Event: Why You Need a Statement of Teaching Philosophy and How to Develop One

Description: Teaching philosophy statements serve several purposes. They offer an opportunity for self-reflection, offer an introduction to one's teaching portfolio, provide a means of communication with one's students, and are increasingly a requirement in academic job applications. In this workshop session, led by Dr. Marie Kendall Brown, you will be given the opportunity to reflect upon your philosophical approach to teaching and learning by comparing and responding to sample teaching philosophy statements. You will also learn strategies for writing a successful statement and be given time to begin work on your own statement.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Marie Kendall Brown

Date: January 16, 2013

Time: 12:00-1:30 pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Multiplying Literacies: Information Literacy in Teaching and Learning

Description: A variety of fields have now identified "literacies" for their practitioners and students. You may have heard of computer literacy, digital literacy, multimedia literacy, or even scientific or numerical literacy. How is information literacy similar to or distinct from these others? What is information literacy in the context of academia? Why might it matter to you as a future faculty member? In addition to these questions, this session will discuss the current scholarship on student and faculty information literacy and research practices and outline how research instruction can be scaffolded to provide a more productive experience for students.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Rob Detmering, Anna Marie Johnson

Date: January 17, 2013

Time: 2:00-3:00 pm

Venue: Ekstrom Library 103

Event: Faculty and Graduate Student Learning Community on Mentoring: Session Three

 
Each session in this series will build on a shared reading that the group will have read in advance of the session. Faculty and students will use the reading to reflect on the graduate experience in their own departments and disciplines, and reflections will be shared and developed as the learning community develops. 
 
For this third session, the group will read "Confronting Common Assumptions" by Maresi Nerad in Doctoral Education and the Faculty of the Future (2009). The reading discusses the problems and perils of preparing graduate students for uncertain futures, and the importance of addressing and valuing multiple career options.Acknowledging the limited job prospects and various career goals of PhD holders, we will discuss how we are preparing graduate students for jobs outside of Research One institutions, or not. This discussion will consider how programs might emphasize the teaching for which employees within academia will be primarily responsible, and translation of research skills to other professional settings.  

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck, Michelle Rodems

Date: January 18, 2013

Time: 12:00-1:30 pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Time Management by App

Description: Whether you are a time management ninja or an overwhelmed procrastinator, technology tools can help you organize and prioritize your limited hours in the day. Come learn about and share best tools and practices for managing your time using free web tools! We encourage you to bring your laptop, tablet, and phones to this interactive and engaging session!

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems

Date: January 29, 2013

Time: 2:00-3:30 pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: GSC Leadership Information Session

Description: Whether you are a time management ninja or an overwhelmed procrastinator, technology tools can help you organize and prioritize your limited hours in the day. Come learn about and share best tools and practices for managing your time using free web tools! We encourage you to bring your laptop, tablet, and phones to this interactive and engaging session!

Organizer(s): SIGS/GSC

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck, Amerisa Waters

Date: February 1, 2013

Time: 11:30-1:00 pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Dissertation and Thesis Information 

Description: Whether you are a time management ninja or an overwhelmed procrastinator, technology tools can help you organize and prioritize your limited hours in the day. Come learn about and share best tools and practices for managing your time using free web tools! We encourage you to bring your laptop, tablet, and phones to this interactive and engaging session!

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Courtney Kerr

Date: February 5, 2013

Time: 12:00-1:00 pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Finding the Right Post-Doc Position (HSC)

Description: In most STEM-related disciplines, a period of postdoctoral training is expected after a student earns their PhD degree. What are the expectations? How long should a post-doc last? How should you plan to get the most out of your post-doctoral experience? And importantly, what should you look for and how do you find that perfect post-doc position? These questions and other questions will be addressed as we examine the sometimes mysterious world of post-doctoral training.

Organizer(s): SIGS/HSC

Presenter(s): Tom Geoghegan

Date: February 7, 2013

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Venue: CTR 101/102

Event: Blackboard Basics for GTAs

Description: Blackboard Basics provides the foundational skills to use UofL's course management system. Using Blackboard fosters increased student interaction with the instructor as well as each other. It affords the opportunity to enhance lectures with engaging activities and provides a means to organize and post materials for students to access anytime, anywhere.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Steve Dwinnells

Date: August 21, 2012

Time: 10:00-11:30 am

Venue: Ekstrom Library 244

Description: In a continuation of learning and understanding the foundational skills provided in Blackboard Basics, this session will focus on adding staff information, Communication tools (Send Email, Discussion Boards), and Assignments to your course. We will briefly discuss methods to reduce email use in favor of functions in Blackboard. Also, included will be Grade Center settings and uploading and downloading grades.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Steve Dwinnells

Date: August 22, 2013

Time: 2:00-3:30 pm

Venue: Ekstrom Library 244

Event: Blackboard Advanced

Venue: Ekstrom Library 244 

Description: Are you a graduate teaching assistant who will be leading a class for the first time this fall? Want to make sure you’ve remembered everything you need to get started? Worried about how to help students learn what they’re supposed to learn? Come to this practical, hands-on, 3-hour workshop that will review the basics of getting started in your teaching career as a graduate teaching assistant.

This workshop will help you think through your check list of “to dos”, active learning and classroom assessment, and working towards the goals of your class. Participants should come prepared with a syllabus and any materials they’ve collected to teach their class this year. Feel free to bring your laptop or any technology tools to keep you productive. By the end of the session you should be and feel better prepared for the year!

