NITLE Update - 6 April 2009

For reasons of both mission and budget, faculty members are seeking effective, lower-cost, technology-enabled approaches to engage their students and promote active learning. In that search, having a time and venue to step back and reflect on one’s teaching practices—with colleagues that share similar interests—can be invaluable. If you have faculty members on your campus wishing for such an opportunity, please let them know about the 2009 NITLE Faculty Seminars. The registration deadline is Monday, April 13, one week from today.

Organized around the theme “Intersections: Promoting Active Learning with Digital Technologies,” these four seminars will run simultaneously from Wednesday, June 3 – Friday, June 5, 2009, at Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, CA). These intensive two-and-a-half day seminars will benefit faculty who wish to:

• help students learn how to use data and solve quantitative problems
• teach students Chinese language and culture
• introduce first-year students to college and prepare them for life-long learning
• help students understand cultures poorly represented or misrepresented in media

Housing at Claremont McKenna’s Fawcett Hall is available for participants; single- and double-occupancy rates are $41.17 and $21.23 per person, per night, respectively. Find more information about the 2009 NITLE Faculty Seminars at http://tinyurl.com/2009seminars.

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Seminars at a glance
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= Problem-Solving with Data in Curricular Contexts =

Spotlights practices for engaging students in quantitative problem-solving to foster participatory learning and reinforce course content. Curricular experts will facilitate discussion and lead hands-on study. Topics will range from data acquisition and visualization to student assessment. Participants will have opportunities to focus on course development and access individualized consultation. Seminar web page: http://tinyurl.com/dataseminar.

= Chinese Studies: Developing Communication through Digital Technologies =

For faculty who teach Chinese language and culture, a new and growing area of study at many institutions. This seminar will help faculty and associated staff members develop collaborative projects to support Chinese studies, integrate technology into their courses to promote active learning, and build a peer community to support Chinese Studies at NITLE participating institutions. Seminar web page: http://tinyurl.com/nitle-chinese-seminar.

= First-Year Seminars: Incorporating Technology =

For faculty who teach first-year seminars or similar courses that play a key role in introducing students to college, and help them learn essential skills such as critical reading, thinking, and writing. Participants will focus on how to help students approach their studies intentionally and prepare for a life of learning. Faculty will leave with a draft syllabus and assignments that integrate appropriate digital technologies to promote student learning and development as well as a community of peers who share their interests and challenges in this area. Seminar web page: http://tinyurl.com/nitle-first-year.

= Hazardous Intersections: Cross-Cultural and Media Literacy through Digital Teaching =

For faculty who teach about poorly understood or misrepresented cultures such as those of Africa, Asia, Central Europe, the Islamic world, Latin America, and the Middle East. Also for those who teach about cultural interaction in general, international media, and representations of global cultures in domestic media. Participants will explore ways of using technology to promote active learning, develop collaborative projects to support international education and media literacy, and engage and build a peer community to support their efforts. Seminar web page: http://tinyurl.com/hazardousintersections.