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CTE Faculty Newsletter
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Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Winners!
The CTE is pleased to announce the 2012-2013 Winners of the Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching! The selection committees, consisting of deans from seven discipline areas, have convened and made their recommendations. In recognition of their dedication and devotion to teaching, inspiring, encouraging and challenging Liberty University Champions for Christ, the following faculty have been selected to receive this prestigious award:
LUO Graduate
1st Place: Russell Claxton, School of Education
2nd Place: Joshua Straub, Center for Counseling & Family Studies; Psychology, School of Health Sciences
3rd Place: David Alexander, Church History, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
LUO Undergraduate
1st Place: Shelah Simpson, English & Modern Languages, College of Arts & Sciences
2nd Place: Patricia Allanson, College of General Studies
3rd Place: Laverne Young Smith, Willmington Institute of the Bible, School of Religion
LUR Graduate
1st Place: Andrea Beam, School of Education
2nd Place: Karen Swallow Prior, English & Modern Languages, College of Arts & Sciences
3rd Place: Russell Yocum, School of Education
LUR Undergraduate
1st Place: Bruce Kirk, Digital Media, School of Communication
2nd Place: Carolyn Towles, College of General Studies
3rd Place: Sean Beavers, Music & Performing Arts, School of Music
ATTENTION FACULTY!... TWT
The application period is now open for the 2013 Teaching with Technology (TWT) Boot Camp. The TWT is a week-long, intensive training session on integrating a variety of technologies into the classroom. Faculty will be exposed to tools that help:
- schedule, organize, conference, or capture (Outlook, Skype, WebEx, Snag-it, Bb Features);
- communicate or collaborate (Bb Wikis/ Blogs/ Journals, Bb Discussion Board, X-tra Normal, Twitter, Mobile Apps);
- present content (Prezi, Advanced PowerPoint, Wordle, Youtube, Smart Podium)
- assess learning or provide feedback (Clickers, Bb Tests, Bb Rubrics); and
- support student research (Articles, Journals, Databases, Available Media, e-Textbooks)
The TWT Boot Camp is scheduled for June 10-14, 2013 inside the CTE, DH 3032 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The application process is competitive. Successful applicants must indicate a desire to learn and utilize technology in their teaching. The TWT is a live training session and interested applicants must be able to attend each day. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on April 26, 2013. No late applications will be considered. Stipends, lunch, and mentoring will be provided. For more information, contact Sue Crabtree at scrabtree@liberty.edu.
Accepting Submissions for CTE Workshops
The CTE is now accepting proposals for workshops related to topics on teaching & learning. Workshops will be scheduled during the Institute for Student Success Workshop Sessions, Tuesday August 13, or will potentially be scheduled sometime during the academic year. Access the SharePoint Workshop Presenter Form to submit your request. Requests for proposals open until May 31.
Please contact CTE@liberty.edu, if you have any questions.
We are looking forward to another great year of professional development opportunities for the faculty.
CTE Expands Faith Learning Integration Resources
The center has planned a series of brown bag lunches centered on the topic of faith learning integration. The format resembles a roundtable discussion with audience input and participation. Upcoming sessions include:
- Oct. 25: Dr. C. Fred Smith, “Universal Questions: Using a Multidisciplinary Rubric for Integrating Faith and Curriculum in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.”
- Nov. 29: Dr. Gary Habermas, “Eternal Perspectives Inform How We Teach.”
- Jan. 24: Dr. Elizabeth Sites, “FLI: Separate Threads or Woven Pieces.”
- Feb. 28: Dr. Daniel Mitchell, “The Integration of Faith and Learning.”
- Mar. 28: Barbara Sherman, “Are We a Great Commandment Institution in the Pattern of Early American Higher Education?”
- Apr. 25: Stephen Bell, “A Christian Critique to Romanticism.”
All sessions are held from 11 a.m. – noon in the CTE training classroom, DeMoss 3032. The term brown bag suggests that faculty bring their own lunch (CTE provides drinks and snacks). To make the lunches more conducive to quality discussion, seating is limited to 30. Sign-up in the Pro Dev Portal.
Other upcoming professional development opportunities and presentations in the area of faith learning integration are scheduled for 10 a.m. in the CTE (unless noted) and include:
- Nov. 30: Randy Miller, “Theological Research for Non-Theologians.”