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems

Date: August 24, 2012

Time: 10:30-1:30pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Description: We will define medical insurance terms like; deductible, copay, premium and EOB to name a few. We will also help you understand your insurance coverage and how to determine if your insurance plan has paid your medical bills correctly. We will review questions you should ask prior to medical treatment to make sure that your medical insurance will cover your care.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Campus Health

Presenter(s): Carol Kloenne and Carrie Bibelhauser 

Date: August 30, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Regardless of whether you are going for your MD, JD, PhD or MBA, graduate school is a very stressful experience; both for the student and his/her loved ones. Come talk with others about how you (and your loved ones) are navigating the unique experience of graduate school. Learn how to manage aspects of graduate student life, including family, stress, finances, nutrition and more. The discussion will be led by a recent graduate from a PhD program and his significant other.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): 

Date: September 4, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: This session will help graduate students communicate effectively with their mentors, students and others.

Organizer(s): SIGS/University Ombuds

Presenter(s): Tony Belak and Karen Porter

Date: September 5, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Are you preparing materials to go on the market this spring? This workshop is designed to demystify the process, and to address the specific needs and questions of those from both the sciences and humanities who are embarking on this exciting (if a little scary!) part of the graduate student experience. Though the job search can be a daunting process for students still in the midst of research and teaching obligations, this workshop is a resource to support you in this effort, to help you identify and effectively present yourself as a candidate to the academic job of your future.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Beth Boehm

Date: September 7, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: The workshop will briefly review the foundation of the IRB and the protection of human subjects in research. The presenter will discuss the three levels of IRB submissions that include exempt, expedited, and full board review. The issues of informed consent and risk/benefit analysis will also be included in the presentation. Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions pertaining to personal research interest and IRB expectations at the end of the presentation.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Peter Quesada

Date: September 10, 2012

Time: 12:30-1:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: This workshop is for you if you are writing your dissertation, thesis, or a similar project for which a copy will need to be submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies. Participants will learn how to implement the university's "Guidelines for the Preparation and Processing of Dissertation or Thesis," including formatting requirements and common errors/issues that arise during the process of formatting and submitting. Students who are beginning to write or even anticipating to start writing dissertation/thesis are highly encouraged to take advantage of this workshop because if you can save great amounts of time if you begin with a correct format as opposed to fixing problems later on.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Courtney Kerr

Date: September 11, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Are you an international student new to the American academic system? Do you find some academic practices difficult to understand? Do you want to translate your previous knowledge, skills and experiences into success in the American university? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this academic orientation is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the academic culture here in the US, including classroom practices, research, technology, teaching, and the support systems at UofL. A panel of international and domestic graduate students will share their experiences transitioning to graduate studies in the American university system, and attendees will have the opportunity to share about their own experiences with this transition and get feedback from fellow students, faculty, and the Graduate Dean.

Organizer(s): SIGS/The International Center

Presenter(s): Panel of International and Domestic Graduate Students

Date: September 12, 2012

Time: 12:00-2:00pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Description: This workshop will focus on the distinctive demands of reading and responding to writing for graduate-level courses and research. We will cover concepts such as the genre conventions of scholarly writing and how understanding those can help you navigate your way through scholarly work, strategies for reading and responding to unfamiliar or difficult scholarly texts, and expectations of professors for how graduate students are expected to use the scholarship they read in class discussions and in the students' writing.

Organizer(s): SIGS/The Writing Center

Presenter(s): Adam Robinson

Date: September 14, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: The career landscape has changed for graduate students. Job market statistics, shifts in funding for higher education, advances in technology, and new kinds of job opportunities have all contributed to a drastic change in outlook for job-searching graduate students. Although students are often encouraged to follow the path to the professoriate, this path may not be possible or even the best route for all.

In this session, participants will learn about the current context of the job market for graduate students, reflect upon their priorities for and expectations of post-graduate work, consider the multitude of options available both within and outside of the academy, and contemplate how to address any politics involved in moving towards a non-faculty career. Additionally, participants will develop a working plan for next steps towards post-graduate work.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems and Patty Payette

Date: September 17, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: As educators, we have a professional obligation to treat our students fairly, so it is natural to think that this means treating everyone the same. This workshop will explore the multiple ways that the assumptions we make as teachers can privilege certain groups while disadvantaging others. We will see that when we fail to critically examine these assumptions, treating everyone the same will not lead to an equitable learning environment.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): David Owen

Date: September 19, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Are you interested in building meaningful connections with colleagues in your program? Do you want to foster a culture of mentorship and collegiality in your department? Do you have experiences that might be beneficial to incoming graduate students, or want to learn from the experiences of others in your program? Peer mentoring might be the answer. This peer mentoring workshop is a panel discussion that will provide an overview of what peer mentoring is and how it can benefit students at all levels of graduate study. Panelists will share their own experiences with peer mentoring and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their own insights as well. This workshop will establish a “baseline” of peer mentoring practices at UofL on which subsequent workshops will build. Participants are encouraged to attend the other workshops in our peer mentoring series, and to learn from and contribute to our growing body of mentoring knowledge at the MentorCenter.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck and Michelle Rodems

Date: September 24, 2012

Time: 1:00-2:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: In this interactive and engaging session, participants will learn methods for getting quick, easy feedback from their students using Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs) as described by Angelo and Cross (1993). The presenter will provide a basic overview of formative and summative feedback to serve as a framework for understanding the power of CATs. Participants will use CATs actively as a part of the session, review several CATs strategies, and share ideas for how they will incorporate CATs into their own classroom.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems

