Innovations
October
2013
The William and Helen Thomas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Center at Indian River State College (IRSC) creates a unique synergy between the Florida college and life science institutes to support research and high-skill jobs. Located in the region's growing biotechnology corridor in Port St. Lucie, the $19.5 million Thomas Center serves as a multi-faceted resource for scientific research, economic development, collaborative projects, and student internships. Students gain laboratory experience in the latest procedures using cutting-edge technology, preparing them for...
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September
2013
There is no shortage of data illustrating the proliferation of mobile devices and mobile activity in the general population. This diffusion of devices, applications, and activity extends to the teaching and learning community, right down to the classroom level (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Student Ownership of Technology Devices
Yet, mobile technologies, and even more so, mobile pedagogies are still considered very much an emerging area in higher education. It is critical that some sort of measurement strategy accompany our experimental and pilot programs. But measuring the ability of mobile...
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August
2013
When I first started working in a college testing center in 1999, one of the first things I had to do was to become College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) certified. I had no idea what that meant exactly, but it was something that needed to be done so I did it. Little did I realize at the time how much interest I would eventually have in CLEP exams and the overall impact on student success.
Today, over 1,700 college testing centers administer CLEP exams, and the exams are accepted at roughly 2,900 colleges and universities (The College Board, 2012). According to the College Board,...
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August
2013
As Iowa's economy slowly recovers and more local employers start hiring, the gap between the state's workforce and employer needs is becoming increasingly evident.
According to a report by Iowa Workforce Development (2012), roughly 50 percent of Iowa's available jobs and growing career areas are considered middle skill, requiring more than a high school education but less than a four-year degree. However, 66 percent of Iowa's unemployed or underemployed have no recognized educational credentials past high school. The same study highlights worker shortages stretching far beyond the current...
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July
2013
How do we engage students in meaningful, community service activities that reinforce classroom learning? Germanna Community College (GCC), in northern Virginia, makes a dedicated effort to engage in programs and support activities that help students connect classroom knowledge with community needs and service learning. GCC engineering students participated in the local CANstruction competition held January 18-21, 2013, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The event was held as one of many National Day of Service events in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. During the CANstruction competition,...
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July
2013
The League for Innovation recognized and highlighted many outstanding programs, events, and achievements by its member colleges in the League Alliance Member Spotlight, a segment in our monthly newsletter—League Connections. Colleges showcased in this year's Member Spotlight included:
Housatonic Community College
Lone Star College - University Park
Cuyamaca College
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
Central Ohio Technical College
Phoenix College
Columbia Gorge Community College
Heartland Community College
North Iowa Community College
Nebraska Indian Community College
Brookdale...
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July
2013
While community colleges have increased their sustainability practices and devoted more attention to sustainability in the classroom, few have assessed student learning of sustainability. Despite increased attention to sustainable practices at colleges across the country, little is known about how much community college students know about sustainability and where they need to improve. Moraine Valley Community College has conducted a project that captures data on sustainability in a variety of courses, provided instructors with a concise measurement device, and established a way forward for...
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June
2013
Neosho County Community College (NCCC) was recognized at the Community College Futures Assembly annual meeting held January 31, 2011, in Orlando, Florida, as a finalist in the Planning, Governance, and Finance category, sponsored by Council for Resource Development. The presentation, titled, "If You Build It, They Will Come," highlighted the construction of the Ottawa Campus completed in nine months using no state or local tax dollars. As one of the 10 finalists, NCCC presented at the Assembly and one winner was then selected from each category by a panel of national experts. The Community...
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June
2013
Salem Community College (SCC) is meeting the need for unique and high-demand careers, regionally and nationally. Located in Carneys Point, New Jersey, SCC offers two-year degrees in Scientific Glass Technology and Nuclear Energy Technology which support industry's need for employees with specialized skills.
Scientific Glass Technology
SCC's flagship program is the only one of its kind in the United States, and therefore attracts students from across the country. The associate degree program—which teaches students how to create glass apparatus for scientific research in laboratories,...
