This academic year is teaching all of us about becoming more effective educators and communicators online. As many of us will continue to spend a large portion of our working hours this semester in online classrooms and zoom meetings, we will need opportunities to continue to develop and challenge ourselves to not to just survive this "new reality" but to adapt and grow in it, taking what works best forward. A recently published piece from Gary Olson, in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, and Heather Lynn Johnson, from the School of Education and Human Development, Promote Students' Function Reasoning with Techtivities, does just that. Quoting from the eloquent abstract, "Students enrolled in introductory math courses, such as college algebra, deserve to do more than find answers and fix mistakes. We present one interactive digital activity, the Cannon Man ‘Techtivity,’ which we developed to provide opportunities for students to develop an understanding of function, beyond just applying a rule..." This type of innovation on behalf of our students' educations is exactly the type of "out of the box" thinking that these challenging times can inspire, particularly in CLAS.
Additionally, I'd like to encourage everyone to take time this semester to continue finding new ways to expand inclusive pedagogy in our online classroom spaces. A few weeks ago the Chronicle of Higher Education Quick Tips Newsletter focused on three principles that are easily integrated into online learning spaces: inclusive teaching is a mind-set; the more structure, the better for all students; and too little structure leaves too many students behind. I encourage everyone to check out this very quick article, and to share with colleagues any tips and tricks of your own that you've found valuable in making your virtual classrooms as accessible as possible. If you have any ideas that you think the whole college can benefit from please feel free to send them to me to share out in future issues of this newsletter.
Farther afield, opportunities that we wouldn't usually have access to are popping up in the online sphere every day. Just one example, the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), has extended an invitation to students and faculty of our university to attend the annual Global Engagement Summit, taking place February 19-20, 2021. Every year, this event brings together community leaders, college students, young professionals, and subject matter experts from across the country to support the mission and lifesaving work of the United Nations. Typically held at the UN Headquarters in New York City, this online event will focus on the theme, “From Moments to Movements: Solidarity for Sustainability,” highlighting the importance of global cooperation to achieve a better world for everyone, everywhere. More information and registration options are at this website.
Again, thank you for all that you do for our students, our college, and our community. We will continue to navigate these rough waters together and will come out stronger on the other side.
