When you become a League Alliance member, your institution's administration, faculty, and staff become part of the international community connected to the League's efforts. Just take the time to look at the League website, and we think you'll agree that joining the League is a valuable proposition.

By joining with the more than 790 League Alliance members, you demonstrate your institution's commitment to innovation, experimentation, and institutional transformation. Some of the many benefits available to League Alliance Members include

• Member Spotlight;
• JobNet;
• Conference Registration and Publication Discounts;
• CEO Survey Service; and
• Competition Recognition for administration, faculty, staff, and students.

To obtain even more benefits, your institution can sign up to become a League Alliance Advantage Member. As a League Alliance Advantage member, you'll not only receive the benefits listed above, but your institution will also have access to iStream. More than 70 community colleges have joined as League Alliance Advantage members to enjoy the benefits of this state-of-the-art tool that offers users an abundance of additional resources and information.

Join now and start interacting with some of the most innovative institutions in the world!

Subscribers to iStream have access to League conference keynote speeches and selected other sessions, League print and electronic publications, and a variety of other focused content for staff and organizational development. This month’s special focus is innovative learning, and the following list highlights new content for June.

• English professor and tribal chairman Greg Sarris believes teachers are all going to heaven, but not before they face some tough challenges.
• Anne Arundel Community College has taken some bold and refreshing steps that have transformed the way the college does business.
• Many students remain disconnected from learning. Chandru Rajam believes he knows why that is and how we can fix it.
• Emily Lardner and Gillies Malnarich, codirectors of the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education, address learning communities and other education topics in this month's "Ten Questions to Leadership" feature.
• When it comes to classes, size matters. Here are suggestions about how to choose your class’s size.

To find out if your college is an iStream subscriber, check the participating institution list at http://istream.league.org/. For subscription information, contact Wendy Neil at neil@league.org or (480) 705-8200 ext. 234.

Athlete Mindset: Leadership and Management Techniques From the Sports Arena
This integrative workshop develops leadership and management skills using proven strategies with examples from the athletic arena. Major areas discussed include a seven-step process for dealing with failure and change in organizations. (More information.)

The Physiology of High Performance
This integrative workshop is aimed at informing how human behavior is a reflection of the changes in human physiology. (More information.)

Next-Generation Faculty
Significant research and attention has been appropriately focused on next-generation students. Institutions will soon begin to hire faculty from the leading edge of this very same next generation. (More information.)

To have these new offerings and other topics delivered on your campus, email Ed Leach or call (480) 705-8200, x233.

More than 140 community colleges have joined the College and Career Transitions Initiative (CCTI) Network  since October, when CCTI announced its expansion to all community colleges in North America. If your college is interested in easing student transitions from high school to college and on to careers, you’ll want to join with us. It doesn’t cost anything to join; it just requires a commitment to the goals of CCTI. For more information, visit www.league.org/ccti/networkapplication.

Congratulations, 2006 Innovation of the Year Recipients!

Every year, the League honors outstanding innovations that have been recognized by member institutions as Innovations of the Year. These innovations represent not only honored achievements, but also the continuing renewal of the spirit of innovation and experimentation upon which the League was founded.

Once again, this year’s competition has been very exciting. The League received innovations that encompass every category of the award criteria: quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness, replicability, creativity, and timeliness. The League extends congratulations to all the 2006 Innovation of the Year Award recipients, along with hearty thanks for outstanding effort and creativity at your community colleges.

Click on the links below to view information about the recipients of the 2006 Innovation of the Year awards.

Atomic Learning and The Big Deal Book of Grant and Funding Opportunities

Looking for grant and award opportunities? If so, use this link on the League’s website to access the downloadable PDF, The Big Deal Book of Grant and Funding Opportunities. You’ll find connections to funds to make your technology dreams a reality, gain support for special programs and research, achieve recognition for colleagues, and provide cash rewards for student efforts.

Click here: http://www.league.org/league/partners/files/AtomicLearning.pdf

Capella University Announces
Fifth League Doctoral Scholarship

Capella University and the League for Innovation offer a complete doctoral scholarship to innovative community college faculty or staff. In addition, three partial League for Innovation scholarships are available to Ph.D. learners.

Call for Applications
Capella University, an accredited online university, is now accepting applications for the fifth annual Capella University-League for Innovation in the Community College doctoral scholarship.

Who is eligible? Members of the faculty or staff at a League Alliance member college who have demonstrated innovation in the field of higher education are eligible to apply. Log on to http://www.league.org/league/membership/allimembers.htm for a list of League Alliance member colleges. In addition, online rules and applications are available at http://www.capella.edu/about_capella/community_college_leaguescholarship.aspx.

Eligible programs: The scholarship winner can enroll in a Psy.D. or Ph.D. program in Capella’s Harold Abel School of Psychology, or in a doctoral-level program in the School of Human Services, Business, or Education. Current Capella doctoral-degree or individual course learners meeting the eligibility requirements described above are also encouraged to apply.

