Posted on No Comments on APA & Writing Across the Curriculum

APA & Writing Across the Curriculum

by Everett Wade, Ph.D

To ensure the academic integrity of student papers, it is imperative that instructors require proper citation of sources and correct formatting. Despite its value, APA formatting can be a challenge for students to learn, and similarly difficult for instructors to teach.  (This blog is a follow-up to a webinar led by Dr. Wade on this subject.  The webinar can be viewed at this LINK.)

In teaching APA, it is important to spend time in class walking students through formatting process in a hands-on manner. APA formatting is complicated, and students often feel intimidated by the expectation that they learn such a comprehensive method of formatting. It is therefore imperative that teachers stress the basics of APA without bogging students down in its intricacies. My webinar provided instructors with a concise PowerPoint presentation for reviewing the essential elements of APA formatting. In this same vein, I presented an in-class citation exercise that walks students through the process of developing their APA references page.

Although formatting  contributes to a relatively small portion of students’ grades on an individual paper, grading for correct use of APA can be time-consuming for instructors. In my webinar I provided two checklists to aid instructors in their grading process. The first gives a rubric for grading APA, while the second provides instructions on how to grade for grammar. These checklists not only help instructors to streamline their grading process, but also can be a great resource for students as well. These tools will aid in ensuring that student essays in all of Belhaven’s courses are written well and properly sourced.

This links for the documents mentioned above are available on the webinar site (see link above).  Also if you would like to know more or have other questions, please email me at ewade@belhaven.edu.

Posted on 3 Comments on Types of Instructors in Adult Studies Programs

Types of Instructors in Adult Studies Programs

I’ve been working in Adult Studies for a long time, almost all of it dedicated to administration and faculty development.  Along the way I’ve conducted numerous classroom observations, read stacks of student end of course evaluations, and had the pleasure of being the assigned instructor in a number of courses.  All of that has prepared me to share with you the top 5 types of Instructors you are most likely to see in an Adult Studies classroom.  Do you see yourself in any of the descriptions below?

The Jolly Rancher – this Instructor seems to be always in a good mood and you can tell students love the classes she teaches because they are so much fun, not to mention the fact that almost everyone always gets an ‘A’ for the course. Often the Jolly Rancher’s devotion to the subject matter is tempered by personal stories and digressions – but everyone has a good time.  While being well liked, the Jolly Rancher is not deeply committed to academic rigor or pushing student too hard for fear of rejection or poor evaluations.

The Muskateer – This Instructor is extremely competent, and somewhat arrogant.  He knows his subject thoroughly and clearly indicates that he is the smartest person in the room, by actions and attitude, if not verbally.  Often disdainful of student attempts or the curriculum, the Muskateer primarily uses lecture to teach, because of course, there is very little he could learn from mere students.  He is the embodiment of the saying “the sage on the stage.”

The PayDay – This Instructor is primarily motivated by getting paid to teach.  The passion for teaching, if it ever existed, has faded away leaving a jaded and mediocre teacher who wants nothing more than to get through the course with as little drama as possible.  Creativity and concern for student learning is not part of the PayDay Instructor’s mindset.  Doing as little as possible is more her style.

The Almond Joy – This Instructor is ENGAGED.  Everything about them points to their passion for teaching AND for student learning.  They use a variety of methods to get their content across.  They demonstrate real caring and concern for students.  The Almond Joy never stopped learning and the joy of their life is to pass that learning along to their students.  The Almond Joy holds students accountable for their work and challenges them to become more.  They are considered to be “hard” teachers, but in retrospect, these are the teachers which students cite when they think about who has influenced their life.

 

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You Are Making a Difference! 2013 Graduates Comment 3

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.  Here are some additional comments (see previous posts for more comments) from the graduates of 2013 that express their thanks for what you have done for them.

My experience going to Belhaven for my AA Degree as well as my BASS was very spiritual and confronting. Having the faith to belief and trust in God gave me the interconnection to discover myself and to make a positive impact on myself as well as others.  I was very inspired going to Belhaven by faith for it gave me a sense of purpose to help me to find myself through my toughest times in my life, I found a sense of purpose to set my goals and finish them. Belhaven allowed me to build faithful relationships with the faculty, Instructors and my colleagues, as well as to form groups to have positive results to where these relationships are proven to be more supportive. Belhaven gave me the opportunity to find the faith I needed to get me through my education and without this faith I don’t believe I could have accomplished this at all. I just want to say Thank you to all of you.