Date: September 25, 2012

Time: 3:00-4:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: In today’s economic climate, job searching can be particularly difficult. Building a resume or C.V. that highlights your experience and skills as a unique candidate for a position is a vital first step in this process. But when do you use a resume and when do you use a C.V.? How are they different? Graduate students, perhaps more than any other group, need to know how to create both a resume and a C.V., and the differences between them. Come learn about resumes and C.V.s from the ground up along with key elements and questions to consider in using one or the other.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Career Services

Presenter(s): Becky Clark

Date: September 26, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: This workshop will focus on the distinctive demands of reading and responding to writing for graduate-level courses and research. We will cover concepts such as the genre conventions of scholarly writing and how understanding those can help you navigate your way through scholarly work, strategies for reading and responding to unfamiliar or difficult scholarly texts, and expectations of professors for how graduate students are expected to use the scholarship they read in class discussions and in the students' writing.

Organizer(s): SIGS/The Writing Center

Presenter(s): Adam Robinson

Date: September 27, 2012

Time: 4:00-5:00pm

Venue: HSC K2035

Description: At some time in your career, it is likely that you will want to secure funding for your research or a special project that you want to undertake. This workshop will look at the marketplace of funding opportunities and some of the basics you need to know to navigate that marketplace and successfully compete for those funds.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): John Jaynes

Date: October 1, 2012

Time: 4:30-5:30pm

Venue: HSC K2035

Description: Houchens 105. Scholarly writing is rarely limited to simple reporting of data or summary of research. Most scholarly writing you, as a graduate student will be ask to do carries with it the expectation that you will take a position, through analysis, evaluation, or theorizing. In other words, most scholarly writing is expected to contain a coherent argument supported by relevant evidence. In this workshop we will discuss how argument works in different kinds of scholarly texts and how you can can produce writing that fulfills these expectations.

Organizer(s): SIGS/The Writing Center

Presenter(s): Adam Robinson

Date: October 2, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: 3:30 pm at Houchens 105. As instructors, we commonly assume

critical thinking is embedded in the courses and assignments we design. However, sometimes our attention on covering content gets in the way of helping students focus on the fundamental and complex thinking skills and concepts at the heart of our courses. This session will guide instructors through a set of prompts which will inform their design of activities and assignments in order to focus on the learning they value most. We will spend time in this session deepening our understanding of critical thinking skills and how we can help students master these skills in our classroom activities, assignments and course projects.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Patty Payette

Date: October 3, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: The hard part of graduate work is completing the degree, right? Not so fast! We will explore the ethical dilemmas that arise in the University: in the classroom, in the research arena, in professional interactions, and discuss opportunities for resolution.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Allison Ratterman

Date: October 4, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Following up on the enthusiasm of attendees at the Spring 2012 Mentoring Kick-Off event, and building on the ideas generated there, SIGS has denoted 2012-13 as the Year of the Mentor and is sponsoring a series of mentoring learning communities and workshops to continue this conversation, including this faculty-graduate student learning community. This first session is focused on understanding "where we are" in terms of graduate student programming and mentoring. In advance of the meeting, participants are asked to read an excerpt from At CrossPurposes: What the Experiences of Today's Doctoral Students Reveal About Doctoral Education by Golde and Dore (2001) and consider the ways the results of that report align with, diverge from, or otherwise relate to their experience of their own disciplinary and departmental culture. At the session, the conversation will further probe the experiences of faculty and students at U of L. Adapting an activity from Building the Faculty We Need (Gaff et al. 2000), participants will share their individual views of collegiality, then do a brief writing exercise discussing their desires for change or improvement. Mentors will then break out to discuss mentoring strategies and mentees will meet separately to share concerns and discuss ways of becoming proactive with their mentors (Gaff et al. 28).

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck, Michelle Rodems

Date: October 5, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Do you have piles of articles to read? Do you miss getting more than a few hours of sleep a night regularly? Do you have trouble remembering the last time you spent quality time with friends or family? Managing time during graduate school can be incredibly challenging, but there are ways to better balance the scales. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to better manage their time, leaving with suggestions, resources, and a plan for putting their own balancing system in place.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): MIchelle Rodems

Date: October 15, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: This workshop introduces students, staff, and faculty to EndNote Citation Management software for Windows and Apple computers. Attendees will learn how to download and install the free version of EndNote from the iTech Xpress online store; configure it to work with the University Libraries; search and retrieve citations using EndNote's search engine; import citations from Internet databases and library catalogs; organize references, PDFs, images, and other files; create custom groups, including smart groups that update automatically as references are added; create instant bibliographies in Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, and OpenOffice.org Writer; find and attach full-text articles automatically; and create a limitless number of reference libraries of any size. Citation management software has emerged in recent years as an essential tool for students, scholars and researchers, and EndNote has become the industry standard software tool worldwide for publishing and managing bibliographies.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): John Chenault

Date: October 17, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: HSC Kornhauser 301

Description: Did you know that employers spend less than 30 seconds initially reviewing a resume or cover letter? How can you be sure that a future employer or search committee doesn’t miss the unique skills you will bring as a graduate student to your future position? Becky Clark, Associate Director of the Career Center, has extensive experience in working with graduate students to design resumes and cover letters that catch attention, highlight candidates’ unique characteristics, and help them catch the details that make a difference.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): David Owen

