Events
- Great Teaching Round-up
- Leading from the middle
- fall conference for faculty leaders
- The Texas Network
"I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision."
Events: Annual Convention 2008
Great Ideas For Teaching Students (GIFTS) Sessions
Friday, February 22, 8:00–9:15 a.m.
The Professional Development Committee has arranged for a number of the highly popular "GIFTS" sessions to be held at the TCCTA convention in Dallas. These brief programs offer specific ideas for teaching and are designed to be of practical use to educators in all disciplines.
Each session will last approximately 10 minutes, allowing participants to sample a variety of useful teaching techniques.
Coordinator of the GIFTS Sessions is Laurie Passmore, Lone Star College System.
"Because I Said So..."
Presenters: Alan Barnes, Tyler Junior College
This GIFT identifies those who encourage creativity in the classroom and those trying to teach discipline and the importance of following rules and doing things the "proper way"? Who is it that determines what is the proper way (authority source)? Is this something that really matters or makes a difference in people's lives or is this merely a power struggle over who's the boss? Are you someone who nurtures creativity in others or do you think that certain things have to be done a certain way?
"Connecting with Students to Connect Students to the World: Tips for
Teaching Writing"
Presenters: Mitchel Burchfield, Southwest Texas Junior College and
David Sabrio, Texas A & M University - Kingsville
Presenters will share classroom tested strategies for engaging students in the writing process. A set of sequenced writing activities that begin by asking students to write about themselves and then move outward to subjects beyond the self will be shared with participants. The writing activities include of a combination of ungraded journal writing as well as graded essay writing. Examples of journal writing prompts that connect with specific writing assignments will be presented.
"Getting to Know Your Students"
Presenter: Dan Porter, Amarillo College
This GIFT will provide a simple assignment that will help you get to know your students as well as to assess their technology skills.
"Having A Ball!"
Presenter: Zachary Frohlich, Tarrant County College - Northwest
Come learn about this GIFT for using sports balls in the classroom to promote active learning. This GIFT will help instructor and students get to know each other.
"Maximize the Group Work Experience in Your Classes: Teach them that Eggs Can Fly"
Presenter: Lee H. Grimes, South Texas College
If you include group work in your classes, it is important to form groups that can draw on the talents of each individual. The Eggs Can Fly activity is great for getting team members with different learning styles to work together and depend on each other. The object of the activity is to build a contraption that will be used to drop a RAW egg from the top of the stairs without breaking. Not only does it encourage each member of a group to play a vital part in the project; it's FUN!
"Millennials: Reaching and Teaching Digital Natives with Web 2.0"
Presenter: Manoucher R. Khosrowshahi,
Tyler Junior College
This GIFT will explore the millennial generation (born after 1980) and Web 2.0, identify their unique characteristics, and provide some strategies for teaching and working with these students. Furthermore, we will talk about evolution of web 2.0, related concepts and technologies, and web 2.0 applications to teach and reach millennial students. If you teach and deal with the Millennials, this session is for you. This is highly interactive session.
"Mind Over Matter"
Presenter: Karin Carlson, Odessa College
This session will show you how to enhance performance using the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change.
"Nightmare on Elmstreet or Happy Feet"
Presenter: Claudie Biggers, Amarillo College
Just by implementing a few simple tricks that motivate your students, you could say goodbye to Fredie and hello "Happy Feet." Your feet will dance all semester long!
"The Changing Roles of the Instructor in the Online Classroom"
Presenter: Vicki Andrews, Del Mar College
It's not about you it's about them. If we do what we have always done the way that we have always done it, we will get what we always got. The choice is yours. This GIFT will lead you to thinking about your role as an instructor in an online environment.
"The Flexquiz as a Learning Tool"
Presenter: Bill Holt, Tarrant County College - South
Content quizzes need not all be cut from the same cloth or
administered according to traditional models. An instructor has a
variety of options and can use his or her imagination not just to keep
students guessing but even to entertain them a little. The point of a
quiz is not to say, "Gotcha!" but rather "Notice these facts! They're
important--so important, in fact, that you shouldn't be content knowing
only some of them!"
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