Category Archives: Conference

Information related to the 5th Annual Regional Community College Assessment Conference on April 10, 2015. from 8:00-4:00 PM.

Two for the Price of One

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When I was a kid, my favorite kind of candy was anything that was a “two-fer”.  You know the kind I mean – two pieces for the price of one, like the little bitty tootsie rolls or the tiny bottles of Kool-Aid in wax bottles.  My favorite place to go for “two-fer” candy was the dime store across the street from my elementary school because they carried 5-cent caramels.  This allowed me to maximize my nickel. Similarly, you will be able to maximize your time at the upcoming Regional Community College Assessment Conference because several breakouts will feature experiences and ideas that cover multiple facets of assessment. For instance, Adam Borth from Seward County Community College will be sharing how the college has incorporated assessment activities in the classroom to embrace broad institutional goals. Adam’s session promises to be very hands-on and he encourages participants to bring their current institutional learning outcomes to the session. If you are looking to Continue reading Two for the Price of One→

Taking the Lead in Assessment

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An interesting session to be offered by Rockhurst University faculty during the assessment conference here in April highlights the leadership aspects of their physical therapy program. Leadership is a tricky thing to define and measure because leadership requires both someone to take the lead and someone to follow the lead.  Much has been written on the topic of leadership, going back centuries.  Some view leadership as the person who charges the hill, while others view leadership as convincing followers to charge the hill for you. Look at any book on business published in the last 20 years and you will find a dozen or more quotes about leadership, probably in the first chapter.  Personally, I like this perspective on leadership offered by Wendell Willkie, American lawyer, corporate executive, and 1940 candidate for president: “Education is the mother of leadership.” I think the faculty at Rockhurst University would agree with Mr. Willkie since one of the goals for their Doctor of Continue reading Taking the Lead in Assessment→

Name That Tune

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I have always been fascinated by how our brains work.  Specifically, how my brain can remember all the lyrics from songs in the 1970’s but can’t remember a conversation I had in the hallway with a colleague 20 minutes ago.  I am the perfect lifeline if you are on a game show and need someone to sing “Midnight Train to Georgia” or “More than a Feeling”. At this year’s Regional Community College Assessment Conference on April 22 (#RCCAC16) at JCCC, Heather Seitz, Associate Professor in Microbiology at JCCC, will share her own contribution to national research. In her breakout session on using concept inventories for measuring student learning gains in the classroom, Professor Seitz will provide an overview of the history of concept inventories and discuss the process for creating them. Faculty can use concept inventories to measure the impact of teaching and compare their students’ successes with national data.  Professor Seitz will be sharing some very interesting research as well Continue reading Name That Tune→

Takeaways on Giveaways

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I recently participated in a conference call with the Regional Assessment Coordinating Council.  We regularly confer as we prepare for the April assessment conference.   One agenda item during this meeting was discussion about the type of “bling” we should offer conference participants this year.  In the past, we’ve provided useful items like insulated travel cups, mugs, tote bags, coasters, etc.  Our call ended with all council members promising to do some further investigating with the intent of sharing their respective findings during our January conference call. So I began to wonder, exactly what kind of “bling” is appropriate for an assessment conference? In pondering this conundrum, my mind wandered just a bit and led me to come up with more of a list of “best ever” giveaway options for assessment folks. I know I would very much like to discover the following tucked inside my conference bag: Magic dust that I could spread on any faculty members resistant to assessment Continue reading Takeaways on Giveaways→

Anticipation…

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When I was a kid, I was always anticipating something – Christmas, spring break, summer vacation, my next birthday.  As I got older and the responsibility for those activities fell more squarely on my shoulders, the anticipation took on some other qualities, like anxiety and trepidation.  And, of course, at this stage of life, let’s not even discuss birthdays! But I am experiencing a pleasant form of anticipation again as all the planning and preparation ramps up for the 6th Annual Regional Community College Assessment Conference scheduled for April 22, 2016.  Working with our keynote speaker Dr. Jillian Kinzie, coordinating with colleagues about logistics, marketing the conference, and discussing components of the venue are all serving to build the anticipation and excitement for what I know will be a great conference. Mark your calendar now for the 2016 conference with its timely theme of Assessment: Shifting from Compliance to Ownership so you will also have a great event to anticipate.  Continue reading Anticipation…→

Ambrosia

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I know I have mentioned before that I’m a Southerner.   I am actually one of those very rare native Floridians—rare because most residents of Florida are transplants.  One of the great food traditions of Florida is a winter dish called Ambrosia, a fruit salad made with fresh winter oranges and coconut.  Some of you may recognize another version: Homer referenced ambrosia in his poems as the food of the gods. I think the same could be said of the Florida fruit salad since it is one of my favorite dishes and is known to taste divine. After the Moving Forward with Assessment conference, I would like to offer another spin on the definition of ambrosia – not as a winter dish served in Florida, but as a spring treat generously shared in the Midwest.  This variation is composed of the wide variety of dialogues on assessment swirling around me this past Friday at the conference.  The opportunity to connect with Continue reading Ambrosia→

Moving Forward with Assessment

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This is it! Spring is in the air and flowers and trees are blooming all over campus. This is the week we’ve been looking forward to since last year’s conference.  The 5th Annual Regional Community College Assessment Conference – Moving Forward with Assessment, is finally here!  And I am excited. As you are on the countdown to attending the conference, here a few tips to make this experience amazing. Check out the schedule in advance on the blog site and determine which breakouts you want to attend (choose your top two picks). Bring your business cards to give to your new colleagues, and ask them for theirs – you may want to follow-up with them after the conference. Join us the night before for the reception; it will be a nice informal opportunity to meet, chat and network. Be prepared to take home lots of great ideas to share on your campus. I sincerely look forward to greeting each of Continue reading Moving Forward with Assessment→