Examine various ways to approach classroom communication with this week’s Teaching Excellence Series: Competing Communication Strategies. The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology is excited to host a variety of workshops this week that not only explore communication strategies, but other strategies that can enhance the classroom experience.

Some of our workshops require registration, so simply select the link in the workshop title and you’ll be taken directly to the appropriate registration page. Workshops are held at our facility at 301 South Main Street unless otherwise noted. If you have questions or need help, you can always email us at CTLT@ilstu.

Introduction to iPad
Monday, February 2 • 1–3 p.m.

Congratulations, you’ve got an iPad! But now what? Tablet devices can be used for so much more than surfing the web and reading eBooks. Learn how to use it to increase your productivity at home or in the office. We’ll explore Evernote, Dropbox and other productivity apps. Registration is required.

ReggieNet: Discussion Tool
Tuesday, February 3 • 1–4 p.m.

Maximize your ability to communicate with students through the Discussion Tool. Learn how to have ReggieNet automatically create discussion groups. You’ll also see how to grade discussions by forum, topic or message. Prerequisite: Introduction to ReggieNet. Registration is required.

Teaching Excellence Series: Competing Communication Strategies
Tuesday, February 3 • 1–2:30 p.m.

In this series, Faculty-Student Interactions Matter, we take a research-based approach to managing the conflicting expectations that sometimes arise when teachers and students interact.

How you perceive communication with your students outside of class varies greatly from their perceptions of the same, according to the latest NSSE and FSSE survey data. This workshop focuses on ways to tweak traditional modes of faculty-student communication, incorporate new ones into your teaching, and make effective use of your office hours. No registration is necessary.

Select Survey
Tuesday, February 3 • 2–3 p.m.

Get a basic understanding of Select Survey, an online survey and form development tool. You will learn how to quickly and easily create web-based surveys from your web browser. This survey software allows you to easily deploy surveys and view real-time results as responses are received. This workshop is open to faculty, administrators, and staff only. Located in Stevenson 107. Registration is required.

Early Career Faculty Development Circle
Wednesday, February 4 • 12–1 p.m.
Thursday, February 5 • 12–1 p.m.

This development circle offers a combination of professional development and peer support to faculty members in their first three years of service at Illinois State. Topics for the Spring 2015 semester are drawn from the book Facilitating Seven Ways of Learning, by James R. Davis and Bridget D. Arend. Participants will receive a copy of the book and an executive summary of each chapter. No registration is necessary.

Word: Level 2
Wednesday, February 4 • 1–4 p.m.

Explore time-saving tools and commands built into the program. You will also learn formatting techniques including headers, footers and annotations. Registration is required.

Excel: Level 2
Thursday, February 5 • 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

This course continues the basics of creating and modifying charts that began in Excel: Level 1. Also explore useful tools like filtering, which make viewing data accessible at a glance, and pivot tables to summarize values. Registration is required.

SoftChalk Create
Thursday, February 5 • 1–4 p.m.

Looking for a creative, new way to engage students? SoftChalk can help! This program lets you easily create engaging, interactive web lessons. You will learn to create interactive learning games such as customizable flashcards, image labeling, matching games, crosswords and more. SoftChalk Lessons are easily imported into ReggieNet. Registration is required.

If you need a special accommodation to fully participate in an event, please contact the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology’s main desk at (309) 438-2542.