- Jan. 9: Dr. Harold Willmington, “On Making the Trinity Understandable” DH 1090.
- Apr 19: Drs. Will Honeycutt and Lew Weider, “FLI: Incorporating Biblical Worldview in My Discipline.”
The website now features a “Faith Learning Integration Gallery” that showcases several successful examples of Liberty University faculty seamlessly integrating faith and learning. The CTE is interested in expanding the gallery. Interested faculty should contact Shawn Bielicki for submission guidelines. Anyone interested in reading more about integrating faith and learning should stop by the CTE or ILRC and borrow one of several new books on the topic.
Offering Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Conjunction with Professional Development
Liberty University is committed to providing our online faculty with professional development that enhances skills acquisition in the online teaching and learning environment. In recognition of the importance of serving and maintaining an outstanding online faculty and documenting compliance with required accreditation standards, the Center for Teaching Excellence is offering a required series of 6 professional development sessions per year (3-fall semester and 3-spring semester). While recognizing the uniqueness of the online learning environment, these offerings provide a comparable component to the on-campus offerings for residential faculty which are scheduled during required Orientation and available throughout the year.
At the end of the academic year, online faculty who have completed all 6 sessions may apply to receive .6 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) from the Liberty University Center for Professional and Continuing Education (under CASAS) for a fee of $25.00. Contact CPCE for more information.
M.A.L.L.
The M.A.L.L. is coming to the CTE! Mobile Apps Learning Lounge, that is!
Come, faculty, staff and students alike on the last Wednesday of each month during the spring semester from 2-4pm (1/30, 2/27, 3/27, 4/24) in DH3032 to have a fun time sharing all kinds of apps in a casual atmosphere. All mobile device types welcome (phones; tablets, etc.) – B.Y.O.D.
There will be snacks, give-aways and good fellowship.
Publisher's Week Set for Feb. 11-15
The dates for the 2012-2013 CTE Publisher's Week have been set. The CTE will welcome various publishers to setup and showcase materials and/ or publishing opportunities inside the CTE Training Classroom, DeMoss 3031. Faculty are encouraged to reserve these dates on their calendars.
Mon. Feb. 11, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Eerdmans; Moody Publishers; Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore; Liberty University Press
Tues. Feb. 12, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
B & H Academic; W.W. Norton; Cengage; Baker Publishing; Intervarsity Press; Eerdmans
Wed. Feb. 13, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Kendall Hunt; McGraw-Hill; Lexis Nexis; Wiley; MacMillan; Academx
Thurs. Feb. 14, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wolters Kluwer; McGraw-Hill; Pearson
Fri. Feb. 15, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
XanEdu; Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore; Liberty University Press
Last year, the CTE hosted its first official publisher's week. Faculty learned about new technologies, e-books, textbooks, course packs, and the like. Food, fun, fellowship, and knowledge were enjoyed by all. Many faculty walked away with prizes, while some walked away with new ambitions of publishing their own textbook.
CTE Expands Resources for Faculty Working with Military Students
- Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Robert F. Dees, Associate Vice President for Military Outreach, Working with the Military Student
- Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dr. Bruce Bell, Associate Dean of College of General Studies, Instructing the Online Military Student
- Sgt. Dr. Will Honeycutt, Assistant Director of Christian / Community Service, Teaching the Residential Military Student
- Capt. John A. Ezzo, US Army ROTC Recruiting Operations Officer and Senior Military Science Instructor, Liberty University ROTC
- Liberty University Military Student, Perspectives from a Military Student
Faculty members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these new resources.
NEH Summer Institutes for College and University Teachers - 2013
Each summer, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports residential seminars and institutes for faculty who teach American undergraduates. These study opportunities allow faculty and a select number of graduate students to increase their knowledge of current scholarship and advance their own teaching and research. Participants in these two- to five-week projects receive stipends to help cover travel and living expenses. Many seminars and institutes take place on American campuses; others are held at sites in Brazil, India, and Italy.
