Kendall Center NewsletterDecember 1, 2014

Faculty Writing Days in December

Every week the Kendall Center will host a writing day. Come when you can, leave when you must. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Coffee and tea provided. Dates in December: Tuesday, December 2, Phi Beta Kappa and Wednesday, December 10, Beck Room 371. See website for all dates and locations.

Faculty Shop Talk

Julie Bartley (Associate Professor, Geology and Associate Professor in Environmental Studies) will present a Faculty Shop Talk on Friday, December 5. Her talk entitled, "Biosignatures: Records of Life, on Earth and Elsewhere" will be presented at 4:30 p.m. in the Interpretive Center. Feel free to arrive any time after 4:15 p.m. The abstract for this and future talks may be viewed on the Kendall Center website, under Shop Talks.

Teaching Circle for InTeGrate

The InTeGrate Climate Science project will hold our next teaching circle (a brainstorming workshop to generate ideas for classroom materials) on December 18 from 12:30-3:00 p.m. in the St. Peter Room. We can accommodate up to 8 faculty members interested in integrating climate science content into Fall 2014 or January 2015 courses. Treats and a small stipend will be provided, thanks to the generosity of the Kendall Center. If you’d like to attend, please follow this link and complete the brief application form: http://form.jotform.us/form/43135656152149. Application deadline is December 8. You don’t need to have a firm plan for including climate science, but you should have some ideas about how climate change is relevant in one or more of your courses. For questions, contact Julie Bartley (jbartley@gustavus.edu).

Teachers Talking and New Faculty Orientation Session

Join us on Tuesday,December 9 for a special Teachers Talking and New Faculty Orientation Session on becoming involved with interdisciplinary programs at Gustavus. Program at 11:30 am and again at 12:30 pm. Free lunch at Three Crowns buffet, meet in the St Peter Room.

Gradingfest

Join the Kendall Center for Gradingfest in the Board Room from 9 am to 5 pm on Tuesday, December 16 and Wednesday, December 17. Fuel up on coffee and treats before heading back you your office to work or stay and enjoy the camaraderie of working alongside others.

Building an Inclusive Classroom: J-term reading group

Are you looking to make your classroom more inclusive? Would you like to gain practical strategies for teaching and assessing multilingual students? This January-term, the KCEL will sponsor a reading group (really a doing group) to work through some of these issues. While reading Fostering International Student Success in Higher Education, we will work together to enhance our classroom discussion, exam, and essay strategies. This book has excellent practical suggestions for all communities of students. If you are interested in being part of this group, please email Thia Cooper. The group is tentatively scheduled to meet Thursdays from 12:30-2pm during the four weeks of January term. However, if you cannot make that time, let Thia know. KCEL will provide each participant with the book and treats during the discussion time.

Request for SETs

The Kendall Center is looking for examples of SETs. If you have your own SET that you think is helpful and you wouldn't mind sharing it with others, on the Kendall Center website, please email to Cathy Blaukat (cblaukat@gustavus.edu). Thank you!