Department of Education Monday Minutes

Here are your Monday Minutes for the week of August 3-7, 2020. 

From the Department Head

Dear Faculty and Staff,

One week from today, Montana State University will be abuzz with activity! We will welcome freshmen and returning students into campus housing, host a college retreat and departmental fall kickoff, and prepare for what is sure to be a memorable semester.

Over the past five months, we have seen a fundamental change in how we do business, including digitizing forms and accepting e-signatures, communicating through videoconference, and “social distancing walks” instead of meeting in conference rooms. While not ideal, we learned that it can be done successfully if we work together.

This summer I have spent a lot of time thinking about our departmental priorities and I’d like to share my thinking with you using a thinking routine:

Teaching: I used to think that the amount of assignments or seat time drove student learning. Now I think that students can demonstrate mastery of course learning outcomes through fewer and more impactful assignments.

Scholarship: I used to think that I needed to travel to present my scholarship at a conference. Now I think that virtual presentations can reach more people than a face to face presentation.

Outreach/Engagement: I used to think that I should focus on the topic. Now I think that focusing on the people I serve is most important.

I encourage you to examine how your thinking has changed over the past five months. Your “summer crew” is excited to welcome you back for a successful academic year!

Take good care,

 Ann Dutton Ewbank's signature 

Dr. Ann Ewbank

News and Announcements 

  • Did you know that D2L email can be forwarded to your personal email? Please see this tutorial, created by Dr. Nigel Waterton.
  • The University Graduate Council (UGC) seeks a new graduate student representative for the 2020-2021 academic year. The graduate student provides a student voice to policy discussions by serving as an ex-officio non-voting member.If you are an MSU Graduate Student and interested, please submit a UGC Student Representative Application. Applications are due August 14th. Submit applications and questions to degreesandcertificates@montana.edu.

  • EHHD Fall Retreat Virtual Roundtable Discussions are “a la carte” on Thursday, August 13th from 9am-5pm. See the Dean’s email dated 7/24 for details.

  •  The Department Fall kickoff is Friday, August 14, 9am-12pm. WebEx links will be sent shortly.

Agenda

      • 9am-10am: Welcome, Big Audacious Goals for 20-21, and Departmental communication structure
      • 10am-11am: Program Area Meetings
        • Adult and Higher Education (Marilyn Lockhart)
        • Curriculum and Instruction (Sarah Pennington/Nick Lux)
        • Educational Leadership (Tena Versland) 
      • 11am-12pm Strategic Synergies (choose one)
        • Education-affiliated Centers
        • Scholarship
        • Teaching
        • Outreach and Engagement
  • All Monday Minutes are archived and available for your reference.
  • Instructors: As you develop your Fall 2020 syllabi, please include the MSU approved syllabus language for COVID-19.
  • Make sure to check the MSU COVID-19 webpage frequently as university and system-wide updates are available all in one place.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! 

  • Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Pennington who recently published her first poem in Dove Tales: A Writing for Peace Literary Journal of the Arts! 
  • Let’s congratulate ourselves for our amazing work on grant funded projects! Department of Education Grant-Funded Projects (as of 8/3/2020)
    • 25 active grants totaling $19,010,032
    • 9 pending grants totaling $5,741,234
    • 16 Education Faculty/Staff are Principal or co-Principal Investigators 
  • Please send accomplishments and kudos to ann.ewbank@montana.edu. I am specifically looking for accomplishments in scholarship to pass on to MSU News Service.

Professional Development & Engagement Opportunities

  • As we move toward greater reliance on distance learning online, please keep in mind that there are many locations in Montana, even in the Gallatin Valley, that do not have reliable high-speed internet. Please see this resource on “low-bandwidth” distance teaching to ensure that your file sizes are as small as possible.
  • The Journal of Information and Learning Sciences recently published an open-access special issue on Evidence-based and Pragmatic Online Teaching and Learning Approaches, including case studies in PK-12 and higher education.
  • AERA Division K is hosting a webinar on Monday, August 10 at noon titled From PhD to Professor. Graduate students with a career goal to be a postsecondary faculty member are encouraged to register.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources

  • Some of you may have participated in this summer’s EDI book club which discussed Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. If you are interested in co-facilitating a book club or suggesting books, please contact kaminski@montana.edu.