Value of the scholarship: The scholarship award is valued at approximately $50,000 and covers three years’ tuition, and the three partial scholarships are valued at $12,000 each during the three continuous years of enrollment at Capella University.

Application deadline is July 15, 2006. The award winner will be notified the week of August 1, 2006.

Applicant is expected to enroll at Capella no later than October 3, 2006. Visit the Capella website www.capella.edu/league-scholarship for full details, including eligibility requirements and application forms. Go to www.capella.edu and choose the Schools tab to view Capella’s doctoral programs.

Capella University is an online academic institution accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1993 to serve working adults and employers, Capella University offers degree programs and certificates in business, technology, education, human services, and psychology. Today, the university serves more than 10,000 enrolled adult learners from all 50 states and more than 50 countries. Central to Capella’s approach are achievement-oriented learners, expert faculty, and a university staff that is passionate about each individual’s success. Capella University is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit www.capellauniversity.edu or call 1.888.CAPELLA (227-3552).

TLT Group Online Professional Development Workshops

The TLT Group’s online offerings include the use of low-threshold tools, the examination of controversial issues, participants with a range of experience, and suggestions for assessment as you integrate what you’ve learned into your repertoire. Workshop leaders are committed to providing practical, interactive, and stimulating sessions. Register for one or more of these workshops and forward this information to colleagues you think can benefit from these opportunities. (League Members receive a discount.) Contact Joanna Beiter bieter@tltgroup.org for additional information.

Information Literacy and Assessment
An ACRL/TLT Group Online Seminar
June 28, July 5, and July 12
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EDT
Session Description
Register

How To Get Started With Information Literacy: Special Selection
An ACRL/TLT Group Online Seminar
July 6, 3, and 20
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT
Session Description
Register

Enhance Teaching With Technology Using MERLOT
A MERLOT/TLT Group Online Seminar
July 11, 18, and 25
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. EDT
Session Description
Register

Flashlight Online: A Sneak Peek  
Free Seminar
July 19  3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDT
Session Description
Register

Campus Technology 2006: Learn From Technology Innovators and Leaders

Campus Technology 2006, July 31-August 3 in Boston, showcases top-level, cross-functional teams who have enacted technology change on campus. This summer’s annual conference features interactive panel discussions presented by visionaries and leaders who can help you make change happen on your campus. You’ll hear what worked and what didn't and how to plan and implement for success, and you'll get tools you can put to work immediately. Explore the technologies and implementation models of the Smart Classroom/Campus, plus nine other hot topics in higher education technology ranging from mobility to funding, security to eLearning. An extra bonus: a full day of workshops, including an insider's afternoon at MIT's renowned Media Lab, Stata Center, and Tech Museum. Register now for Early Bird rates.  http://www.campustechnology.com/conf/

Synergy 2006

Held in Boston at a world-class hotel on the Charles River, within walking distance of MIT and Harvard, Synergy 2006, scheduled July 30-August 2, will feature keynotes by the founder of Monster.Com and experts from renowned advanced laboratories about the future of IT: where the industry is now; where it is going, and what you should do to prepare your students, yourself, and your institution to meet the needs of tomorrow's workplace. Synergy 2006 is not a traditional conference, designed instead for administrators and faculty to learn, assess current programs, network, and apply new techniques and tools. Visit www.synergy06.org for more information. 

Online Tutorial Program in Mathematics
Indian River Community College
Fort Pierce, FL

Asoka Peiris, Math Department Chair at Indian River Community College, made a commitment to improve students’ conceptual understanding of college algebra, to address a variety of student learning styles, to increase the use of technology in the classroom, to provide tutorial practice of math problems, and to raise the success level in this course. Spending more than 1,000 hours creating computerized quizzes and homework problems with tutorials using MapleTA, Professor Peiris developed a learning system that provides hints to help students understand the reasoning involved and the step-by-step methodology to solve algebra problems.

 All quizzes and homework problems are algorithmically generated. A student can complete as many problems as are needed for practice. No student is presented with the same homework problems or quizzes. When a student completes a quiz, there is instant feedback, and test results are sent to the student’s instructor. This feedback allows the instructor to identify students who need more support, personalized help, and possible remediation. 

Although many textbook companies provide technology assistance for algebra students, there is a cost involved. The Maple TA quizzes and tutorials run on the college servers and are free to all students, who can access them from home or in campus computer labs.  

The infusion of technology into mathematics instruction has increased the success rates in college algebra and has increased the number of students who are attempting more advanced mathematics courses. Students who learned college algebra using Maple TA have requested that the same kinds of  quizzes and homework problems be generated for their next levels, pre-calculus algebra and trigonometry. 

Peiris is currently developing those applications and has been awarded an Endowed Chair to complete practice problems and quizzes for Calculus I, II, and III.