Teaching Excellence

A useful formula:
"Students having fun in the classroom = increased retention"
This is one of the formulae Ken Lindemann, Business Information Technology instructor, follows in his classrooms, and one of the reasons the students in his Business Administration classes have nominated him--four times!--for CNM Excellence Awards. 

Ken is convinced that the "appropriate use of humor makes teaching (and learning) more fun."  He explains the value of humor in the classroom in a PowerPoint presentation he created for CNM's Student Success Initiative, Part 3 in March.  The presentation, now archived on the 4 Student Success website, is entitled:

• Creating a Positive Social Presence Through Humor

If you'd like to contact Ken, you can email him at klinde@cnm.edu or call him at 224-3893.

Please share with your CNM colleagues what you do in the classroom to help students succeed and keep coming back class after class.  Submit your ideas on the 4 Student Success website.

Ways to welcome students to your classes and get them started off on the right foot
Here are links to some favorite resources on first-day activities and ways to start the term off well:

7-Second Survey Take this anonymous survey of CNM faculty practices and opinions.  Then find out how your CNM colleagues responded next week. Which activities do you typically plan for the first day of the term?  Check all that apply: Icebreaker activity Go over the syllabus Motivate students by explaining why the subject matters Give an overview of the course Other--explain briefly below:

At-your-desk learning
Learn

Microsoft Outlook Tutorial
This useful tutorial uses audio and graphics to show how you can "tame the chaos of your Inbox."  You'll learn about the "five features in Microsoft Office Outlook  that will help you find and use the messages you've decided to keep there."

You'll also be given the opportunity to practice using these features and take a quick quiz to make sure you understand how and why to use them. 

So turn on your computer's speakers--or put on your headset--and view the tutorial.

Productivity Primer
Think multitasking (doing several things at once) makes you more productive?  Think again, according to this New York Times article, "Slow Down, Brave Multitasker, and Don’t Read This in Traffic" by Steve Lohr.

Here's the upshot: "Several research reports, both recently published and not yet published, provide evidence of the limits of multitasking. The findings, according to neuroscientists, psychologists and management professors, suggest that many people would be wise to curb their multitasking behavior when working in an office, studying or driving a car."

Once again, sometimes less is more.

Computer ergonomics: Does this look like you?
Does your back, neck, or head ache at the end of a day in front of your computer?  The problem may be caused by the way you hold your body or by the height of your computer monitor or keyboard.

View this graphic to compare the recommended body position and relative computer, chair, and keyboard heights with your own as you work at your computer.  You might want to print the image and place it near your computer as a reminder of how to sit while working on your computer.

Also, view this complete guide to computer ergonomics on the De La Salle University, Manila.

Resources for Teaching Excellence returns to the Organizational Learning website
A long list of instructional resources is being gradually restored to the Organizational Learning website.

The list was first compiled by Joan Slick, former director of the Teaching & Learning Center, a forerunner of the current Organizational Learning Division.

You can find the link to these resources by clicking on the Resources for Teaching Excellence link in the navigation bar on the left side of the page.

Quotation 

"It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it."                                                            ~Jacob Bronowski, mathematician

Joke of the Week

If a pig loses its voice, has it become disgruntled?

News & previews

Summer term begins at CNM and Organizational Learning
The staff at Organizational Learning is putting together a full schedule of learnshops, training events, and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff at CNM for the summer term.  These events are free to all CNM employees.

The Summer 2007 Calendar of Events and registration will be available later in the week.

Preview of events for the week of May 14-19
The following events are taking place at CNM this week:

►Sexual Harassment Awareness
Thurs,  May 17	9:00-11:00am	Main, Room TBD
►CPR Training
Fri, May 18	TBD	TBD

Preview of events for the week of May 21-26
The following events are taking place at CNM from May 21-26:

►Ergonomic Training
Wed, May 23 -	1:00- 2:00pm	Main, Room TBD
►Defensive Driving Recertification
Fri, May 18	TBD	TBD
►Passport for Faculty
Fri,  May 25	9:00- 11:00am	Main, Room TBD

Meet Greg Casaus, Organizational Learning director

Greg Casaus came to the Organizational Learning Division on March 1. 

Greg was a project training consultant at UNM before that.

At the beginning of the new term, Greg is currently working on developing new learnshops as well as educational institutes, such as the Communication Institute, preparing Office 2007 training, finding instructors to teach these events, and exploring various staff training opportunities, including online options.

You can contact Greg at 224-4244 or email him at gcasaus6@cnm.edu.

About Organizational Learning The Organizational Learning Division's mission is to create professional development pathways for college employees that support the strategic mission of CNM and contribute in meaningful ways to college personnel’s lifelong learning and job enrichment. For more information about Organizational Learning or any of its events, contact
Jean Montaño 224-4400 jmontano@cnm.edu	Admin. Coordinator
Greg Casaus 224-4344 gcasaus@cnm.edu	Director
Kayleigh Carabajal 224-4401 kcarabajal@cnm.edu	Exec. Director

This newsletter is produced by Nancy King, for the Organizational Learning Division.