Visit their website for a list of the seminars and institutes to be offered in the summer of 2013, along with eligibility requirements and contact information for the directors. For local support or assistance, please contact Sharon Wheeler, Director CTE
BYU Director Visits CTE
Dr. Russell Osguthorpe, Director of Brigham Young University’s Center for Teaching and Learning, visited the Center for Teaching Excellence to learn more about the university and how professional development is delivered, as well as to benchmark programs and procedures. During the visitation, Osguthorpe enjoyed an overview of CTE services with Sharon Wheeler, a panel comprised of current students, a session on online curriculum delivery and online professional development with CTE educational technologist Susan Crabtree, a meeting with the Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs Ronald Godwin, a campus tour with Terry Falwell and Coach Hout, and a faculty panel with Chris Nelson, Barbara Sherman, and CTE teaching advisor Shawn Bielicki. Osguthorpe commented that he was sincerely impressed with everything going on in the center and around campus.
KOINONIA
(koy-nohn-ee´-ah) n. fellowship, meaning to share or to partner, to invest in
The Center for Teaching Excellence introduced its new faculty Koinonia Mentoring program to twenty new full-time faculty hires. The term koinonia originates from Greek and is found in the New Testament to mean communion by intimate participation. The Koinonia Mentoring program is designed to help new faculty better assimilate into our unique Liberty University culture, provide effective training and guidance, and create an environment rich in constructive influence that results in collegial interest and peer investment. Teaching Advisor Shawn Bielicki designed the program to be semi-structured, but openly conversational and relational. Interested new faculty members opted-in to the mentoring program, requesting a confidential mentor outside of their department who is willing to take them under their wing for one year.
A critical part of the program involves matching mentors and mentees based on backgrounds, experience, and interests. The mentor and mentee relationship is a nurturing one. In essence, the mentor assumes the roles of a guide, role model, friend, advisor, and cheerleader; the mentee assumes the roles of a listener, learner, friend, advisee, and colleague. According to mentor Dr. John Vadnal, “The most positive experience [thus far] was how well we were matched and how well we connected due to our similar backgrounds. Being matched with someone at LU in Lynchburg who also happened to graduate from the University of Iowa and is a runner would be a rather unusual coincidence if it were left to chance, which certainly demonstrates that there are no coincidences in God’s plan.”
The inaugural class of Koinonia mentors includes Andrea Beam, Bruce Bell, Catherine Buck, Jeanne Brooks, Mary Deacon, Donna Donald, Sundi Donovan, David Duby, Melanie Hicks, Gary Isaacs, Bruce Kirk, Anita Knight, Chad Magnuson, Alison Pettit, Anita Satterlee, Barb Sherman, Carolyn Towles, Matthew Towles, John Vadnal, and George Young.
“Shut Up and Write!” Underway Again
Future Teachers: GSA Training Program
The CTE teamed with the Graduate School to create and present a training program for Liberty University GSAs entitled, “Future Teachers: GSA Training Program”. The program included three distinct workshops: Bb@Liberty University with Susan Crabtree, Transitioning from Student to Teacher with Shawn Bielicki, and Developing Presence in the Classroom with Amanda Rockinson-Szapkiw and Sharon Wheeler. Each workshop was designed to better prepare our GSAs and meet the challenges they will face in the classroom. The workshops were well received by graduate students and participating teachers alike.
Dr. Tim Elmore Presented at Orientation
The Center for Teaching Excellence was pleased to welcome Dr. Tim Elmore to Liberty University as the guest speaker during orientation. Dr. Elmore's presentation on mentoring and the complexities of the iY generation was well received by the faculty. For more information about mentoring or working with the newest generation of students, stop by the Center for Teaching Excellence and borrow one of Dr. Elmore's books from our lending library: Generation iY: Our Last Chance to Save the Future; Life Giving Mentors: A Guide to Investing Your Life in Others; or Artificial Maturity: Helping Kids Meet the Challenge of Becoming Authentic Adults.
Dr. Elmore is the founder and president of Growing Leaders. He is best known as an author of more than twenty books, including his popular Habitudes, Images that Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes, and Life Giving Mentors. He is a dynamic communicator and has spoken in more than 30 countries. He has taught leadership and mentoring at nine graduate schools and universities. He has worked alongside leadership expert Dr. John Maxwell for the past 25 years. To learn more about Dr. Tim Elmore, please visit www.TimElmore.com.
