Volume 2, Issue 5 | ELITE Digest | February 2023
Greetings, esteemed colleagues,
As we begin the new year and spring semester, it is with great pleasure that we welcome you back to our academic community. We trust that you have had a productive and rejuvenating break and are eager to dive back into the exciting work ahead with our students.
We are especially pleased to report that our recent professional development day was a resounding success, with over 30 sessions offered and a record-breaking turnout of approximately 600 attendees. It is always gratifying to see our community of higher education professionals investing in their growth and development.
At the office of E-Learning, Innovation, and Teaching Excellence (ELITE), we understand the importance of continuous learning and professional development. As we embark on this new semester, we encourage each of you to prioritize personal professional development. Whether participating in advanced coursework, attending specialized workshops, or engaging in research opportunities, investing in yourself and your professional growth is essential for staying at the forefront of your field and achieving your career aspirations.
The ELITE professional development team is here to support you in your professional development endeavors. We are committed to providing you with the necessary resources and opportunities to advance your skills and expertise. To learn more, check out our Spring Professional Development Catalog.
To help kick off the semester with a bit of fun, we have more MC gear than ever to give to two lucky winners of our monthly H5P challenge. To enter, all you must do is:
1. complete this month’s ELITE Interactive Game (see below); and
2. send us a copy of your answers by 5 pm on Friday, February 10, 2023.
Winners will be randomly selected and contacted via email on February 11, 2022. For an extra chance to win, “like” the February ELITE Digest post on the Montgomery Employees Facebook page by 5 pm on February 10, 2023.
On behalf of the ELITE Professional Development team, we would like to express our gratitude for serving such a distinguished group of higher education professionals. We look forward to continuing to support your professional growth and success in the coming semester and beyond.
Yuja
Montgomery College has obtained a college-sponsored resource that enables Faculty and Staff to upload videos for publishing to Blackboard, blogs, websites, and other areas to present or share video content.
Learn More
The Academy for Teaching Transformation
The Academy for Teaching Transformation (Academy) is a program specifically designed to support new faculty and instructional staff members at Montgomery College. Through three interconnected sessions, each Academy program is designed to provide opportunities for faculty and instructional staff to become actively involved in meaningful discussions, content planning, and learning activities that support collaboration, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing. Learn more about the different workshop series being offered in the Spring.
Join ELITE for a Discussion on Empathy
Empathy is a crucial motivational concept that should be considered in the student-centered educational system that has emerged during the pandemic. Empathetic behaviors exhibited by instructors can have a major impact on student success. This session explores how a little empathy can go a long way in developing relationships that lead to student success. Learn more and register
Social Annotation for Reading and Thinking Together
Social annotation is the activity of reading and thinking together. With hypothesis for Blackboard, instructors can ensure that their students are understanding the readings by annotating digital content socially.
Learn more
OER
The Spring 2023 semester has seen continued use of open educational resources (OER) by MC faculty. There are 550 credit sections using OER, which is up from 520 sections in Spring 2022. Student enrollments in Z courses are 10,360, which is an increase of 13.4 percent from last spring. Since 2017, it is estimated that students at MC have saved more than $11 million in textbook costs.
Learn More
All About Love
Now that the December holiday season has passed, stores have stocked their shelves with heart-shaped trinkets, chocolate candy, and other Valentine’s Day gifts. This issue of Multicultural Moments highlights Valentine’s Day and representations of love through gifts, food, and art. Learn More about Multicultural Moment.
Storytelling for Teaching and Learning
Tip 1: Storytelling for knowledge sharing
Storytelling always has been a valuable method of sharing knowledge of history, culture, and family in many Indigenous communities. Using a narrative approach to share content knowledge can increase student engagement by helping students connect personally with the content and promote the retention of knowledge. Learn More about Teaching Tip of the Month.
Prezi
Prezi Present is the foundational platform in the Prezi suite, which includes Prezi Design and Prezi Video. As a cloud-based presentation tool, Prezi has combined the features of the Prezi Classic with new capabilities to create presentations with a unique flair and a more structured and interactive format. Learn More about Teaching Tips with Technology.
Making New Year’s Resolutions
The change in the calendar to the year 2023 has passed, and for some, this also means that it’s the season for resolutions. With roughly 39% of adult Americans making new year’s resolutions, it is clear that this event has meaning and inspiration to many. While roughly only 9% of people follow through to the completion of a resolution, it is also worth exploring what makes for successful or realized new year resolutions.
Learn More about @ Work Tip of the Month.
MC Forward
Dr. Michael Mills hosts a weekly podcast that focuses on Montgomery College individuals who are leading from where they are.
HRSTM
Your Voice, Your MC Employee Survey
It is important to obtain employees’ perspectives on the College because we continuously learn from them. One important way we achieve this is through regular employee experience and climate surveys. Learn More
OEI
The Journey Towards Becoming an Anti-Racist Institution
This is our required college-wide Antiracism training that will launch itself during the 2022-23 academic year. This training promotes social justice, radical inclusion, and racial equity within the College and the broader community and continues the Board focus on the journey to being an antiracist institution. Register for The Journey Towards Becoming an Anti-Racist Institution workshops
Antiracism Badge
This month, the Office of Equity and Inclusion is launching the second cohort of the Antiracism Badge – a four-part micro credential that will explore the possibilities of engaging in antiracist action at Montgomery College and in the community. This badge is an opportunity to examine one’s knowledge of racism and antiracism, and to reflect on ways to challenge racism in one’s spheres of influence. It is available to both students and employees at MC. Learn more
MC Celebrates Black History Month
Black History Month is celebrated to recognize and honor African Americans’ historical contributions and achievements. We recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of our African American faculty, staff, and students. We invite you to learn more about some of the Black History Month events hosted by the MC Diaspora Heritage Committee. Learn More
