01/05/2014

2014 Convention - Thirteen Short Courses Offered

Short Course # 1, Thursday, 8:00 - 9:15 am

Mobile Learning in the Communication Classroom: Elevating Social Media and Mobile Technology from In-Class Diversion to Pedagogical Tool.

Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenters:       Darlene Hantzis, Indiana State University
                         Shana Kopaczewski, Indiana State University

Increasingly, knowledge gaining--the primary work of pedagogy--is positioned as a function or practice of mobile media. Educators have different levels of knowledge about the nature and capacity of digital resources, different competencies with and affectional responses to “screens.”  This short course will explore the benefits of using cell phones to create relevant and impactful educational experiences for students.  Examples and resources for incorporating mobile technology in the classroom will be discussed and developed.

Short Course #2 - Thursday 11:00-12:15pm

Elevating the Student Experience: Active-Learning Approaches to
Teaching Gender and Sexuality

Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenters:       Elizabeth Ribarsky, University of Illinois, Springfield
                         Amie Kincaid, University of Illinois Springfield
                         Jessica Eckstein, Western Connecticut State University

This short course will explore active-learning exercises and teaching pedagogy for addressing gender and sexuality. This course will offer both new and seasoned instructors innovative and exciting exercises that can easily be adopted or adapted for a multitude of courses. The presenters will facilitate an open discussion between attendees, addressing the myriad of challenges and successes in attempting to elevate the student experience with what are often seen as sensitive and difficult topics to teach.

Short Course #3 - Thursday 12:30 - 1:45 pm

“A Method to the Madness”: Tried and True Activities for
Teaching Interdisciplinary Research Methods

Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University 

Presenters:       Nancy J. Brule, Bethel University
                         Jessica J. Eckstein, Western Connecticut University
                         Kory Keller, South Dakota State University
                         Katie Lever-Mazzuto, Western Connecticut State University

Research methods courses can be overwhelming for students to take and for instructors to teach! Students often think they will “never use” the information and skills in their “real lives.” This practical, applied short course will provide participants with numerous classroom activities that can be used to teach varying concepts from diverse research methodologies (e.g., subjectivist, empirical, critical) in an engaging manner. Combining over 50 years’ experience, we emphasize students’ realization that what they learn in their research methods class can and will serve them in their future career paths. Short course participants will have time to ask questions about implementation, challenges, and successes of these activities, as well as offer examples of their own activities to solicit feedback.

Short Course #4 - Thursday 5:00 - 6:15 pm

The Impromptu Revolution: Teaching Strategies to
Develop Impromptu Speaking Skills

Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenter:        Stacy Hoehl, Wisconsin Lutheran College

As many basic course and public speaking instructors will attest, the impromptu speech is among college students’ most-dreaded speech assignments. Framing the impromptu speech as a one-time event late in the semester creates unnecessary anxiety, and it treats impromptu speaking as an obstacle to be overcome rather than a skill to be learned. This course will provide teachers with practical strategies for transforming students’ approaches to impromptu speaking from survival into lifelong skill.

Short Course #5 (Part 1) Friday 9:30 - 10:45 am
Short Course #5 (Part 2) Saturday 3:30 - 4:45 pm

Documentary Film as Method for Research:
Expanding our Inquiry and Elevating our Reach

 Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenters:       Sara Drabik, Northern Kentucky University
                         Art Herbig, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
                         Charley Reed, University of Nebraska at Omaha
                        Jimmie Manning, Northern Illinois University
                        Bavand Karim, Northern Kentucky University

In this Short Course, we will explore the methodological foundations of documentary film as a method for conducting communication research, discuss different approaches for crafting documentaries, and provide participants with an overview of the resources and skills needed to incorporate documentary in their own research. Over the past several decades the reach and impact of documentary film has grown significantly. Partly given its reflexive and narrative nature, documentary film makes possible that which other forms of conventional inquiry may preclude. It provides a unique approach for examining communication and culture and, for some, an opportunity to extend their scholarship and make it accessible to a wider audience. In this short course, we seek to address the following: What possibilities for communication research exist as a consequence of incorporating documentary as a method? What are the creative and imaginative possibilities made available through documentary praxis? What are some of the practical skills needed to begin working with documentary materials? How can documentary help our discipline’s research as a whole make more of a difference in how our culture communicates? Plan to attend, learn, participate, and engage in advancing the possibilities of documentary film as a method for research.

Short Course #6 Friday 9:30 - 10:45 am

Elevating the Online Classroom: Fostering Student Communication and
Collaboration in Technology Mediated Environments

Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenters:      Joann Golas, DePaul University
                         Adriane Stoner, DePaul University
                         Beth Zoufal, DePaul University

In recent years the online learning movement has become an integral part of the curriculum for colleges and universities around the globe. Among the many benefits of online learning is the opportunity to prepare students for today’s digital technology-centric workplace. This course employs traditional pedagogical strategies to explore how to build communication and collaboration skills among students in mediated/virtual contexts, thus adding to the potential learning outcomes of any online course.     

Short Course #7 Friday 2:30 - 3:45 pm

Strategies for Developing and Presenting Course Syllabi:
The Pedagogical Communication Challenge

Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenters:       Blair Thompson, Western Kentucky University
                         Elizabeth Tolman, South Dakota State University

As instructors, we design and present syllabi for multiple courses each term. With the demands of new preps and multiple courses, implementing best practices for syllabi design and presentation can be challenging. Instructors must establish a balance between creating a well organized class and allowing for flexibility throughout the term. In addition to being a contract between the instructor and each student, the course syllabus is a student’s first glimpse into the course, the instructor’s expectations and teaching philosophy, the learning activities, assignment deadlines, and assigned readings. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about strategies for designing and presenting course syllabi. They will apply the short course content to a specific course.

