March 2011 Articles
Story ideas? Opinions? Questions, Compliments, or Complaints? Send us an email at facultyadvocate@gmail.com.
It's All About the Magic by Ken Gray
Beepin' at COD by Chris Miller
Autismerica: A Space for Belonging by Michael Duggan
Accolades by Konkel & Gallyot
It's All About the Magic by Ken Gray
Do you want to hear a secret? I like it here at COD. I know we have problems. Heck, I have been involved
in efforts to improve the climate here since the original Great Workplace Team about ten
years ago. And some days, I see the long road we have ahead in building trust and improving relationships and
am tempted to give up.
But I have not given up, and one reason is that, despite its blemishes, I really like COD. Where else can you get paid to witness, even contribute to, magic every day? As you may know, we have been making Faculty/Student Showcase presentations at Board of Trustees meetings since January. The first two have been amazing (I owe a special debt of gratitude to Dilyss Gallyot for doing all of the work organizing the presentations; she, too, has been amazing). I really think that what we accomplish with our students is magical. And I believe that every single person at COD contributes to that magic, despite our differences in opinions about the best way to run this place. And the magic happens every day.
Many people across the College probably think of me as a fairly positive person. I suppose I am, but it was not always true. As I like to tell my students, I hated school. I also hated every job I had ever held, including my "dream job" on the marketing faculty at Northwestern University in the mid 1990's. So what is different about COD? The magic.
In my first term teaching at COD, I was taking attendance on the second day of a General Psychology class. A particular student was absent, and a classmate who knew the absentee from high school told me to "get used to it." Indeed, the student's attendance was spotty over the first few weeks. As the term went on, however, he came to class more consistently. And it turned out that he performed quite well in class. At the end of the term, he and I were walking down the hall together after I had just returned his third exam, on which he had earned a high B. He turned to me and said suddenly, "You know, I never thought I could be good at anything." I knew then that I had found my home. I think that things like this happen every day at COD. And I am proud and happy to be a part of it.
So, take a few moments to think about the magic that happens on campus every day. If we can learn to trust each other and work together, and realize that we really are on the same side, we will create more magic. This issue of the Faculty Advocate shows that magic is our specialty—and if you have any doubt, just check out an episode of That Beepin' Show, or attend an Autismerica night—read all about it!
Have a great month!
Beepin' at COD by Chris Miller
A couple of years ago when Chuck Steele (Manager of Student Life, part-time Speech faculty, and water
basketball phenom) emailed me a link to To The Point with Ben Wolfe from Metropolitan
Community College, I thought to myself, "Wow, this would be cool to do at COD." Never did I think it would come
to fruition. Now, here we are with a dozen episodes, a Live! show, a 20-minute New Student Orientation video,
another one planned for developmental students, and others in the works. We had no idea that the show would go in
this many directions, but we really appreciate the campus reaction and the opportunity to create shows for your
specific needs.
When I was asked to write up a short piece about our show I didn't exactly know what I wanted to say; much like when Chuck and I get together to write each new episode. We write on Friday afternoons and begin each session by engaging in what communication researcher Deborah Tannen calls "rapport-talk," a type of dialogue that shares experiences and establishes a bond. It's talking at work, but not about work. A typical conversation goes something like this: Chuck arrives at my office and helps himself to a tootsie pop. I brag about a fantastic play I made at noon ball. Chuck reminds me that athleticism is temporary, but funny is forever. Lauren Morgan pops her head in to say hello, and we ignore her. L-Mo leaves. The conversation evolves into talking about our families, and we end up comparing cholesterol levels and mutually complaining that our wives won't let us eat tomato soup (because it's loaded with sodium!). Then finally at around the time Chuck gets to the center of the tootsie pop, we get down to the business of writing the show.
I decided to tell you this because our pre-writing sets the tone that we try to infuse into every episode. We take things that are serious to us (basketball, wives, tomato soup) and find the funny. The same goes for things we've featured on the show; naming cranes, historic snow days, end-of-the-year celebrations, new shows at the MAC, and classes on Chinese Health Balls (an instant classic from episode two). The topics are serious. The delivery is funny… we hope.
Like the topics we talk about, the reason we do the show is serious too. That Beepin' Show is centered on the mission of Student Life, which is to create a sense of community on campus because studies show that when students feel connected to their campus, they have a higher chance for success. That Beepin' Show has three distinct goals: First, we want to expose students to as many things as possible in hopes of getting them involved and connected to COD. Second, we want students to know about their college; what services are available, where can they eat, what can they do, what should they do, and of course, how can we help. And third, be funny. I know, I know. One person's tiramisu is another person's tiramapoo, but we try to use humor as a rhetorical tool. If we can get a student to chuckle, even once, hopefully they'll pay attention and perhaps come back for seconds (of tiramisu, not the other one).
