SOUTHWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Co-sponsored by the Virginia Tech Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence,
The theme was
“First Year Experience Through the Eyes of Two-Year and Four-Year Institutions.”
The purpose was to discuss FYEs including the needs of underprepared, community college, and
potential transfers to 4-year institutions and how we can work together to facilitate their success.
Colleagues from both two-year and four-year institutions gathered to discuss best practices and opportunities
for collaboration in the first year experiences that we offer our students.
The conference was held on Friday, September 26, 2008 from 9 am to 3 pm
at The Inn on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
CENTRAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Dr. Janet T. Laughlin
Dean of Student Success & Academic Advancement
Danville Community College
“Multiple Intelligences”
and
Dr. W. Terry Whisnant
Professor of Behavioral Sciences
Southside Virginia Community College
“Emotional Intelligence”
9:30 – 10:00 meet and greet
10:00 – 11:45 Dr. Janet T. Laughlin
11:45 – 12:30 Lunch (provided)
12:30 – 2:00 Dr. W. Terry Whisnant
The conference was held on Friday, September 19, 2008 at
Danville Community College
121 Slayton Avenue
Danville, VA 24541
Dr. Laughlin's PowerPoint Presentation
TIDEWATER AND MID-CENTRAL REGIONAL CONFERENCES
VADE and the Tidewater and Mid-Central Regional Centers for Teaching Excellence
sponsored day-long seminars on brain development research and teaching effectively to the developing brains of our traditional college-aged learners. The presenters
were nationally known authors Rita Smilkstein and Janet Elder. The seminars
took place in Charlottesville on Thursday, October 2nd and in Hampton on Friday, October 3rd.
Increasing Student Motivation, Engagement, Empowerment, and Success with Brain-Compatible Teaching
Presenter: Rita Smilkstein, Ph.D.
Presentation Description: This interactive presentation presents classroom research about how students naturally learn and research about the brain’s innate learning process. These areas of research converge, providing a classroom-proven guide to help faculty develop and deliver curricula that make it possible for every student to experience engaging, empowering, successful learning. Handouts included.
Purpose: The purpose is to share with participants research about how students experience learning, research about the role of the brain in the learning process, and how to translate these two converging areas of research into brain-compatible, interactive, student-centered curricula/lessons and pedagogy. When teachers do this, they can increase their ability to help every student become a naturally motivated, engaged, empowered, and successful learner. This is the ultimate purpose.
This Little Light of Mind: Using Brain-Friendly Strategies to Help Students Shine
Presenter: Janet Elder, Ph.D.
Description and Purpose: This lively, interactive session is designed to show how brain-friendly strategies can energize teaching and enhance student learning. It focuses on the application of practical, effective, and simple to implement brain-friendly strategies. These strategies capitalize on the way the brain learns naturally, and therefore, most easily. Moreover, they are especially apropos and engaging for the “digital natives” who fill our classrooms: students who have grown up with technology as an integral part of their lives. These strategies can be applied in any content area course, and many can be adapted for tutoring situations. Presentation includes music, PowerPoint slides, demonstrations, and audience participation.