-- News and notes for the Virginia Association for Developmental Education --

Volume 1, Number 2                                                    March 2000

September 28-29, 2000

By Sarah Martin

VADE 2000 Winter Conference evaluation comment: "The conference was very enlightening in terms of information, concepts, and material. I was extremely pleased with the organization. . ."

Around 40 developmental educators attended the VADE Conference held in Virginia Beach on February 10-11, 2000.                                                                    Photo by Albert Morrison

The VADE 2000 winter conference featured one pre-conference workshop at Tidewater Community College and 11 concurrent sessions. The workshop on Thursday morning at TCC, conducted by Maureen Cahill, Carmen Nieves-Cardenas, Diane Homsi, and Marcia Tharpe, explored Internet strategies and software options for instruction, including Blackboard, WebQuest, Daedalus Interchange, and the Virtual Math Lab.

On Thursday afternoon, Ken Robol (TCC) presented "Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking through Persuasive Speech Projects, " and Charles Hoofnagle and Sally Harrell (TCC) discussed the implications of multiple intelligences for educators.

Thursday evening featured a reception and banquet followed by a discussion on how developmental faculty and student development staff can support each other's efforts. The facilitators were Peter Leroy, coordinator of counseling at TCC, and Cynthia Horen, coordinator of Teaching and Learning Assistance at TCC.

Friday morning's presentations included the results of a study, conducted by Valerie J. Evans (TCC), that used the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to suggest teaching style interventions and strategies for a group of urban students. Becky Eller (BRCC) and Sarah Martin (VWCC) facilitated a roundtable discussion which considered some of the questions and possible solutions related to the implementation of the new VCCS state guidelines for COMPASS. And Judy Johnson and Penny Speidel (JTCC) showed participants how to provide a rich learning experience through the integration of writing and reading using multi-cultural novels.

In the first session on Friday morning, a group of Thomas Nelson staff and students, including Michael Weiser, Wendy Buie, Mary Dubbe, Scoticia King, and Raymond Paschal, presented information about their Learning Community approach. Anne Woolford-Singh and Rick Dollieslager (TCC) outlined the benefits of distance learning for developmental students and shared their teaching successes and challenges. Ann Bartholomay (SWCC), Sally Harrell (TCC), and Glenda Lowery (RCC) reviewed the VCCS Developmental Studies Task Force Report, recently issued by the Chancellor.

During the second Friday session, Carmen Nieves-Cardenas (TCC) discussed a variety of strategies that address students' learning and learning transfer needs and introduced a criterion/evaluation rubric that can be used both as an assessment and instructional tool. Christine Jennings (TCC) along with Diane Olmstead and Ted Telle from Salem High School described a project which incorporates portfolio instruction and assessment in writing, not only to improve student end products, but also to alter the dynamics of the traditional classroom. Bert Morrison (TCC) explained his Kellogg Institute experience and the resulting practicum project on implementing training for professional and peer tutors.

The conference evaluation comments were overwhelmingly positive. For conference photos, visit the VADE web site: www.tncc.cc.va.us/faculty/dollieslager/VADE/VADE2000.html

To make the February conference livelier, Executive Board members brought door prizes from their respective colleges to give away. The winners included Julie Beard, Maureen Cahill, Becky Eller, Ron Hamilton, Sally Harrell, Charlie Hoofnagle, Cynthia Horen, Judy Johnson, Paul Johnson, Donna Ladd, Glenda Lowery, Michelle Marits, Sarah Martin, Bert Morrison, William Parker, Kitty Perkinson, Laura Powell, Patsy Starnes, Nita Wood, Ann Woolford-Singh, and Sandy Via.

The grand prize, a gift certificate to the Sheraton Ocean Front restaurant, was won by Diana Olmstead.

NADE offers members opportunities to join SPIN groups. These Special Professional Interest Networks (SPINS) allow NADE members to network with individuals who share an academic or professional interest. As a way to increase our opportunities in VADE to interact with each other on shared professional issues, the Board would like to initiate SPIN groups for our members.

Topics from which to choose are: Adjunct Faculty, Administration, Basic Skills/General Education, Counseling, Learning Disabilities, Learning and Study Skills, Math Skills, Reading Skills, Science Programs, Small Four-Year Liberal Arts Colleges, Supplemental Instruction, Technology, TRIO Programs, and Writing Skills. Before the next conference, each of us will have an opportunity to join a SPIN group.

At each conference, we will schedule a meeting time for SPIN groups. Also, between meetings, we will maintain communication by newsletters, email, and in person, when possible. We can also maintain contact with the NADE SPIN groups in order to gain from nationwide interaction with other developmental education professionals.

As an additional means for our professional development, the Executive Board would like to begin regional workshops each year. Since we will have our conference in the fall, we can plan regional workshops sometime during the winter or spring.

Planning will be vital to determine the topics we have interest in pursuing. Any member of VADE who has an interest in helping to plan the workshops is welcome to assist. William Parker of Norfolk State and Ann Bartholomay of Southwest will be beginning initial planning very soon. Anyone interested in working on the planning committee should contact one of them.

Here is our information:

Ann C. Bartholomay, Ed.D. VADE President,

Professor and Coordinator, Learning Assistance Center, Southwest Virginia Community College

PO Box SVCC, Richlands, Virginia 24641

ann_bartholomay@sw.cc.va.us

Office: 540-964-7258

Fax: 540-964-7346

William H. Parker, Jr., Ed.D. VADE Representative-at-Large for Four-year Colleges

Math Professor, Department of Mathematics, Norfolk State University

PO Box 2896, 2401 Corprew Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23504

mailto:Hwparker@nsu.edu

Office: 757-823-9567

Fax: 757-467-5712

Please let us hear from you. Working together, the members of VADE can provide many opportunities for all of us to grow professionally.

The next issue of the VADE Journal will be published this summer. The deadline for submissions is May 31. Following are some submission guidelines and suggestions:

• A summary of the information contained in your VADE Conference presentation.
• Articles about new teaching techniques, methodologies, or technologies that are successful or maybe not so successful.
• Issues you wish to discuss, present, or otherwise address.
• Anything else that you would want to share with fellow VADE members.

• Ann Bartholomay, President, Southwest Virginia Community College, ann_bartholomay@sw.cc.va.us
• Robyn Browder, Immediate Past President, Tidewater Community Collere, mailto:tcbrowdr@tc.cc.va.us
• Sarah Martin, Vice-President, Virginia Western Community College, smartin@vw.cc.va.us
• Laura Powell, Recorder, Danville Community College, lpowell@dc.cc.va.us
• Chris Jennings, Treasurer, Tidewater Community College, tcjennc@tc.cc.va.us
• Sally Harrell, Program Chair, Two-Year College Member-at-Large, Tidewater Community College, tcharrs@tc.cc.va.us
• William Parker, Four-Year College Member-at-Large, Norfolk State University, whparker@nsu.edu
• Becky Eller, Program Chair, Blue Ridge Community College, breller@br.cc.va.us
• Bert Morrison, Membership Chair, Photographer, Tidewater CommunityCollege, tcmorra@tc.cc.va.us
• Glenda Lowery, Newsletter Editor, Rappahannock Community College, glowery@rcc.cc.va.us
• Rick Dollieslager, Web Master, Journal Editor, Thomas Nelson Community College, mailto:dollier@tncc.cc..va.us