Teaching with Technology Boot Camp a Success
The CTE had an intense but rewarding week during its recent Teaching with Technology Boot Camp, June 11-15. There were 15 faculty participants from multiple disciplines, who spent five full days in the Faculty Training Classroom learning, collaborating and encouraging one another as they explored new technologies and pedagogies. CTE staff teamed with Media Services, IRLC, IT, IE, and CAFÉ to present various technologies such as Clickers, Blackboard’s Rubric Tool, Qualtrics, YouTube, PointCast, eBooks, Smart Podium, Prezi, etc. Faculty mentors demonstrated how these technologies enhanced the learning experience for their students.
The TWT Boot Camp also hosted a student panel during lunch. Participants and mentors had an opportunity to question the students on their views of technology and what advantages and disadvantages they experience with technology and the classroom. One faculty member exclaimed, “Just interacting & learning from the teaching, mentors & fellow students was a blessing & added to the learning experience.” Faculty concluded the week by partnering with their mentor to integrate a particular technology into one of their courses. They then showcased their progress and their plans of implementation come the fall semester. For pictures and comments from the TWT Participants visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LibertyUniversityCTE
CTE Welcomes New Faculty
The Center for Teaching Excellence welcomed the new faculty class of 2012. New faculty attended an orientation where they heard a welcome and opening remarks from Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ronald Godwin, and an inspirational challenge from Vice Provost, Dr. Ronald Hawkins. New faculty took a narrated tour of the campus and heard sage advice from a panel of second year faculty members. Throughout the two day event, the class also learned functions of various support offices, professional development opportunities, and logistics of software and hardware.
Please welcome the new faculty class of 2012 (in alphabetical order): David Adams, Christopher Amos, Sola Babatunde, Johnny Baker, Daniele Bradshaw, David Calland, Heather "Jamaica" Conner, Kevin Conner, Terry Conner, Scotty Curlee, Mary Deacon, Virginia “Ginny” Dow, Annette Florence, Jim Florence, Matthew Gage, Barry Gawinski, Eric Gish, Leonard Gray, Kimberly B. Hall, Kelly Hamren, Caren Harp, Michael Hart, C. Anna Henderson, Chris Hulshof, Christopher Jones, Ben Kalu, Jeffery Lowes, Annyce Maddox, Ronnie Martin, James Mashburn, Gail McGowan, David Meyer, Kurt Michael, Annik Miller, Douglas Miller, Norm Mintle, Charles Peterson, Danika Protzman, Kenneth Reed, Angela Rice, Ted Rivera, Lori Roach, Stephan Schultze, David Schweitzer, Chris Smith, Ethan Smith, Kevin Struble, Nicole Thorn, Tim Todd, Randolph Tomkins, Howard Tryon, James Walz, Mary Whittle, Amy Xie.
New Faculty Orientation/ Institute for Student Success
The schedule for New Faculty Orientation and All-Faculty Orientation has been approved. New Faculty Orientation will be held on Wednesday, August 8th and Thursday, August 9th. All-Faculty Orientation will assume a new name, Institute for Student Success, and will be held on Friday, August 10th, Monday, August 13th, and Tuesday, August 14th. Please note- faculty will have a choice of workshops to attend on Tuesday.
Click to download:
- New Faculty Orientation schedule
- Institute for Student Success schedule, formerly known as All-Faculty Orientation
- Session schedule / chart of the workshops and room assignments
CTE Website Updates - Conferences & Awards
As a continued service to faculty, the Center for Teaching Excellence has recently updated its list of Conferences, Journals, Teaching Awards, and Resources for 2012-2013.
Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center Workshops a Hit
Liberty University's new Cinematic Arts program offered three workshops, free to faculty, students, and the public with highly acclaimed and sought after professionals in the industry. A screenwriting workshop was hosted by accomplished author and teacher Sterling Norman Anderson, a directing workshop was led by acting coach and film instructor Shawn Nelson, and a screenwriting workshop was taught by master storyteller Dan Gordon. All workshops were well received and very well attended by students, faculty, and community members. If you missed them or would like more information, please contact the program director Stephan Schultze.