Date: October 18, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Conducting a comprehensive literature search for a dissertation, thesis, or other large-scale project can be a challenging endeavor, even for the most experienced researcher. How do you know if you’re searching in the right place? How do you identify the most important or influential studies on your topic? How do you know if you’ve truly found everything? Addressing these common questions from an interdisciplinary perspective, this interactive workshop will focus on managing the research process at the graduate level. Participants will learn how to construct more productive and efficient searches, as well as track citation patterns over time. We will also discuss the role of the free web in literature searches and highlight strategies for locating relevant research outside a primary domain of expertise.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Rob Detmering, Anna Marie Johnson

Date: October 22, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Ekstrom 103

Description: Teaching philosophy statements serve several purposes. They offer an opportunity for self-reflection, offer an introduction to one's teaching portfolio, provide a means of communication with one's students, and are increasingly a requirement in academic job applications. In this workshop session, led by Dr. Marie Kendall Brown, you will be given the opportunity to reflect upon your philosophical approach to teaching and learning by comparing and responding to sample teaching philosophy statements. You will also learn strategies for writing a successful statement and be given time to begin work on your own.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Marie Kendall Brown

Date: October 23, 2012

Time: 12:00-2:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Scholarly writing is rarely limited to simple reporting of data or summary of research. Most scholarly writing you, as a graduate student will be ask to do carries with it the expectation that you will take a position, through analysis, evaluation, or theorizing. In other words, most scholarly writing is expected to contain a coherent argument supported by relevant evidence. In this workshop we will discuss how argument works in different kinds of scholarly texts and how you can can produce writing that fulfills these expectations.

Organizer(s): SIGS/The Writing Center

Presenter(s): Adam Robinson

Date: October 24, 2012

Time: 4:00-5:00pm

Venue: HSC K2038

Description:  What do you do when students disrupt your class? How do you prepare for and prevent disruption before it occurs? This workshop will focus on strategies for dealing with difficult students, with a particular focus on preventing disruptive behaviors before they start.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Beth Boehm

Date: October 25, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Houchens 105. Though the characteristics of good mentoring vary according to the needs of the mentee and experience of the mentor, this workshop will share research on some “best practices” and build on attendees’ experiences with effective peer mentoring to encourage reflective practice and ongoing improvement in peer mentoring programs. Though this workshop is especially targeted at programs and students that are new to peer mentoring, many of the topics will also be useful to those who want to get new ideas about how to enhance their peer mentoring program or improve their own peer mentoring practices, such as ideas for activities and projects that peer mentors and mentees can do together. We hope that those with well-established peer mentoring programs will come join the conversation to share their own experiences and insights with those new to this practice. Participants are encouraged to attend the other workshops in our peer mentoring series, and to learn from and contribute to our growing body of mentoring knowledge at the MentorCenter.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck, Michelle Rodems

Date: October 30, 2012

Time: 3:00-4:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description:  Universities are graduating increasing numbers of Masters and PhD students each year, while positions within academia remain limited. How can you be sure that a future employer or search committee doesn’t miss the unique skills you will bring as a graduate student to your future position? This workshop will discuss some ways to make your CV and application materials catch the attention of search committees by highlighting candidates’ unique characteristics and including the details that make a difference.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Beth Boehm

Date: October 31, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Do you have piles of articles to read? Do you miss getting more than a few hours of sleep a night regularly? Do you have trouble remembering the last time you spent quality time with friends or family? Managing time during graduate school can be incredibly challenging, but there are ways to better balance the scales. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to better manage their time, leaving with suggestions, resources, and a plan for putting their own balancing system in place.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems

Date: November 7, 2012

Time: 5:00-6:00pm

Venue: HSC K2038

Description: This workshop will prepare students to effectively present academic information. Academic presentations are often thought of as conference presentations, however, this workshop also will prepare students for a successful thesis or dissertation defense. Students will learn practical strategies for dealing with stage fright as well as the best approach to layout and design for communicating information during an oral presentation.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Jennifer Gregg

Date: November 8, 2012

Time: 12:00-2:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: What is your web presence like? Are you only visible on Facebook, or do you have a professional online presence? If you are going on the job market (or planning early for that distant day), the answer to these questions could set you apart from other applicants. This workshop will discuss why you should consider developing an online portfolio or posting an online cv, what documents or information should be included, and how even the busy or technologically-challenged can build an online presence starting today. Acknowledging the varying levels of experience or need with building online content, this workshop will be presented in two parts: the first hour will be an overview of ways to boost your online professional visibility. with tutorials; the last half hour will be workshop time during which participants will implement one or more the strategies described, with the assistance of the workshop facilitators. All participants are encouraged to bring their laptop computers and an updated CV to the workshop. A limited number of laptops will be available for use by participants who are unable to bring their own.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck, Ben Wetherbee

Date: November 8, 2012

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall to see how someone else’s job interview went? Do you wish you could get honest feedback about how you interviewed immediately afterward? This is your chance to watch as a graduate student gets that very opportunity. Sit in the audience to watch a graduate student be mock interviewed by faculty who regularly interview candidates. Following the interview, the professionals will share feedback with the group and the candidate and audience will have chance to ask questions.  This workshop will provide tips for both phone and in-person academic job interviews. Don’t miss this great opportunity to see the interview from the inside!