 

Jackson graduate

—

From the first meeting with the staff it was obvious that Belhaven was a perfect fit for me.  I always looked forward to walking through the door after a long day at work and being surrounded by people who always seemed to radiate Christianity.  Starting classes with a group prayer always gave us the chance to reflect on how fortunate we were to be in God’s presence and what a gift it was to have an opportunity to share prayer requests with others.  Never dreading a class was such a gift… and the faculty and staff at Belhaven were a large part of that. Taking the time to look into my Christian Worldview and how to focus on that still helps me to teach my boys, how to treat others and focus on making the right decisions today.  Attending Belhaven was a true blessing.

Chattanooga graduate

—

If I were to give a brief summary of how attending Belhaven has impacted my life, I would say, “Belhaven helped me understand how to deal with people better by introducing me to worldviews!” Before I came to Belhaven I had been known as a person who loves people and could get along with most I meet, but I had some hidden areas of thought concerning people based on decisions they made. The understanding of worldviews helped me bridge relationships with individuals I would not have been able to connect with before because I did not understand them.”

The Belhaven Instructors who really impacted the most were Dr. James Quillin, Dr. Ken Jones, and Dr. Ademola Sodendie.

Overall my experiences at Belhaven was God breathed, I was led to be a part of Belhaven to enhance the area of my life God needed me to improve in! I will forever thank God for the opportunity to attend there and to learn.

Memphis graduate

—

Belhaven University make me feel authentically supported when they said, “Please let me know how I can be helpful” and genuinely mean it. In addition, the excitement Belhaven staff express to co-learn with me rather than teach me, makes me feel like a partner in my learning experience, when it is so easy to feel like ‘a sponge that can only absorb.’ I know Belhaven staff has so much to share, but I love how Belhaven staff also openly articulate how much I have to share as well and how much they learn by engaging with me!

As educators, you have ensured a role of heightening my knowledge in academics. However, many of you have not seen me as one of the many students you have, but instead you value me for my uniqueness and strengths. Belhaven promotes an environment where I feel like I am able to not only share my contribution, but also know it is actually considered and appreciated. Thank you for being genuine. Thanks to Belhaven University, for seeing me as a partner in learning and sharing. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being one of the few great Christ centered colleges out there. May you inspire others to achieve the greatness you instilled in me.

With gratitude, Jackson graduate

—

Attending school was another way for me to make a change in my life for the better.  My children and I could live better and would not have to struggle anymore.  It would show my children that no matter what if you believe in yourself; you could accomplish anything.  It was an opening for me to increase my awareness of the world around me, to know the Bible better and to meet students with a similar background.  I decided to go back to school because my job was a dead end and I was not going to advance within the company unless I acquired a degree.  I have had some great teachers and administrators along my journey.  The first one being Dr. Stripling the Literature teacher.  He challenged me in every aspect of my life not just as a student.  He would say do not just read the story and make a conclusion, but read it and apply it to the Bible and your life.   The next person I want to uplift is Elizabeth (asst. admissions director).  She was my cheerleader from the beginning and she believed in me throughout my journey with Belhaven.  I really missed her when she left.  I would like to thank Michelle for always smiling every time I entered the office because I had some rough days and it made a difference in my life.  Veronica was really good too.  She helped with my schedule and making sure I had my books for all of my classes.  Finally, there is Julien.  Julien was a student at the same time I was.  This made his motivation even better because he knew the struggles of being a parent, working and going to school.  I am a stronger person because of these great people and the lessons they taught me.

Houston Graduate

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YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE! 2013 GRADUATE COMMENTS 2

Here are some more comments from the graduates of 2013.  They reiterate what I know: that you are an amazing faculty and that your work touches and changes lives.

I am so blessed to be a Graduate of Belhaven. I had a great experience there both academically and socially. The knowledge I gained at Belhaven has allowed me to have a thriving career with the Mississippi Department of Revenue as a Special Agent. Dr. Howard Bartee is a professor that had a great impact on my life. He challenged me to be a better student and person. I have great memories and I am extremely glad to be a Blazer!!! Keep me lifted in prayer as I enter a new season of my life. I pray that God enlarges the territory of Belhaven University and his hand remains with us all.