Fall Webinar Series at CTE
Turning Technologies, makers of Clickers, announced two complimentary webinars: Turning Point Series and Pedagogical Series. Interested faculty should sign up in the Pro Dev and join other faculty members for communal viewing in the Center for Teaching Excellence, DeMoss 3032. For more information, please log on to TurningTechnologies.com or view the promotional pdf.
Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Congratulations to the 2011-2012 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Teaching winners:
Liberty University Online Graduate
- Lucinda S. Spaulding, Teacher Education
- Deborah Pinkston, Counseling and Family Studies
- Steven W. Guest, Seminary
Liberty University Online Undergraduate
- Trilby Wheeler Cox, Psychology
- Jennifer Anne Hollis, General Studies
- Mark Robert Hensley, Religion
Residential Graduate
- Anita M. Knight, Counseling and Family Studies
- Samuel James Smith, Graduate Education
Residential Undergraduate
- David E. Towles, English and Modern Languages
- Stuart H. Schwartz, Communication Studies
- Donald H. Alban, Jr., General Studies
Workshop Attendance Up- Register Early!
CTE is asking faculty to please register early in the ProDev Portal to ensure seating.
CTE Staff Presented at Conferences
Liberty University’s Center for Teaching Excellence has garnered additional exposure recently as its staff presented at various educational conferences. Teaching Advisor Shawn Bielicki presented strategies and techniques for classroom management in large classes at the International Conference on Teaching and Learning. The conference focused on enhancing values-based education in the active, integrative classroom and was held at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York. Bielicki is also scheduled to present at the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida in January 2013.
Director Sharon Wheeler co-led a roundtable discussion on creating climates for faith and learning integration, along with Katherine Nevins, Acting Associate Dean for Faculty at Bethel University at the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The session nicely fit into the conference’s theme of Create, Collaborate, and Engage. Wheeler also presented on structures for learning in a successful teaching with technology experience at the Lilly Conference on Teaching and Learning at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.
Large Class Workshops Scheduled
The CTE hosts four workshops in a series specifically designed around teaching large classes: Active Learning, Effective Lecturing, Classroom Management, and Making Personal Connections. All workshops take place in the CTE Training Classroom, DeMoss 3032 from 10 a.m.- 11 a.m. Faculty are encouraged to register for the workshops in the Pro Dev Portal (CTE tab). 
- Monday, October 1 - Active Learning in Large Classes
- Monday, October 15 - Effective Lecturing in Large Classes
- Monday, November 5 – Classroom Management in Large Classes
- Monday, April 15 – Making Personal Connections in Large Classes
Teaching Advisor Shawn Bielicki presents the topics. Last year's presentations were well received. One faculty member put it this way, "I wanted to tell you that Shawn did an excellent job with this very interactive workshop. It was well organized, got us 'connected', and sharing about a variety of ways that we connect with students. I learned a lot from this. He certainly set an excellent example of how to connect!" If any faculty member is unable to attend, but is interested in learning more about the topic, he/she is encouraged to contact the CTE to schedule a personal consultation or view the workshop recordings on the CTE FCC.
CTE Director Visits Other Centers
Sharon Wheeler visited the Wake Forest University Teaching and Learning Center (TLC). While there, Wheeler met with the TLC director Catherine Ross and toured their facilities. Ross shared with Wheeler how she interacts with Wake Forest faculty and the types of professional development offered. One method that intrigued Wheeler was the “Pedometer and Pedagogy” program. Ross explained that faculty would come together for a walk around campus while discussing teaching methods, exercising brain and body.
At the invitation of last year’s very popular Orientation keynote speaker, Todd Zakrajsek, Wheeler visited the Center for Faculty Excellence at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Wheeler has also visited similar centers at George Washington University, Duke, James Madison University, Old Dominion University, and the University of Maryland. After meeting the staff and touring the facilities, Wheeler came away with some ideas and the assurance that the new Liberty CTE programs and resources for faculty development compare favorably with offerings at major universities.
Take a Break Year-end Celebration
CTE is hosting the 2nd Annual Year-end “Take-A-Break” for all faculty. Come by the CTE (DH3032) Friday May 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to relax and enjoy free creamsicle or root beer float and a fabulous make your BP & J with various jams and marshmallow fluff. Come and go as you please and saver the end of the year and the beginning of summer.