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Various

Date: November 13, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Professional development is an essential part of graduate school, but the variety of different technologies available to assist in developing a network of colleagues online can be overwhelming. However, it doesn't have to be. Technology can connect you with peers and experts in your field, organize your personal and professional interests, and cultivate your continued learning. When it comes time to find a job, your online connections will not only be helpful but essential. Come learn how you can select and implement useful technology to foster your professional development, both now and as you enter your career. We encourage you to bring your laptop, tablet, and phones to this interactive and engaging session!

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Harley Ferris, Amy Lueck

Date: November 14, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: Are you preparing materials to go on the market this spring? This workshop is designed to demystify the process, and to address the specific needs and questions of those from both the sciences and humanities who are embarking on this exciting (if a little scary!) part of the graduate student experience. Though the job search can be a daunting process for students still in the midst of research and teaching obligations, this workshop is a resource to support you in this effort, to help you identify and effectively present yourself as a candidate to the academic job of your future.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Beth Boehm

Date: November 28, 2012

Time: 2:00-4:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Backwards Design for Summer Planning: How to Use Backwards Design to Accomplish Your Summer Goals

Description: Have big plans for all you want to accomplish this summer? Nervous that May has already slipped away? Backwards design can help you achieve your goals. Although the concept of backwards design is most often used with planning academic courses, it can be effectively utilized for project and schedule management as well. At this hands-on workshop, you will learn the basics of backwards design and begin mapping out the process for achieving your summer goals.

Participants are encouraged to bring laptops, tablets, phones, paper calendars or notebooks, or anything they might find useful in planning out their summer. Come prepared to get your summer in order in a concentrated 2 hour period of time. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems

Date: June 13, 2012

Time: 12:00-2:00 pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Description: In today’s economic climate, job searching can be particularly difficult. Building a resume or C.V. that highlights your experience and skills as a unique candidate for a position is a vital first step in this process. But when do you use a resume and when do you use a C.V.? How are they different? Graduate students, perhaps more than any other group, need to know how to create both a resume and a C.V., and the differences between them. Come learn about resumes and C.V.s from the ground up along with key elements and questions to consider in using one or the other.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Becky Clark

Date: June 28, 2012

Time: 12:30-1:30 pm

Venue: HSC K2035

Description: What is your web presence like? Are you only visible on Facebook, or do you have a professional online presence? If you are going on the job market (or planning early for that distant day), the answer to these questions could set you apart from other applicants. This workshop will discuss why you should consider developing an online portfolio or posting an online cv, what documents or information should be included, and how even the busy or technologically-challenged can build an online presence starting today. Acknowledging the varying levels of experience or need with building online content, this workshop will be presented in two parts.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck

Date: July 24, 2012

Time: 12:00-2:00 pm

Venue: HSC K4007

Description: This session will detail how graduate students, with lots to do and little time to do it, can effectively work with each other outside of class using easily-accessible online resources like Google Docs and Wikis.  As its primary example, it will describe how a cohort of doctoral students collaboratively prepared for comprehensive exams by using these Google Docs to facilitate the creation of study guides and databases with a minimum of necessary "face time." This not only gave them a useful resource for their own studies, but created a framework for the easy sharing of materials and information that can be extended to successive generations of graduate students.  The applications of this presentation range beyond studying for exams and into any collaborative effort by graduate students, including class projects, conference panel proposals, independent peer review, establishing a database for teaching materials, etc.  A primary focus will be on making use of online resources that do not require any specific expertise to use, and thus allowing students of all technological experience levels to easily and effectively work with each other.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Matthew Wiles

Date: August 16, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: HSC K2035

Event: Student Health Insurance Information Session

Description:  This event will familiarize students with the policies of the health insurance program available to graduate students. It is an opportunity to address any specific questions about insurance coverage with an insurance representative.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Linda Westenhoffer

Date: January 10, 2012

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Event: Navigating Ethical Issues in the University

Description:  The hard part of graduate work is completing the degree, right?  Not so fast!  We will explore the ethical dilemmas that arise in the University: in the classroom, in the research arena, in professional interactions, and discuss opportunities for resolution.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Allison Ratterman

Date: January 12, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Event: Reading and Responding to Graduate Level Scholarship

Description:  This workshop will focus on the distinctive demands of reading and responding to writing for graduate-level courses and research. We will cover concepts such as the genre conventions of scholarly writing and how understanding those can help you navigate your way through scholarly work, strategies for reading and responding to unfamiliar or difficult scholarly texts, and expectations of professors for how graduate students are expected to use the scholarship they read in class discussions and in the students' writing.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Writing Center

Presenter(s): Bronwyn Williams

Date: January 18, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Venue: Chao Auditorium

Event: GTA Academy VI- Classroom Assessment Techniques and Active Learning

Description: The GTA Academy is a series of monthly workshops that last almost a year. To participate in the GTA Academy, you should apply when the event is advertised, well in advance of the first event. You cannot register for the subsequent workshops without approval from SIGS.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Dr. Michelle Rodems, Dr. Marie Kendall-Brown, Dr. Beth Boehm

Date: January 23, 2012

Time: 4:30-6:30pm

Venue: Delphi Center

Event: New Graduate Student Orientation

Description:  This orientation provides basic information about graduate school and resources for all incoming graduate students. Includes sessions on SIGS, PLAN, and being a university GTA, among others.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Various

