion to share ideas, workflows, and best practices for success in the workplace.
Campus Information Sessions:
Success with Google
with Christopher Taverna, Technology Training Coordinator
Are you curious about ways you might use Google Apps better? Are you tired of making do with inefficient work-arounds? Are you looking for ways to have Google work for you instead of against you?
Christopher Taverna shared his expertise using Google Apps. This session was a fast-paced, fun, and functional demonstration of the big three of Google Apps - Mail, Calendar, and Drive. New tips and tricks to get the most out of Google Apps were demonstrated with a question and answer period immediately following.
Campus Update on Title IX and Sexual Violence
with Bill Boerner, Chief Diversity Officer & Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator
Members of the Fredonia campus community have the right to live, learn, and work in an environment that is free from sexual violence and harassment. This session highlighted Title IX regulations, the new SUNY policies regarding Sexual Violence response and prevention, as well as sharing resources available to support students.
Advising Information and Course Proposal Forms for Academic Affairs Secretaries
with Amy Leclair, Coordinator of Academic Advising and Liberal Arts, and Joseph Straight, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee
Best practices for handling advising and course proposal forms were shared, with time provided for Q&A.
Branding 101: Understanding the Dos and Don'ts of using Fredonia's new name and logo
with Mike Barone, Director of Marketing and Communications, Patty Herkey, Communications Designer and Erin Ehman, Graphic Designer
The Creative Design Team walked attendees through the many issues they should consider when creating or using any print or electronic communication materials which contain the university's brand. Logo formats, fonts, color schemes and more were discussed, and helpful tips were shared to ensure that department's materials look as professional as one would expect from the third-largest four-year university in Western New York.
NET & Travel Cards Refresher
with Sandy Noble, Director of University Accounting
In this session, Net & Travel Card procedures were reviewed, along with the opportunity to have questions answered.
Writing Workshop:
Developing Daily Writing Strategies to Help Push You Towards Publication
with Katrina Fulcher-Rood and Anny Castilla-Earl, Communication Disorders & Sciences
This workshop focused on creating daily writing habits that will help in the academic writing process for publications, methodologies, and grants. Strategies from the books: How to Write A Lot, Becoming an Academic Writer: 50 Exercises for paced, productive, and powerful writing, and Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks: A Guide to academic publishing success. This workshop gave participants practice, templates, and exercises on how to infuse academic writing into their daily work life. In addition, interested participants learned about available writing groups that can serve as a resource for their productive writing.
Learning Objectives:
• After engaging in this talk, participants would be able to identify at minimum two writing exercises that will aid them in being proficient academic writers
• At the end of the presentation, participants would be able to understand the function of a writing group and if it is an appropriate tool for them to utilize in the production of academic writing