Session 4-1. So You Want to Write a Thesis Statement...
Thesis statements organize and develop an argument and provide the audience with a guide or a road map to an argument. Generating a thesis statement using a step-by-step formula is a fundamental stage in the writing process that organically leads to purposeful research and useful outlining before word processing a rough draft. Regardless of the writing situation—persuasive, expository, narrative, or descriptive—clear, direct, and specific discourse is a must for effective communication. Join us to learn our tips and tricks for writing an effective thesis statement!
Presenters: Brenda Hoffman, Michael Ramey, & Kayla Cook (Writing Center)
Room: S-210
Session 4-2. Creating Positive Classroom Environments
In recent years, college campuses have seen a steady rise and rapid increase in classroom incivility. This behavior can take the form of less serious, but still disruptive behaviors, such as coming to class late or leaving class early, not attending class, sleeping in class, not taking notes in class, working on other assignments in class, acting bored or disinterested, disapproving groans or sighs, excessive talking, challenging the instructor's knowledge or credibility, inappropriate cell phone usage, or dominating the class discussion. Incivility can also take the form of more serious student behaviors that might involve expressions of hostility or threats toward the instructor, such as stalking (in person or electronically), intimidation, unjustified complaints to a professor's superiors (e.g., department chair, dean, or director), unwarranted negative feedback on an instructor's teaching evaluation, or personal comments or verbal attacks against faculty or classmates. The presentation will provide attendees with the definition of incivility and will attempt to discuss the current data on incivility across college campuses, and to share some of the more recent literature on incivility within the higher education arena. The presentation will also examine the effects of incivility on faculty and on students and explore some possible approaches and strategies that may serve to lessen incivility within the classroom and promote a more positive learning environment.
Presenter: Dr. Douglass A. Lobo (CARE)
Room: S-204
Session 4-3 (Repeated Session 2). Canvas Clubs?
You've heard of the Canvas Learning Management System being used for online courses, but did you know you could use Canvas to assist with your student club or organization? Learn how to utilize Canvas to enhance your club's recruitment, member retention, and member engagement by having an online presence accessible to you and your club members 24/7.
Presenter: Stephen Tomasovitch (Distance Learning)
Room: S-207
Session 4-4 (Repeated Session 2). You, Me, and Self-Efficacy: Developing Self-Efficacy through Student Engagement
Self-efficacy is essential to a growth mindset, achievement motivation, and personal and academic success. This session explores how student engagement in clubs and activities builds self-efficacy, helping advance success in the classroom and beyond. This session discusses the benefits of student engagement and involvement, including social support, developing self-efficacy and grit, building community, and promoting academic success. We will also explore simple ways faculty can promote student engagement with our diverse student population. Specifically, we will address encouraging engagement with our online, f2f, and dual-enrollment students.
Presenters: Cheryl Giacomelli (Social Science), Dr. Summer Garrett (Organizational Management), & Andrew Macfarlane (Library)
Room: S-206
Session 4-5 (Repeated Session 1). Think Again: Cultivating the Power of Rethinking
"The purpose of learning isn't to affirm our beliefs; it's to evolve our beliefs"--Adam Grant. This session explores Grant's work "Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know" from a student-centered perspective. What if we taught students how to rethink and relearn? Together, we will examine strategies to help students (and ourselves) move away from rigidly fixed beliefs towards cultivating rethinking and allowing curiosity to drive thinking.
Presenter: Jack Hall (Student Affairs)
Room: S-212
Session 4-6. Advanced Canvas Tips and Tricks
This session for those who want to learn and share coding tips and tricks to use on their Canvas pages. Topics will include colored tabs, columns for pages without using tables, editable announcements that update quickly, creating your own buttons, interactive buttons, dropdown menus, and more!! This session is not for the beginner and will require editing the html code in Canvas. Session participants will walk away with a link to a html code cheat sheet. Please note: while all are welcome to attend this session and the topics do not require proficiency in html, you will enjoy it more if you are already a bit familiar with html.
Presenter: Jill Leggett (Physical Science)
Room: T-203
Session 4-7 (Repeated Session 3). Active Shooter/Violent Intruder and Workplace Awareness Training
This training will use the concepts of ALICE – Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate – a set of options-based strategies that effectively prepare, prevent, and increase an individual’s chances of survival during a violent intruder or active shooter event. A video detailing effective responses to an active shooter/violent intruder incident will be presented. Participants will be encouraged to discuss additional scenarios and gather necessary information that will assist them in surviving a violent intruder incident.