Date: August 16, 2011

Time: 3:00-9:00pm

Venue: SAC

Event: Graduate Student Insurance Information Session

Description: This event will familiarize students with the policies of the health insurance program available to graduate students. It is an opportunity to address any specific questions about insurance coverage with an insurance representative.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Linda Westenhoffer

Date: August 23, 2011

Time: 2:00-3:00 pm

Venue: Shumaker Research Building 139

Event: Peer Mentoring Workshop I

Description: This workshop provides mentoring pairs the opportunity to learn about what makes a successful and productive peer-mentoring relationship, and to network with other mentors and mentees from across the departments. Both seasoned mentors and those interested in taking on the role of mentor are encouraged to attend, and bring their mentees if possible. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems

Date: August 31, 2011

Time: 12:00-2:00 pm

Venue: Shumaker Research Building 139

Event: Finance 4 U workshop I

Description: This is a series of workshops that consists of budgeting, credit and financial aid/ management, financial behavior modification, and investing/saving/planning for the future. 

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Sherry Duffy

Date: September 8, 2011

Time: 5:30-7:30pm

Venue: Rausch Planetarium

Event: Blackboard Basics for GTAs

Description:  Blackboard Basics provides the foundational skills to use UofL's course management system. Using Blackboard fosters increased student interaction with the instructor as well as each other. It affords the opportunity to enhance lectures with engaging activities and provides a means to organize and post materials for students to access anytime, anywhere. You'll learn to login and navigate the system, work within the control panel, add announcements and Documents, as well as get a basic introduction to the Grade Center in the first session.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Delphi Center

Date: September 12, 2011

Time: 10:00-11:00am

Venue: Delphi Center

Event: GTA Academy Welcome Session

Description:  The GTA Academy is a series of monthly workshops that last almost a year. To participate in the GTA Academy, you should apply when the event is advertised, well in advance of the first event. You cannot register for the subsequent workshops without approval from SIGS.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems and Marie Kendall-Brown

Date: September 12, 2011

Time: 4:30-6:30pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Event: International Student Academic Orientation

Description:  This event is targeted specifically at meeting the needs of international students as they transition into US academic culture--particularly the academic culture and standards at U of L. This is an opportunity to ask a faculty panel your questions about the US university and to meet other international students with whom to network. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck, Shyam Sharma, Travis Gault, and Yanfang Zhu

Date: September 13, 2011

Time: 4:00-6:00pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Event: Blackboard Advanced for GTAs

Description:  In a continuation of learning and understanding the foundational skills provided in Blackboard Basics, this session will focus on adding staff information, Communication tools (Send Email, Discussion Boards), and Assignments to your course. We will briefly discuss methods to reduce email use in favor of functions in Blackboard.  Also, included will be Grade Center settings and uploading and downloading grades. 

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Delphi Center

Date: September 14, 2011

Time: 10:00-11:00am

Venue: Delphi Center

Event: Finance 4 U workshop- II

Description:  This is a series of workshops that consists of budgeting, credit and financial aid/ management, financial behavior modification, and investing/saving/planning for the future. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Sherry Duffy

Date: September 15, 2011

Time: 5:30-7:30pm

Venue: Rausch Planetarium

Event: Reading and Responding to Grad Level Scholarship

Description:  This workshop will focus on the distinctive demands of reading and responding to writing for graduate-level courses and research. We will cover concepts such as the genre conventions of scholarly writing and how understanding those can help you navigate your way through scholarly work, strategies for reading and responding to unfamiliar or difficult scholarly texts, and expectations of professors for how graduate students are expected to use the scholarship they read in class discussions and in the students' writing.

Organizer(s): SIGS/University Writing Center

Presenter(s): Bronwyn Williams

Date: September 20, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Blackboard Basics for GTAs (repeat session)

Description:  Blackboard Basics provides the foundational skills to use UofL's course management system. Using Blackboard fosters increased student interaction with the instructor as well as each other. It affords the opportunity to enhance lectures with engaging activities and provides a means to organize and post materials for students to access anytime, anywhere. You'll learn to login and navigate the system, work within the control panel, add announcements and Documents, as well as get a basic introduction to the Grade Center in the first session.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Delphi Center

Date: September 20, 2011

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Delphi Center

Event: Blackboard Advanced for GTAs (repeat session)

Description:   In a continuation of learning and understanding the foundational skills provided in Blackboard Basics, this session will focus on adding staff information, Communication tools (Send Email, Discussion Boards), and Assignments to your course. We will briefly discuss methods to reduce email use in favor of functions in Blackboard.  Also, included will be Grade Center settings and uploading and downloading grades.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Delphi Center

Date: September 22, 2011

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Delphi Center

Event: Finance 4 U workshop III

Description:  This is a series of workshops that consists of budgeting, credit and financial aid/ management, financial behavior modification, and investing/saving/planning for the future. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Sherry Duffy

Date: September 22, 2011

Time: 5:30-7:30pm

Venue: Rausch Planetarium

Event: GTA Academy II: Designing Activities, Assignments and Projects to Stimulate Critical Thinking

Description:  The GTA Academy is a series of monthly workshops that last almost a year. To participate in the GTA Academy, you should apply when the event is advertised, well in advance of the first event. You cannot register for the subsequent workshops without approval from SIGS.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems and Marie Kendall-Brown

