Faculty

Faculty Hour

Because many faculty development topics cannot be adequately discussed in a 20-minute format, these sessions last an hour. Each session will be offered twice: once in the late afternoon at the Indianola campus and once in the evening at the WDM campus. The sessions will cover topics related to the engaged citizenship curriculum as well as other topics related to teaching, advising, scholarship, and service.  

Each session will be offered twice: once in the late afternoon (3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in Indianola at the BPAC on campus - BPAC 203) and once in the evening (6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in WDM  at the WDM campus room #4).

Faculty Hour (3:30-4:30pm in Indianola; 6:30-7:30pm in West Des Moines)
Spring 2012

Monday, Jan 23, 3:30-4:30 only: BPAC 203
The Advising Syllabus. Thanks to the Lilly Advising Groups, many faculty members have written an advising syllabus. In this Faculty Hour, we'll discuss ways of effectively using an advising syllabus.

Tuesday, Jan 31, 6:30-7:30 only: WDM Campus
 Integrating F2F and Online Learning Activities. The 8-week and Saturday EWG courses are offered in a blended learning format: a blending of face-to-face (F2F) and online learning. The most learning occurs when instructors explicitly connect and integrate the two. Come discuss ways of making these connections to enhance student learning.  Discussants include Deanna Bennigsdorf, John Bolen, Eugene Fracek, Connie Kostelac, and Julie Summers.

Tuesday February 7: 3:30-4:30pm in Indianola; 6:30-7:30pm in West Des Moines
Using Midterm Evaluations. Midterm evaluations provide instructors with information regarding how to change current courses to increase student learning and student satisfaction. Come discuss ways of collecting and using information from a midterm evaluation.

Monday, Feb 20: 3:30-4:30pm in Indianola; 6:30-7:30pm in West Des Moines
What is critical thinking? By February, the General Education Co-directors will have made revisions to the learning objectives for the Critical Thinking designation. What do these changes mean for you and your students? Come discuss the revised learning objectives and ways of teaching them.

Monday, Mar 12: 3:30-4:30pm in Indianola; 6:30-7:30pm in West Des Moines
Effectively Using Peer Evaluations. Have you ever tried having students provide peer evaluations? Did it work well? In this faculty hour we'll discuss solutions to the problems that can be associated with peer evaluation.

Monday, Mar 26, 3:30-4:30 only: BPAC 203
 Teaming Up with Academic and Student Support Staff. Students' academic performance sometimes suffers for reasons that instructors alone are not in a good position to address. The staff members in student development, Hawley, Student Support Services, and the chapel are available to help. How can we make the most effective referrals? How can we follow-up on those referrals? Come discuss ways of combining forces with academic and student support staff to increase retention and student learning.

Tuesday, Apr 3: 3:30-4:30pm in Indianola; 6:30-7:30pm in West Des Moines
Creative Uses of Scholar. Many Simpson faculty members, both in the day program and in EWG, have been using Scholar in innovative ways to enhance student learning. In this Faculty Hour, instructors will share some of the great things they've been doing. Come get ideas for your upcoming courses.

Last Updated: 2/29/12