Presenters: James A. Griffith & Mike Knowles (Security)
Room: S-203
Session 4-8 (Repeated Session 1). How can we help you tell your story?
The Strategic Communications Team wants to arm you with the best communication tools to reach current and/or prospective students and tell the SJR State story. Learn how to request or create engaging communication to bring students to your class, office, or next event. Hear about the latest updates to our website and how you can make our front door of marketing more welcoming. Learn ways you can support SJR State on social media, on campus, or in your community. We’re ready to share all of the best kept Strat Comm secrets, and we have SJR State SWAG! The Strategic Communications Team is your own in-house marketing and public relations team whose job is to make yours easier!
Presenters: Michelle Sjogren, Susan Kessler, Tammy Lane, & other team members (Strategic Communications)
Room: T-204A
Session 4-9 (Repeated Session 1). Keep Calm & Crush Purchasing!
Join us for a fun session as we review everything you need to know about Purchasing at SJR State! This will be a fun presentation with sweet treats as a reward for teams that correctly answer Purchasing review questions.
Presenters: Alma Johnson, Keith Martin, & Lesley Foster (Purchasing)
Room: T-204B
Session 4-10 (Repeated Session 1). The Do’s and Don'ts of Filling Out a Performance Evaluations
This session will provide career service, professional support, and administrative employees with guidance on the College’s evaluation tools new to 2023. Discussion will include both the self-evaluation and formal evaluation tools, in addition to discussion of informal evaluation. The faculty evaluation tools and process will not be discussed during this session.
Presenter: Amy Stanley (Human Resources)
Room: T-208
Session 4-11 (Continued from Session 3—Part 2 of 2). Using the FRS to Plan for Your Retirement
This 90-minute retirement planning workshop provides an overview of the FRS and helps you understand the nuts and bolts of planning for your retirement. The workshop will demonstrate how everyday living expenses and inflation dramatically reduce your fixed retirement income. You will see the role the FRS Retirement Plans play in meeting your financial goals as well as the income gap that must be made up through saving and investing. You will leave the workshop with a full understanding of the ongoing financial planning resources available to you as a member of the FRS.
*Attendees should plan to attend this session for both Sessions 3 and 4.
Presenter: Dan Grable (FRS)
Room: S-104
Session 4-12 (Repeated Session 3). Everything You NEVER Knew about SJR State Facilities...AND MORE !
This will be a fast-moving panel presentation covering topics related to the full gamut of SJR Physical Plant assets and operations. Topics to be covered include: interesting statistics such as the number of acres, buildings, rooms, square footages, doors, HVAC units, etc. on our campuses; capital project updates including PAC Student Housing and Library renovation as well as infrastructure upgrades at the SAC and OPC campuses; financial information including funding sources and budgets; and finally operational procedures including explanation of the WorkOrder system, departmental job descriptions, and our ranking matrix for prioritizing Facilities Department response. We'll also reserve time for Q & A to close out the session.
Presenters: Gregg Gunderson (Facilities) Mike Canaday, (Facilities), Terry Thomas (Business Office), & a few surprise speakers!
Room: S-201
Session 4-13. Florida’s Highwaymen
During this session, we will explore the mid-century artistic abilities and paintings of the loosely affiliated African American Highwaymen and one Highwaywoman. These artists replicated Florida’s untouched east coast environs, by memory or plein-air, as they traveled and sold their produce. In 2019, SJR State hosted an exhibition of 13 of the original 26 Highwaymen. Unfortunately, since then, two of these thirteen painters have died, leaving only half of them still living, and as a result, I feel that it is important to reintroduce SJR State to these wonderful and original Florida artists.
Presenter: Cristy Furr (Humanities)
Room: T-209
Session 4-14 (Repeated Session 2). Reuse, Repurpose, Upcycle!
In recent years, the practice of upcycling has become extremely popular. Upcycling by definition is the reuse or recycling of an object in such a way that it increases the original value. This process encourages creativity and innovation, giving new life to used items and reducing waste. So don’t throw away that old book or scrap of fabric just yet and join the Ladies of the Library as we explore the benefits of upcycling! We will be using old book pages, buttons, and other materials to create two beginner-inspired crafts. Start your journey to the CRAFT SIDE with this session and become inspired to upcycle all your old or unwanted items into something uniquely you!
Presenters: Ann Spinler & Kelly Lewis (Library)
Room: L-219C