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June
2013
Congratulations to the faculty, staff, and administrators who are this year's recipients of the League's Innovation of the Year Award!
The League launched the award three decades ago to recognize local community college projects and initiatives that reflect extraordinary achievement and the spirit of innovation and experimentation on which the League was founded. The competition provides an opportunity for member colleges to showcase their innovative programs, practices, policies, partnerships, and resources; to celebrate the dedicated educators who are responsible for such exceptional work;...
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May
2013
Foothill College, located in the high-tech heart of California's Silicon Valley, has partnered with the Philippine government to present a custom professional development program that focuses on training educators throughout the Philippines to use today's technology to transform student learning across the country. This program focuses on student-centered learning, educational technology enrichment, and collaborative professional development experiences.
The program centers on training teachers to use today's technology to enhance the current science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)...
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April
2013
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April
2013
Snead State Community College has been educating students in the small town of Boaz, Alabama, since 1898. To celebrate its history and prepare for its future, the college recently completed a $7 million renovation project of the Administration Building. Originally designed by Magaziner, Eberhard & Harris of Philadelphia beginning in 1921, the neoclassical style building is the oldest, most architecturally significant, and most cherished building on campus.
After being forced to vacate due to safety concerns, services once offered in the building were relocated. Working from the campus...
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April
2013
West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) in Paducah, Kentucky, began and maintained an online speech class over a two year period beginning in the spring term of 2001. Constance Frank, the speech teacher at the college in those years, had some good experiences and some bad ones when we first tried to offer the techniques and processes of Basic Speech online. The technology was new and consistency was not the rule. VHS tapes, micro and mini cassettes were available, and every video maker had a different player and a different tape format. According to Professor Frank, "Students...
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Innovative Approaches for Teaching Clinically-Relevant Anatomy Utilizing Virtual Dissection Software
Anyone who has ever been assigned to teach a course in human anatomy knows that doing so is a daunting task. The breadth of the topic is enormous and yet any discussion solely dedicated to anatomy and devoid of any mention of associated physiological and/or clinical information will be unimaginably tedious and virtually devoid of any value. As such, the instructor is forced to make many important decisions regarding the degree to which anatomical, physiological, and clinical topics can be blended to ultimately yield a course that is both manageable in the time allowed and worthwhile. In...
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February
2013
The ePortfolio: A Workforce Definition
On October 27, 2011, a group of faculty and students from Trenholm State Technical College attended the Oracle Academy Student Forum Day at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. The forum was presented by the regional director of the Oracle Academy. As part of the Student Forum Day, the director explained what was generally expected of students in the workplace and specifically what Oracle required for employment. In addition to these skills, the presenter informed the group about a recent event that strongly suggested ePortfolios were...
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February
2013
What does it mean to live a better life? There is some truth in that we all may define this somewhat differently, and as individuals these definitions may even change throughout the cycle of life, but what are the commonalities? Most would say happiness and a positive outlook are key ingredients to living a better life; however, having a means to support yourself and your family is essential. Recently, positivity has been mapped by Gallop Inc. and while the results are interesting, what are they telling us? It would seem, from this evidence, that economic prosperity has little to do with it,...
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January
2013
In 2013, the League marks its 45th year of promoting community college innovation, experimentation, and institutional transformation. Through conferences, projects, publications, and other resources, the League offers opportunities for community college educators to explore the innovations of others and to showcase their own. As you celebrate innovation at your college, we invite you to use League events, publications, and project resources to stimulate discussion and foster innovation not only on your campus, but also with colleagues around the world. The following paragraphs describe...
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2013
Today's community college students need to know what research resources are available through their college's library, to learn how to efficiently access the information they need, and to be able to critically evaluate information. The term for this set of skills is information literacy.
Instructors who return to academia or work as adjunct professors have a learning curve to understand how information is now accessed. Full-time faculty with constant demands on their time to keep up with the developments in their field, perform community service, and be available to a larger number of...
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