In closing, and this is of ultra-importance, we are always looking for ideas for the show. So if there is anything you're doing that you'd like a little more promotion for, please let us know. We do try to work in advance, so the earlier we get it, the better. And please know that while we are trying to be funny, we will never make you look bad. On anything that's even borderline, we will check with you to get the okay. Just ask Lauren Morgan.
Autismerica: A Space for Belonging by Michael Duggan
In the fall of 2010 Shelly Mencacci of Special Student Services and I noticed a significant increase in the number
of autistic students we were seeing. This is no anomaly—all the current research suggests
students with autism are the fastest growing population in higher education today. We heard themes from students:
"There's no where I can go where people understand me", "I wish I could meet other people like me." And from parents:
"There's nowhere my child can go where they really feel accepted here." So Shelly and I decided to stage an informal
meeting. We had little structure at the time but took the risk. We sent a letter out to all the autistic students we
were seeing, and crossed our fingers people would come. I remember being scared that NOBODY would arrive, or even
worse, only ONE person would, and that person would feel more alone than ever. Little did we suspect we would have
more than 60 people at our first meeting!
Since then our group has taken much more structure. We have an official name and graphic (both created by students) and are in the final stages of becoming a student club. Each month we meet on the second week, alternating between Wednesdays and Thursdays to accommodate as many students as possible. We meet in the Student Lounge where we always start with a discussion of current issues students are experiencing; then segue into an a short, educational program by someone on campus; and then finally spend the last 45 minutes engaging in social activities like playing pool, checkers, video games, and more.
The moment when we knew we were going in the right direction occurred after our third meeting. A mom broke down crying saying what a difference the group was making for her son. She explained how scared he was to come to the first meeting, because he didn't know what to expect. But now, he's dragging her to the meetings and can't wait to be there. He's made a couple of good friends from the group, and finally he is socializing after school rather than just sitting in front of a computer all night chatting to anonymous people about his loneliness. We realized at that moment this was something we had to continue as long as there was student interest.
For more information about Autismerica, contact Michael Duggan at x2845 or Shelly Mencaci at x2444. All interested folks are welcome, and we always need volunteers to help with the social activities, as well as guest speakers. If you know how to king a checker or play ping pong, you're perfect to come join us!
Accolades by Konkel & Gallyot
REP RE SENT The Urban and Slang dictionaries provide the following definitions: to display something in a proud and aggressive manner; to claim or declare something as yours; to belong to, be a part of; to lend physical presence or voice on behalf of a constituency defined by geography or purpose.
Bob Cappetta (Mathematics)
Presented "Interesting Calculus Problems that Promote Understanding" at the School Science and Mathematics Association
(SSMA) Conference, November 4, in Ft. Myers FL. He also presented at the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year
Colleges (AMATYC) Conference in Boston: "Using a Graphing Calculator to Check Answers in Calculus and Differential
Equations" (November 11) and "Interesting Calculus Problems That Promote Understanding" (November 12). In addition, he
attended a developmental mathematics symposium in Huntington Beach CA in February.
Diane Gryglak (Health Sciences)
Was quoted in Sonia Fernandez's Educator's Forum article "Performance Boost—How Educators Help Nonperformers Make
the Grade" (CMA Today, Jan/Feb 2011) published by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
Mike Losacco (Computer Information Systems)
Published the ebook RuneCraft, the first in a trilogy of high fantasy novels that explores deep,
metaphysical themes. The story revolves around Peter Uriel, who, after making his transition, is sent to another world
to save them from utter ruination. Here they have waited a thousand years for the Destroyer, some in anticipation of
being brought to light, others in fear of being enveloped by darkness. Available at over a dozen ebook sites in addition
to Mike's own site, it is an Editor's Pick at
bibliotastic.com and rated 5/5 Stars at
obooko.com.
Maureen McBeth (Accounting)
Received her Doctorate in Education from Northern Illinois University in December. Her dissertation: The relationship
between epistemological beliefs, learning strategies and achievement in higher education examined the relationship
between epistemological beliefs, learning strategies and academic achievement. Epistemological beliefs are personal
beliefs about how knowledge is constructed and how learning actually occurs. This study identified that students' beliefs
about how knowledge is constructed and how learning occurs are an important component of the learning strategies utilized
and academic achievement.
Jeff Papp (Diagnostic Medical Imaging)
Received a very favorable review for his book Quality Management in the Imaging Sciences, 4th ed. (Philadelphia:
Mosby, 2010 ISBN: 9780323057615) in the November/December 2010 journal, Radiologic Technology. The reviewer
recommended the book for students, practicing medical imaging professionals, and medical imaging departments.
Dale Simpson (Anthropology)
Launched his Easter Island short course: visit
Accolades submissions can be sent to Dilyss Gallyot or Mary Konkel. We want to hear about your personal accomplishments as well as your professional ones both in and out of the classroom. Don't be shy, and why not acknowledge a colleague—we're always looking for a few good informants. Our next semi-monthly column will appear in May.