Jackson Graduate

—-

Before I began school at Belhaven University in 2009, I prayed that God would lead me to the school that HE wanted me to go to! I wanted GOD to move me out the way. I came to Belhaven with an extremely low GPA so I was very nervous about my college education this time. I wanted to do my very best and learn all I could. The staff at Belhaven always encouraged me. If I had questions about Financial Aid, both Jackson and Memphis worked hard to get me the answers I needed. One of the instructors that had a tremendous impact on me was Dr. Ken Jones, my Psychology/Social Services teacher. He is very knowledgeable in this area. I believed I learned the most from doing his papers and through presentations because of the research we had to put in. He also made learning fun. I believe coming to Belhaven was all a part of God’s plan. I made life-long friends, grew spiritually, and went from a 1.0 GPA to graduating with a 3.92. I am grateful for my journey at Belhaven and thankful for Dr. Ken Jones, Don Jones, Erica Johnson, and Altonious Peterson. I got just what I needed… A valuable education with a Christian Worldview.

Memphis Graduate

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My Belhaven experience was very challenging, positive, and rewarding. My instructors pushed me to achieve excellence in my studies and helped me to expand and enrich the Christian worldview I have had since my childhood. I remember Dr. Martin inspiring, encouraging, coercing, and cajoling us to get us through the program. I remember Dr. Jinkiri explaining complex principles of economics without ever cracking the textbook. I remember Dr. Redfern making us consider and discuss difficult ethical dilemmas and try to figure out the best solutions. I remember all of the instructors stressing the importance of being a good public servant, doing the right thing, and behaving in a Christ-like manner at all times. Thanks to all the faculty who made my time at Belhaven so memorable.

Jackson Graduate

—

When I was at Belhaven in 2013 I was in the first Masters Program at the Chattanooga Campus. Staffing was tight and Dr. Trussell taught most of the classes. The work load was very heavy and I was going through a very busy time at work as well. I can get frustrated at times with bureaucracy. Things like schedules and financial aid drove me nuts. The faculty in Chattanooga all made this part of the process painless for me and eased my worries several times. Susan Haughton in Chattanooga and Susan Smith in Jackson (Financial Aid) were outstanding and the patience they showed me made me realize not only how valuable of an asset they are but how much their work is their ministry.

Their actions gave me pause and caused me to reflect on how I interact with people. I hope I am able to live up to their standards and share the grace they shared with me.

Chattanooga Graduate

Posted on 4 Comments on Plagiarism: Preparing Your Students to Avoid It.

Plagiarism: Preparing Your Students to Avoid It.

by Kim Priesmeyer

We’re all writing teachers, even if you teach business, history, or psychology, because we all assign papers in our classes.  Therefore, we will all be called to help students identify and use sources well in their writing.  The challenge is that many of our students are unprepared for this task, and they need our guidance.

First, provide as many guidelines as possible for their papers that require sources.  Take class time to teach students how to write an outline of their ideas, how to search for sources using the Belhaven databases, and how to use turnitin through Canvas as a “test drive” for their writing.  My webinar discussed how to implement structure into the research process so you’re setting up students for success.

Also, share important “tips of the trade” with students using the handout I’ve designed.  Many of our students don’t know how to select material to cite or how to integrate source material into their writing.  These are universal skills that students will need in every college course they take, so practicing this in class is time well spent.  Most of our students want to become better writers and want to use sources accurately and effectively, so taking a few extra steps can help students achieve success.

You can find the webinar Kim presented on this topic here: Plagiarism: Helping Your Students Avoid It.

Kim Priesmeyer, M.A.
Associate Professor of English
Belhaven University, Houston Campus

Posted on No Comments on You Are Making a Difference! 2013 Graduate Comments 1

You Are Making a Difference! 2013 Graduate Comments 1

I recently asked the 2013 graduates to share their memory of their time at Belhaven University.  I think you will find the comments below to be encouraging.  I will post others as more come in.

The MPA program was so critical in not only my professional development but my spiritual development as well. I was attracted to the program because the classes were once a week and your cohort was relatively small. It was easy to get assignments done because everyone was so encouraging each other. We were all there to accomplish the same goal. The professors that impacted my life during the program was Dr. Ervin Martin, Dr. Nycole Campbell, Ms. Samantha Martin, & Ms. Regina Irvin. They were all so important throughout my tenure at Belhaven. I learned a lot of lessons from all of them & I implement those lessons in not only my professional life but my personal life as well.     MPA Alum ’13, Jackson

Belhaven actually changed my life, my way of thinking and my way of maneuvering through business and life.  ’13, Houston

