UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

02-05-2018

TLC from the TLC: 9 Ways to Get Waaaay More Out of Class Discussions

Class discussions can sometimes be described as “transient instructional events,” according to Karen Eifler, Garaventa Center. They pass through the class, the course, and the educational experiences of students with few lingering effects. Ideas are batted around, often with forced participation; students don’t take notes; and then the discussion ends—it runs out of steam or the class runs out of time. If asked a few days later about the exchange, most students would be hard-pressed to remember anything beyond what they themselves might have said, if that. Click here for the 2 page PDF that includes 9 concrete tips for avoiding those pitfalls.

“Brothers, Sing On!” Coming Feb. 11

The University Singers, under the direction of Michael Connolly, will be joined by local men’s choirs in a celebration of male choral singing for “Brothers, Sing On!” on Sunday , February 11, at 3 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. Five choirs, ranging from high school age through retirement, will each perform, culminating in a massed chorus of 130 voices raising the roof in song. The featured work is a premier by local composer Duncan Tuomi.

For more information contact performing and fine arts at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

New Professional Development Workshops Available

Academic technology services & innovation is pleased to offer a catalog of on-demand professional development workshop opportunities, available on your schedule, and designed to help faculty develop the skills to successfully integrate technology into their practice. The Spring 2018 catalog has been updated with new offerings including training on Moodle, Office 365, WordPress, Padlet, Skype and more. Please use this link to view professional development offerings or request a session using the sign-up form at the bottom of the page. Sign up for a training you are interested in, and an ATSI staff member will reach out to you to schedule an individual or group training.

Fresh Check Day Returns March 23

Fresh Check Day is a carnival-like mental health fair, where different student organizations, offices, and departments host booths with interactive games and activities, according to Matt Connolly, residence life. Last year, UP hosted their first ever Fresh Check Day, and over 300 students, staff, and faculty participated in the event. This year’s Fresh Check Day will be held on Friday, March 23, from 12-3 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons. If you or your organization is interested in participating, would like more information, or for ADA accommodations, please reach out to Connolly at connolle@up.edu.

 

Music at Midweek: Jazz Quartet, Feb. 7

The next Music at Midweek performance will feature Don Norton, saxophone, in a jazz quartet, playing and present a master class with a UP saxophone student, on Wednesday, February 7, 12:30 p.m., in Mago Hunt Center Recital Hall. Free and open to all.

For more information contact performing and fine arts at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

Africa’s Contributions to the Catholic Church, Feb. 13

On Tuesday, February 13, Fr. Paul Kollman, C.S.C., will present a free talk, “Africa’s Contributions to the Catholic Church: Past, Present and Future,” at 7:15 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons. In his talk, Fr. Kollman proposes that Africa today represents one the most vital places of growth in the Catholic Church and considers these questions: First, what connections, if any, exist between the past centrality of Africa to the church and its present and future importance? And second, what does Africa’s growing role mean for the Catholic Church in a global perspective? Fr. Kollman is associate professor of theology and executive director of the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame. This event is sponsored by the Garaventa Center. For ADA accommodations or more information, visit theGaraventa Center events page or contact x7702 or garaventa@up.edu.

Thirst Friday: Kicks from Route 66, Feb. 9

Need a little cheer from the winter gloom? Join the Garaventa Center for the next Thirst Friday celebration on Friday, February 9, from 4-6 p.m., in Franz Hall room 330 for generous snacks and libations and great conversation. And don’t miss our themed tasting menu: “Kicks from Route 66: Great Gas Station Food.” An oxymoron? Come find out! Open to all UP faculty and staff, and extra treats for bringing along someone who’s never been before.

For more information contact Karen Eifler at eifler@up.edu.

Portside With The Pilots

The latest episode of Portside With The Pilots on NBC Sports Northwest is available now at this link. Individual segments include:

For more information contact athletics at x7117 or go to www.portlandpilots.com.

Announcing Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams has come to the University of Portland campus, according to Michelle Sunderland, information services. Teams provides a new way to collaborate and communicate via an interactive chat-based workspace. The idea is to provide 21st-century learners and knowledge workers with a flexible and fun way to stay in sync while cutting down on email overload and never-ending meetings. While this new breed of chat app caught on first in the offices of start-ups in San Francisco and New York, it is being popularized in many fields as all types of workers become more mobile and more collaborative and will likely be an important tool for the 21st-century workforce. Teams has many applications to enhance collaboration in higher education. Colleagues who need to work in close cooperation across departments and disciplines, students who participate in clubs and projects, and even teachers and learners in an academic course can all use Teams to enhance collaboration and engagement. To learn more about Teams and view a brief how-to video see our Teams website at https://sites.up.edu/teams.

The Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership is Coming to the University of Portland

The University of Portland is participating in the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL), an international research study that provides important insights on the leadership development and learning needs of college students. The students’ responses will help faculty, staff, and administrators at the University of Portland measure how we are doing compared to other peer institutions and will allow researchers to better understand how experiences in and outside the classroom impact life and perceptions at college. Students who are selected will receive an email invitation to complete this important online survey on February 6, and the survey will close on February 25.

Please support the University of Portland’s investment in participating in this study by encouraging students in your areas of study to respond. If you have any questions concerning this research study, please feel free to reach out to Dave Houglum, director for leadership, or Elizabeth Lee, director for institutional research.

For more information concerning the study, please visit: https://www.leadershipstudy.net/.