Use Your Energy Wisely
By: Dr. Robert L. Boggs

We live in a changing universe where energy constantly flows from one form to another. The seasons teach us there is a time for everything. In the summer the energy flows to produce bountiful harvests and crops. In autumn, the energy of creation slowly leaves the land as it prepares for winter to recharge. Then winter comes and the land in essence hibernates and reenergizes itself. (MORE)

Effective Teaching Even When Class Size Jumps
By: Todd Zakrajsek

Class sizes seem to be increasing every year. There are the obvious increases one sees when an introductory course that used to be taught in many sections of 30 students each is suddenly recast as a few large sections of 150 to 200 students each. I have also seen many cases of class size creep. These are sections that have moved from 18 students to 25 or even 30. Although this may not seem as dramatic as moving to a situation with 200 students, it may well represent a change in how one teaches the course. Individual meetings, long term papers with multiple drafts, and other time-intensive pedagogical opportunities may need to be reconsidered. Regardless of the size of the increase in number of students, as soon as you feel that you can no longer teach the course the way it has been taught in the past it is time for some teaching reflection. The most common reaction I hear is that the class has been ruined and that all one can do is lecture and give multiple-choice tests. This article is written to suggest that although you may not be able to teach the course the way you have in the past, there are options for even the largest of classes. (MORE)

How does Blackboard work at CMU?
By: Jeremy T. Bond

Background Information

According to Blackboard.com, Blackboard is "a web-based server software platform that offers industry-leading course management" and has "a scalable design that allows for integration with student information systems and authentication protocols." As of this writing, approximately 60% of the University’s campus faculty utilize Blackboard in some way for their courses and are successfully taking advantage of the system’s capabilities. Many off-campus instructors are also implementing it to deliver online courses and supplement other face-to-face courses offered all over the country. (MORE)

National Survey of Student Engagement

Results of the 2004 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) are available now. The NSSE asks first-year and senior on-campus students how well they are learning, what they put into their undergraduate education, and what they are getting out of it. You may view CMU's results at http://www.ires2.cmich.edu/Students/NSSE_2004_freq_dis.pdf.

On Target Call For Submissions

On Target seeks and welcomes articles and news contributions on topics of interest to all CMU faculty. Preferred length of articles is between 300 and 600 words, but we will consider up to 1500 words. Submissions should be sent as an attachment to zakra1t@cmich.edu.