I think the person that made the biggest impact on me was Dr. Thompson.  He made me challenge my own belief system.  He created real life situations in the business world.  He would also bring articles to class that involved critical thinking.  Dr. Thompson brought a religious critical thinking component to a business world view.  Many of the classes were composed of a business world view with a Christian component. I really appreciated Dr. Thompson making me challenge my own beliefs and get out of my comfort zone.  Not only did I have my own internal monologue to deal with, but I had to defend or reason my belief system vocally.  This forced me to do more research on a biblical level to back up my points when discussion arose. Knowing I can defend my religious views with research, it has allowed me to be more confidence when in the business world to find the resources necessary to back up my stances on situations.   ’13 Memphis

My under graduate experience at Belhaven was wonderful! It was very challenging but absolutely rewarding at the same time.  My instructors were always very willing to work with my busy schedule and yet tough enough to educate me to a higher standard.  The staff at the campus were amazing to say the least and always willing to help in any way they could.  I am now an Operations Manager for GE and my career is looking very bright.  I have used my education to get promoted in my civilian career and in my military career.  Thank-you and the support staff for the opportunity to be a part of the university during my under graduate studies. ’13 Chattanooga

Posted on No Comments on SWOT Analysis using a Zig Zag Activity

SWOT Analysis using a Zig Zag Activity

Although I posted this link several months ago, I think now with the revised curriculum and the emphasis on collaborative learning activities I would bring it back.  SWOT Analysis is one of the basic strategic planning tools used by businesses.  There are a lot of great, short, videos on Youtube which describe what a SWOT analysis is and how to conduct the analysis.  My favorite can be found at this LINK.  The short video below incorporates the SWOT analysis into a classroom activity that promotes student involvement. It is not professionally created but I think you will get the message.  I created the video using a free ipad app: bcontext 

It can seem to be a little chaotic but this activity enhances student engagement and provides a wealth of opportunities for the Instructor to discuss the process as well as the subject of the SWOT analysis.  I think if you try it you will find you will enjoy it.  Save this activity for the latter part of your class period and allow an hour to 90 minutes depending on the size of the class.  You will also need some large poster paper which you can get from the Dean at your campus and four markers.  If you are doing this online, set up four collaborative pages in Canvas, one for each letter (SWOT) and have groups move through in rotation on four consecutive days.  You can set up a separate discussion forum to debrief the experience or compile into a fifth collaborative page.

Swot Analysis Using Zigzag Exercise

View more presentations from Rick Upchurch
Posted on 2 Comments on Using Case Studies to Enhance Learning in the Classroom

Using Case Studies to Enhance Learning in the Classroom

Case Studies have been a tried and true teaching methodology from the beginning of instruction.  Every great teacher has used case studies to bring their students into contact with real life applications of the subject being discussed.  Jesus used mini, or condensed, case studies for the same purpose. Dr. Paul Fritz from Trinity College has a great article on “How to Use Case Studies as Jesus Did” that I encourage you to read.  The Bible itself is full of case studies on a variety of subjects, in fact The Good Book on Leadership is a book entirely devoted to case studies drawn from the Bible.

The graduate curriculum re-design has left space intentionally for collaborative activities to be used in the classroom.  On the list of recommended activities is the use of Case Studies.  However, finding a case study for use may not be easy.  To that end, I’ve asked the wonderful people at our library to provide some easy to find FREE case studies which can be searched on a variety of topics for use in the classroom. They have provided me with this short tutorial which will guide you to resources available through the Belhaven University Library.  I had to stop the tutorial at several points to make sure I could follow, as it auto-progresses through a presentation, but there is gold there if you follow the steps presented.  Of course there are many other paid sources of case studies, such as the book I listed above.  A search on Amazon or similar will turn up many options.

I’ve also gone ahead and prepared a Case Study Analysis model for your use in the classroom.  This is merely to provide a resource to you in case you don’t already have a model for students to use in analyzing case studies.  It is a simple model but should enable your students to get started in the right direction and open up opportunities for learning to take place.  You can find it on the Faculty Resources tab of this Blog, under the White Papers:  Case Study Analysis.

Using this collaborative time may feel a little chaotic at first, but if you have thought through your Collaborative Learning Strategy, I’m confident you will find that both you and the students will be stronger for the experiences. Check out other collaborative ideas at this site by clicking on the category Collaborative Teaching Ideas in the right navigation bar.

Posted on No Comments on Project Teams – Using Canvas to Improve Outcomes

Project Teams – Using Canvas to Improve Outcomes

There are already some great posts on this blog about Team Projects and I encourage you to read through them by clicking on the category: Team Projects.  What I want to do in this post is to summarize some of the key points made in the webinar: Using Canvas to Facilitate Team Projects which can be found under Faculty Resources.

