Section A·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
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Wednesdav. November 11, 1998
Circles for faculty focus discussion on instructing issues
By Carolyn Mollett
Kansan staff writer
The Center for Teaching Excellence is offering eight faculty teaching circles this fall to improve classroom environment.
The concept of the teaching circle is to focus on a specific instructional issue, said Judy Eddy, program assistant at the Center for Teaching Excellence.
The series of circles began last spring with ten circles for instructors. Some of the circles this fall are carryovers from last semester.
The groups, which usually consist of about 10 instructors, first met toward the end of October and are now scheduled to meet each month for the remainder of the academic year.
Paul Friedman, associate professor of Communication Studies, leads a circle that addresses the reasons why students skip classes. He said the circles encouraged instructors to share ideas with one another.
"I think they're a wonderful opportunity for teachers who are concerned, curious and committed about teaching to get together and share ideas," Friedman said.
Eddy said the circles were small groups of instructors who met to improve a particular area of the teaching environment. They are fluid groups because the instructors can participate when they have enough time, but attendance at each session isn't mandatory, she said.
"The ones that met last year came up with good recommendations," Eddy said. One circle that met last semester but did not continue into this semester focused on improving the situation at the University of Kansas for new faculty, Eddy said.
She said the circle had made suggestions to the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Center had evaluated the ideas. One improvement already implemented was an orientation session for new faculty that the Center held this August.
Sue Nishikawa, acting director of
1998-99 TEACHING CIRCLES
Opening our classroom doors - The group will look into collaboration and observation in the classroom. Call Fred Rodriguez at 864-4193.
teaching large classes-The group will examine strategies for teaching large classes based on recommendations from students and faculty. Call George Semb at 864-0521.
- Integrating technology into your classroom - The group will discuss success and failures with classroom technology. Call Sun Nishikawa at 864-2610.
■ Why do students stay away? - The group will explore students' motives for skipping classes. Call Paul Friedman at 864-9873.
Interdisciplinary teaching - The group will offer discussions about experiences in interdisciplinary teaching. Call Akira Yamamoto at 864-4103.
- Incorporating writing into our courses and teaching - The group will discuss the process of incorporation and what has been done at the University of Kansas to develop students' writing. Call Jim Hartman at 864-3761.
What do students want from a teacher?
The group will discuss what students want and need from an instructor. Call Bob Anderson at 864-3388.
International Teaching Assistants in the classroom - The group will try to alleviate problems IGTAs have in the classroom. Call Margaret Coffey or Chris Jensen at 864-4606.
Instructional Development and Support, said there were about 10 instructors at the first meeting this semester of a circle designed to assist faculty in integrating technology into their classrooms. The circle is geared in a way to let people present projects and share their experiences with new technology, both good and bad.
"It's really addressing the needs of the people who come together," Nishikawa said.
Nishikawa leads that circle, and she said the smaller groups allowed instructors to interact more.
"The circle is a more conducive place for that kind of stuff," Nishikawa said.
November focus: Plight of homeless
By Julie M. Sachs
Kansan staff writer
Outreach center to educate students
They are seen sleeping under bridges and in alleys, wrapped in tattered clothes. Some will beg for handouts, but others will suffer quietly.
many college students may not identify with being homeless, but the KU Center for Community Outreach has devoted November to educate students about hunger and homelessness in Lawrence and in the United States.
"I think the reason why we have to have an awareness month is because not many know the seriousness of the situation," said Corey Snyder, Topkea sophomore and co-coordinator of Concerned, Aware and Active Students. "The government needs to take action."
On Nov. 17, the organization will sponsor a hunger banquet, illustrating the distribution of the world's food through its participants. Participants will receive identities showing where they stand in the world.
in the banquet will receive identities as the poorest class in third world countries. These people will eat rice and sit on the floor.
About 80 percent of the participants will be members of slightly less poor countries. They will eat rice and beans and sit on crates, said Chris Hess, Wichita junior and codirector of Center for Community Outreach.
Sixty percent of participants
Kim Fuchs, Merriam sophomore, serves food at the Jubilee Cafe at Trinity Episcopal church, 1011 Vermont St. Fuchs, who volunteered at the Cafe Tuesday morning, is one of many students who donate their time to help feed the less privileged in Lawrence. Photo by Augustus Anthony Piazza/KANSAN
He said that only 10 percent of participants would be given identities representing the richest portion of the world. These participants would eat a full meal at the banquet and sit at tables.
"I think it's important for people to realize hunger goes on in your own backyard," Hess said. Snyder said that the present governmental system was flawed.
"You hear about how the economy is doing great and everything, but people still go hungry." Snyder said.
The Center for Community Outreach also sponsored Thursday's homeless presentation. The presentation consisted of a slide show, a panel discussion of Lawrence homeless citizens and a speech given by Michael Stoops, who gave a
presentation last Thursday at the University about homelessness and hunger.
Chris Hockley, Overland Park park junior and volunteer coordinator for Jubilee Cafe, said about 75 to 100 people attended.
"The panel was very educational," Hockley said. "It probably won't effect a lot of people but if one or two become active, it's a step in the right direction."
This past weekend, the organization also sponsored Urban Plunge, a program that enabled student volunteers to experience life as a homeless person for two days.
Student Senate allotted $600, which financed Thursday's presentation and the facilitation of of Urban Plunge, Snyder said.
Food drive competition begins on campus
By Julie M. Sachs
Kansan staff writer
Cans of food are stacking up at the Stauffer-Flint Reading Room and in the Dole Center.
together," Moreira said.
On Monday, the KU Ad Club began its first canned food drive, which will benefit the Salvation Army.
But Juliana Moreira, committee head and fund raising officer for Ad Club, said this food drive had an interesting feature.
She said students and faculty members of the journalism school would be competing to donate the most cans.
If the students win the food drive competition, they would receive a pizza party that would be paid for by Jimmy Gentry, dean of the journalism school, she said.
Gentry said the cost of the prize for the winner was not a concern.
"It's a way to get students and faculty
"It's good to give an incentive, and it will be worth whatever that costs," Gentry said.
If students lose, Eric Reyhle, membership officer for Ad Club, said he would bleach his hair.
"Whatever it takes to get good turnout for the canned food drive," Reyleh said.
a way for the Ad Club to make an impact on the community.
Moreira said the canned food drive was
Ad Club has not set a goal as to the amount of cans they want to collect, but it is trying to enlist help from local stores.
Members of Ad Club have been trying to find a store that will match the number of cans that students and faculty donate.
So far, Moreira said, Ad Club has not yet found a store that would agree to do so.
The food drive will continue until Nov. 20.
842-8665
LAWRENCE AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS
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The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program 1999
Teach English in junior and senior high schools in Japan Learn about Japanese culture and people Gain international experience
Requirements
- Obtain a bachelor's degree by June 30,1999
- Have an excellent command of the English language
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be willing to relocate to Japan for one year
Applications are now available. The deadline for application is December 8, 1998.
For more information and an application contact the Consulate General of Japan in Kansas City at 1800 Commerce Tower
911 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-2076. Call (816) 471-0111 ext.105 / (816) 471-0113 or 1-800INFO-JET
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