Short Course #8 Friday 4:00 - 5:15 pm

World Universities/British Parliamentary Debate Training Workshop

Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenter: Emily Ravenscroft-Stuckenbruck, Nicolet Area Technical College

British Parliamentary Debate has been the primary format of academic debate in European universities for decades and is quickly developing a strong circuit in the United States. The format involves four, two-person teams competing in each round, with each individual delivering one speech. This short course will provide a brief introduction to the style and give information on practicing this style on your current or future debate team.

Short Course #9 Saturday 8:00 - 9:15 am

Making Connections and Collaborations in the Health Communication Curriculum

Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenters:       Ray Baus, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
                         Katherine A. Becker, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
                         Christina Jones, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
                         Kate Ksobiech, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Preparing students to enter the job market in the diverse field of health communication involves more than requiring successful completion of coursework. This short course will present multiple avenues faculty use to provide students with “real world” experiences to facilitate and enhance traditional classroom learning. Areas discussed include creating health communication symposia, multi-faceted health projects as a capstone experience, CBPR opportunities, and developing cross-university alliances for health communication courses.

Short Course #10 Saturday 9:30 - 10:45 am

Enhancing Learning in the Classroom: Tips for Developing and Integrating Learning Techniques for Nontraditional Students in Communication Courses

 Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenter: Stephanie Shimotsu-Dariol, Western Governors University

With the drastic rise of nontraditional students attaining undergraduate degrees, this short course grounded in the eight step process of adult learning posed by Knowles (1995), aims to provide an understanding of the particular learning needs of adults and recommends practices and tips that are designed to enhance learning specific to communication courses. Discussion and activities facilitated in this short course will offer materials that are applicable in the classroom—both through face-to-face and distance learning settings. Attendees will leave this short course with supplemental resources that are classroom ready.

Short Course #11 Saturday 11:00 - 12:15 pm

Eliminating the Excuses: Developing Learning Toolkits
to Elevate Undergraduate Education

 Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

 Presenters:       Jennifer Kienzle, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
                          Chigozirim Utah, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
                          Alexis Waters, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

A common critique of lower-level communication courses from undergraduates is that they are “just common sense”. We reframe this as an undergraduate call for relevant, meaningful learning that enables connection building between prior and new knowledge. We offer a customizable research-based learning toolkit that is simple enough to be used consistently in the classroom. The course will conclude with a brainstorming session where instructors work together to modify the toolkit to suit specific teaching contexts.

Short Course #12 Saturday 12:30 - 1:45 pm

Elevating Co-cultural Voices in the College Classroom

 Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

 Presenters:      Keith Brooks, Bethel University
                          L. Ripley Smith, Bethel University

This interactive short course examines ways to enhance classroom climate and implement culturally responsive instruction for increasingly diverse college learning spaces. Important pedagogical issues relating to cultures of power, the silenced dialogue, credibility of voice, validating narratives, and affirmation of identity will be addressed using social identity construction theory and techniques. Participants will discuss case study scenarios and produce possible solutions for creating and maintaining the dialogic equity necessary for a healthy learning environment.

Short Course #13 Saturday 2:00 - 3:15 pm

Civic Engagement as Transformative Education: Elevating the Discipline
in a Semester-Long Practicum in Citizenship

 Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

 Presenters:      Leila Brammer, Gustavus Adolphus College
                         Pamela Conners, Gustavus Adolphus College
                         Martin Lang, Gustavus Adolphus College
                         Sarah Wolter, Gustavus Adolphus College

This short course presents a successful semester-long civic engagement project that provides a practicum in argument and citizenship and specifically focuses on developing student voice, public advocacy, and civic involvement. The project is suitable for Public Speaking, Argument, and other communication courses. The short course presents the course, project, and supporting materials for success in adoption.

Short Course #5 (Part 2) Saturday 3:30 - 4:45 pm

Documentary Film as Method for Research:
Expanding our Inquiry and Elevating our Reach

 Sponsor: First Vice President Leah E. Bryant, DePaul University

Presenters:       Sara Drabik, Northern Kentucky University
                         Art Herbig, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
                         Charley Reed, University of Nebraska at Omaha
                         Jimmie Manning, Northern Illinois University
                         Bavand Karim, Northern Kentucky University

In this Short Course, we will explore the methodological foundations of documentary film as a method for conducting communication research, discuss different approaches for crafting documentaries, and provide participants with an overview of the resources and skills needed to incorporate documentary in their own research. Over the past several decades the reach and impact of documentary film has grown significantly. Partly given its reflexive and narrative nature, documentary film makes possible that which other forms of conventional inquiry may preclude. It provides a unique approach for examining communication and culture and, for some, an opportunity to extend their scholarship and make it accessible to a wider audience. In this short course, we seek to address the following: What possibilities for communication research exist as a consequence of incorporating documentary as a method? What are the creative and imaginative possibilities made available through documentary praxis? What are some of the practical skills needed to begin working with documentary materials? How can documentary help our discipline’s research as a whole make more of a difference in how our culture communicates? Plan to attend, learn, participate, and engage in advancing the possibilities of documentary film as a method for research.