Friday @ the Center
February 27, 2009
Interactive Teaching-Problem Solver
My students don’t participate in discussions…My students complain that the test was unfair…My students don’t keep up with the readings. Any of this sound familiar? The Eberly Center at Carnegie Mellon University has developed a free interactive online resource to help. This resource provides a list of sample teaching problems; click on the problem, and you are led to several potential reasons for these problems. Click on a reason, and you will find research-based strategies and related learning principles to address the problem. This user-friendly resource won a 2008 POD Innovation Award. Find it [here].
Call for Ideas: The Struggle since Emancipation
As part of a series of events in 2009 to mark the Lincoln Bicentennial (and, not coincidentally, the centennial of the NAACP), a faculty committee is planning a symposium on May 2 with the tentative theme of "Voices of Pain, Voices of Hope: The Struggle since Emancipation," to be held in conjunction with a mass-choir celebration of the African-American heritage in song, led by Stephen Newby. We are looking for presenters and panelists. What do you talk about in your classes related to this topic that you could share with a wider audience? If you or someone you know locally might have something to contribute, please contact Bill Woodward with your ideas by March 4, 2009.
Economic Stimulus for Researchers?
The House and Senate Economic Stimulus and Recovery Bills (H.R. 1 and S. 1) include increased appropriations in several categories that may be of interest to faculty researchers. According to a recent report from the American Association of Colleges, the following programs/provisions would have increased funding were the bills to be passed and enacted:
- National Institute of Health: Over $10 billion for research to study diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and heart disease; new short-term grants that focus on specific scientific challenges and new research that expands the scope of ongoing projects; research into public health issues such as malaria, tuberculosis, influenza, etc.
- National Science Foundation: $2.5 billion for research and related activities including $300 million for major research instrumentation, $100 million for Education and Human Resources, which includes $40 million for the STEM related programs and $60 million for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.
- Department of Energy Office of Science: includes $1.6 billion for basic research in the physical sciences and $330 million for laboratory infrastructure and construction.
Both bills specify that preference will be given in granting funds to “Quick Start Activities,” which means that at least 50% of awards will go to activities initiated within 120 days. Competitive grants are to be awarded within 90 days following the passing and enacting of these bills.
Happy Teaching!
Susan
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