Tag Archives: conference

Conference Debrief

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Another year, another great conference!  It was wonderful to get to visit with so many colleagues at the Regional Assessment Conference on April 22.  I heard a range of presentations on campus assessment initiatives and strategies, enjoyed a dynamic keynote address (Dr. Jillian Kinzie rocks!), and ultimately came away invigorated— with a host of ideas for moving forward on my own campus. As we’ve taken time to catch up this past week, I’ve been working on my “to-do” list.  After digging my conference room and office out from under all of RCCAC 2016 materials, I pulled together some takeaways from this year’s conference: Assessment works! Kinzie shared some excellent stories and examples of colleagues and institutions that are closing the loop on assessment and making strides in student learning. (Be sure to revisit her presentation under the “RCCAC Keynote 2016” tab above.) There are multiple assessment roads. My colleagues and I shared lots of assessment strategies that have worked well Continue reading Conference Debrief→

Logistics!

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I am taking a big car trip this summer and am really enjoying making all the plans.  Traveling with me will be my school-age niece and nephew. We have been poring over maps, deciding on destinations and hotels, and determining how often we will need to stop to avoid the “are we there yet” cries from the backseat.  All fun stuff! If you are registered for the 6th Annual Regional Community College Assessment Conference, you should be finalizing your plans about now.  So here is some free advice to make the most of your conference experience. Take a look at the program in advance to scope out the sessions you would most like to attend. Also, be sure and pack lots of business cards to share with colleagues and vendors.  I encourage you to share your conference experience as it happens via live-tweeting at  #RCCAC16. Follow us at @JCCCOOA But most importantly, come prepared to be challenged and invigorated by what your Continue reading Logistics!→

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…→

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→

Feeling Good About Assessment

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I am a big fan of big-band jazz and I love the song “Feeling Good” – the lyrics include the phrase “It’s a new dawn, it’s new day, it’s a new life for me.  And I’m feeling good!”    Well it’s a new year, 2015, a new semester, a new conference, and I’m feeling good about the line-up that we have set-up for the 5th Regional Assessment Conference hosted this year by Johnson County Community College on April 20, 2015. Let’s start with this year’s keynote.  Dr. Tom Angelo’s keynote for the conference is “Seven Levers for Higher and Deeper Learning: Research-Based Guidelines and Strategies for Improving Teaching, Assessment and Learning.”   Just the opportunity to hear more from Dr. Angelo breathes new life into my teaching and assessment strategies.  I had the opportunity this past summer to attend one of his workshops and was impressed to find a great blend of theoretical and practical advice that I immediately put to use. Continue reading Feeling Good About Assessment→

Professional Development – A Plethora of Opportunities

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  Definition of Professional Development – “the process of obtaining the skills, qualifications, and experience that allow you to make progress in your career.” (Macmillan Dictionary, 2014) Looking ahead over the next several months at JCCC, I find the opportunities for faculty development in the assessment of student learning remarkable in both breadth and depth. Leading off the new academic semester in January, the Office of Outcomes Assessment (OOA) will host a workshop that was piloted last summer. Assessment by Design – Comprehensive Overview, is a day-long, hands-on workshop which provides participants with an interactive and theoretical framework for addressing the assessment needs of their courses or programs. Come to this workshop as an individual faculty member working on assessing student learning in your courses, or bring your colleagues to address assessment initiatives for your program. During Professional Development Days, find your development opportunity in sessions such as: “Hits and Misses” in Launching Assessment Strategies, a faculty panel discussion Taming Continue reading Professional Development – A Plethora of Opportunities→