Canvas has a rich environment for project teams, which they label “groups.”  Becanvas1fore getting started, however, I highly recommend going to your personal settings within Canvas and take care of two tasks:  First, make sure you have uploaded a picture and bio.  Students should expect their canvas2Instructors to have completed this task and they can read through this information, enhancing your credibility.  Second, go to settings and “Register” your Google Drive (gmail) account.  This does not give Canvas access to your Google Drive documents, but it does facilitate your ability to set up collaborations with your students.  Students should also be encouraged to register their Google Drive so that they can access the collaboration features available in Canvas.

Now that you have taken care of these housekeeping items.  Here is a general checklist which will get you started in using Canvas to facilitate team projects. Let me strongly suggest you also watch the webinar as well for greater details.

  1. Under the People navigation link, click on +Group Set and give it a name.  Group Sets are basically types of groups, e.g. Project Teams.  Think about the options listed there before you click on save. There are good reasons to choose one option or another and the video will help with that.  If you don’t start the groups, then they will not be available to students.  YOU ARE KEY TO MAKING THIS WORK.
  2. If you chose to set up the groups manually, give each group its own namecanvas3.  You can set up as many groups as you like.  Once the group is set up you can manually drag members into the groups or use the + by their name to select the group where you would like them.  Setting up a group leader is as easy as clicking on the gear icon by a name and selecting “set as group leader.”  This is usually a good idea as it gives the group better autonomy to move around within the site.
  3. Once the groups are set up you can access the group’s page by clicking on the gear icon by the group name and selecting View Group Home Page.  From here group members can post announcements, start discussions, store files, start collaborations, and conferences
  4. Conferences can be created and left open ended, but remember to click on Start so the groups have access.  This allows them to set up regular meeting times which you can join to see how they are progressing.  Please consult the webinar video for more details.
  5. Collaborations make use of Google docs, which is why you need to register your Google Drive.  The Instructor should start one shared document within each group.  This allows you, as owner of the document, to be able to easily see who is contributing and how the group is using this resource.

There is a lot more I could say, but if you watch the webinar you will get the hang of it pretty quickly.  Experiment, practice, encourage your students to participate.  I think you will find this breathing some new energy into the team projects.

Posted on No Comments on Handling Harried Students: How to manage grumbling and complaining in your class

Handling Harried Students: How to manage grumbling and complaining in your class

By Dr. Larry Ruddell, Dean – Belhaven Houston

Teaching adult students provides a wonderful opportunity to bless students from varied backgrounds and also their “generations” and communities. However, it is not always a smooth path! Students with tough backgrounds, demanding schedules, family responsibilities and attending 6-10 pm classes after long work days can let frustrations overflow to professors in or out of the classroom.

So what do you we do? How do we handle “tough customers”?

To begin with, we shouldn’t be surprised when students grumble and complain. The Bible is replete with examples of people who are not happy. See Exodus 16; “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness …” (Exodus 16:2 ESV). … and these are the people who literally saw God do miracles in freeing them from Egypt. As Hebrews 3:7-9 points out, the wilderness wondering could be seen as a test of faith given by God and the people responded by putting God to the test! (v 9)

Fortunately, there are some things we can do to reduce problems. As Romans 12:18 reminds us “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (ESV) So let’s dig in with some specific steps we can take.

– Obviously we should pray for our students before class and audibly as class starts. The Holy Spirit is in charge of human hearts, so setting the tone is helpful

– Set a professional tone. The more the professor is organized, ready to go when class starts, has an agenda, shows enthusiasm for the course material and delivers great teaching until 10 pm … the less likely students will be dissatisfied.

– Head off potential frustration points through effective, proactive communication. It is important to give students a “pathway for success” by helping them clearly understand assignment requirements and particularly knowledge required by exams. So, make sure to review assignments in plenty of time so that you can clarify for students during class. Also, if a student contacts you about an issue that needs clarification, make sure that you let the rest of the class know as well!

– Be careful about making commitments that you don’t keep. As the Scripture reminds us, “let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’ …” (Matthew 5:37) We want to be responsive to students but make sure the words are backed up by action or it will frustrate students.

– If a student is upset, manage the relationship. As Proverbs 15:1 tells us, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

– Others are there to help. Your campus Dean is there to help along with student services. We are a team and different people have different capacities to reach different students!

In conclusion, we may face students who are upset but we want to avoid or manage those issues with Wisdom!