Date: September 26, 2011

Time: 4:30-6:30pm

Venue: Delphi Center

Event: Finance 4 U workshop IV

Description:  This is a series of workshops that consists of budgeting, credit and financial aid/ management, financial behavior modification, and investing/saving/planning for the future. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Sherry Duffy

Date: September 29, 2011

Time: 5:30-7:30pm

Venue: Rausch Planetarium

Event: Effective Research Presentation Skills

Description:  This workshop will prepare students to give scientific presentations. Scientific presentations most often include conference presentations, however, the workshop will help students have the confidence for a thesis or dissertation defense as well.  Students will learn practical strategies for dealing with stage fright as well as the best approach to layout and design for communicating scientific information. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Jennifer Gregg

Date: October 4, 2011

Time: 3:00-5:00pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Event: Dissertation and Thesis Info Session (Belknap)

Description:  This workshop is for you if you are writing your dissertation, thesis, or a similar project a copy of which you will need to submit to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies. Participants will learn how to implement the university's submission guidelines about format, layout, etc. Students who are beginning to write or even anticipating to start writing dissertation/thesis are also highly encouraged to take advantage of this workshop, because if you can save great amounts of time if you begin with a correct format as opposed to fixing problems later on. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Courtney Kerr

Date: October 5, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Dissertation and Thesis Info Session (HSC)

Description:  This workshop is for you if you are writing your dissertation, thesis, or a similar project a copy of which you will need to submit to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies. Participants will learn how to implement the university's submission guidelines about format, layout, etc. Students who are beginning to write or even anticipating to start writing dissertation/thesis are also highly encouraged to take advantage of this workshop, because if you can save great amounts of time if you begin with a correct format as opposed to fixing problems later on.  

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Courtney Kerr

Date: October 6, 2011

Time: 4:00-5:00pm

Venue: K2006

Event: Critical Thinking Workshop

Description:  As instructors, we commonly assume critical thinking is embedded in the courses and assignments we design. However, sometimes our attention on covering content gets in the way of helping students focus on the fundamental and complex thinking skills and concepts at the heart of our courses. This session will guide instructors through a set of prompts which will inform their design of activities and assignments in order to focus on the learning they value most. We will spend time in this session deepening our understanding of critical thinking skills and how we can help students master these skills in our classroom activities, assignments and course projects.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Patty Payette

Date: October 12, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Career Workshop: Academic Job Search

Description:  Are you preparing materials to go on the market this spring? This workshop is designed to demystify the process, and to address the specific needs and questions of those from both the sciences and humanities who are embarking on this exciting (if a little scary!) part of the graduate student experience. Though the job search can be a daunting process for students still in the midst of research and teaching obligations, this workshop is a resource to support you in this effort, to help you identify and effectively present yourself as a candidate to the academic job of your future.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Dr. Beth Boehm

Date: October 13, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Role of Argument and Evidence in Graduate Level Writing

Description:  Scholarly writing is rarely limited to simple reporting of data or summary of research. Most scholarly writing you, as a graduate student will be ask to do carries with it the expectation that you will take a position, through analysis, evaluation, or theorizing. In other words, most scholarly writing is expected to contain a coherent argument supported by relevant evidence. In this workshop we will discuss how argument works in different kinds of scholarly texts and how you can can produce writing that fulfills these expectations.

Organizer(s): SIGS/University Writing Center

Presenter(s): Dr. Bronwyn Williams

Date: October 18, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Event: Grantsmanship workshop

Description:  At some time in your career, it is likely that you will want to secure funding for your research or a special project that you want to undertake.  This workshop will look at the marketplace of funding opportunities and some of the basics you need to know to navigate that marketplace and successfully compete for those funds.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Kim Lalley

Date: October 20, 2011

Time: 2:00-3:30pm

Venue: K2006

Event: GTA Academy III: Strategies for Using Rubrics

Description:  The GTA Academy is a series of monthly workshops that last almost a year. To participate in the GTA Academy, you should apply when the event is advertised, well in advance of the first event. You cannot register for the subsequent workshops without approval from SIGS.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems and Marie Kendall-Brown

Date: October 24, 2011

Time: 4:30-6:30pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Event: User-Friendly Collaborative Studying

Description:  This session will detail how graduate students, with lots to do and little time to do it, can effectively work with each other outside of class using easily-accessible online resources like Google Docs and Wikis.  As its primary example, it will describe how a cohort of doctoral students collaboratively prepared for comprehensive exams by using these Google Docs to facilitate the creation of study guides and databases with a minimum of necessary "face time." This not only gave them a useful resource for their own studies, but created a framework for the easy sharing of materials and information that can be extended to successive generations of graduate students.  The applications of this presentation range beyond studying for exams and into any collaborative effort by graduate students, including class projects, conference panel proposals, independent peer review, establishing a database for teaching materials, etc.  A primary focus will be on making use of online resources that do not require any specific expertise to use, and thus allowing students of all technological experience levels to easily and effectively work with each other. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Matthew Wiles

Date: October 25, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Reading and Responding to Graduate Level Scholarship (HSC)

Description:  This workshop will focus on the distinctive demands of reading and responding to writing for graduate-level courses and research. We will cover concepts such as the genre conventions of scholarly writing and how understanding those can help you navigate your way through scholarly work, strategies for reading and responding to unfamiliar or difficult scholarly texts, and expectations of professors for how graduate students are expected to use the scholarship they read in class discussions and in the students' writing.

Organizer(s): SIGS/University Writing Center

Presenter(s): Dr. Bronwyn Williams

Date: October 31, 2011

Time: 4:30-5:30pm

Venue: K2035

Event: Time Management

Description:  Do you have a piles of articles to read? Do you miss getting more than a few hours of sleep a night regularly? Do you have trouble remembering the last time you spent quality time with friends or family? Managing time during graduate school can be incredibly challenging, but there are ways to better balance the scales. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to better manage their time, leaving with suggestions, resources, and a plan for putting their own balancing system in place. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems

Date: November 2, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Diversity in the Classroom: Moving from Equality to Equity in Teaching

Description: As educators, we have a professional obligation to treat our students fairly, so it is natural to think that this means treating everyone the same.  This workshop will explore the multiple ways that the assumptions we make as teachers can privilege certain groups while disadvantaging others.  We will see that when we fail to critically examine these assumptions, treating everyone the same will not lead to an equitable learning environment.  We will also learn about what we can and cannot do for students with disabilities and the resources the DRC provides.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Manuel Medina

Date: November 8, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: EndNote Citation Management Software

Description:  This workshop introduces students, staff, and faculty to EndNote Citation Management software for Windows and Apple computers. Attendees will learn how to download and install the free version of EndNote X5 from the iTech Xpress online store; configure it to work with the University Libraries; search and retrieve citations using EndNote's search engine; import citations from Internet databases and library catalogs; organize references, PDFs, images, and other files; create custom groups, including smart groups that update automatically as references are added; create instant bibliographies in Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, and OpenOffice.org Writer; find and attach full-text articles automatically; and create a limitless number of reference libraries of any size. Citation management software has emerged in recent years as an essential tool for students, scholars and researchers, and EndNote has become the industry standard software tool worldwide for publishing and managing bibliographies.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): John Chenault

Date: November 10, 2011

Time: 3:00-4:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Writing a Literature Review

Description:  The literature review is one of the most common genres of scholarly writing, yet one that can be frustrating if you're not used to producing them. In this workshop we will cover purpose the literature review serves in scholarly writing, some of the important conventions of the genre, and strategies for how to approach writing the strongest literature review possible.

Organizer(s): SIGS/University Writing Center

Presenter(s): Dr. Bronwyn Williams

Date: November 15, 2011

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Peer Mentoring Workshop II

Description:  This session is for anyone interested in developing, getting involved with, or facilitating peer mentoring within and across departments. Building on the input and suggestions from participants from the first peer mentoring workshop, we will discuss best practices for peer mentoring relationships, share experiences, and meet with other students interested in and experienced with mentoring. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck and Michelle Rodems

Date: November 2, 2011

Time: 3:00-4:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Academic Job Search: Making the Cut

Description:  Get the inside scoop and strategies on how to "sell yourself in 30 minutes or less." This workshop will provide tips for both phone and in-person academic job interviews. In addition, you will get to observe faculty as they conduct a mock interview of an actual job candidate!

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Dr. Beth Boehm

Date: November 17, 2011

Time: 3:00-4:30pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Be Searchable: Creating an Online Portfolio for the Job Search

Description:  What is your web presence like? Are you only visible on Facebook, or do you have a professional online presence? If you are going on the job market (or planning early for that distant day), the answer to these questions could set you apart from other applicants. This workshop will discuss why you should consider developing an online portfolio or posting an online cv, what documents or information should be included, and how even the busy or technologically-challenged can build an online presence starting today. Acknowledging the varying levels of experience or need with building online content, this workshop will be presented in two parts.

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Amy Lueck, Shyam Sharma, Shannon Howard

Date: November 21, 2011

Time: 1:00-2:30pm

Venue: Ekstrom W102

Event: Stress Resiliency 

Description:  Lively and interactive session will provide practical and immediate applications to each participant's life goals. Explore the six dimensions of wellness, develop a personal wellness vision, become familiar with the resources available to graduate students in Campus Health and select a resiliency target for the next six months. 

Organizer(s): SIGS

Presenter(s): Karen Newton

Date: November 22, 2011

Time: 2:00-3:00pm

Venue: Houchens 105

Event: Writing a Literature Review (HSC)

Description:  The literature review is one of the most common genres of scholarly writing, yet one that can be frustrating if you're not used to producing them. In this workshop we will cover purpose the literature review serves in scholarly writing, some of the important conventions of the genre, and strategies for how to approach writing the strongest literature review possible.

Organizer(s): SIGS/University Writing Center

Presenter(s): Dr. Bronwyn Williams

Date: November 28, 2011

Time: 4:30-5:30pm

Venue: K-2035

Event: GTA Academy IV: Creating a Learning-Centered Syllabus

Description:  The GTA Academy is a series of monthly workshops that last almost a year. To participate in the GTA Academy, you should apply when the event is advertised, well in advance of the first event. You cannot register for the subsequent workshops without approval from SIGS.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems and Marie Kendall-Brown

Date: November 28, 2011

Time: 4:30-6:30pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Event: GTA Academy V- Classroom Management Techniques

Description:  The GTA Academy is a series of monthly workshops that last almost a year. To participate in the GTA Academy, you should apply when the event is advertised, well in advance of the first event. You cannot register for the subsequent workshops without approval from SIGS.

Organizer(s): SIGS/Delphi Center

Presenter(s): Michelle Rodems and Marie Kendall-Brown

Date: December 5, 2011

Time: 4:30-6:30pm

Venue: Shumaker 139

Spring 2011 PLAN EVENTS