The Buffalo State Pedagogical Institute will present The Benefits of Co-Curricular Activities: Using My Name Is Asher Lev in First-Year Programs on Wednesday, May 20, at 11:00 a.m. in Ketchum Hall 200.

All faculty members will find this session valuable. Benefits of using high-impact practices in the classroom and student development theory will be shared. Additionally, practical ways to incorporate My Name Is Asher Lev in first-year programs will be discussed.

The 2015 Pedagogical Institute is sponsored by the Professional Development Center, the National Coalition Building Institute, and University College with support from the College Senate.

The Buffalo State Pedagogical Institute will present Assessing the Bengal Community of Scholars Program on Wednesday, May 20, at 10:00 a.m. in Ketchum Hall 200.

This working session is designed for returning faculty, student development liaisons, and librarians. Participants will address ways in which the assessment ratings can be improved for fall 2016. The goal of this session is to make recommendations concerning the assessment prompts.

1. Describe the theme that motivates the community.
2. Articulate how course content of the community is integrated.
3. Identify how community content is relevant outside the classroom.

The 2015 Pedagogical Institute is sponsored by the Professional Development Center, the National Coalition Building Institute, and University College with support from the College Senate.

Angela Patti, assistant professor of exceptional education, and eight Buffalo State students will travel to Santiago, Chile, from May 23 to June 14 to participate in the International Professional Development Schools (IPDS) Chile Program.

The students participating in this three-week travel and service-learning program are exceptional education, childhood education, and criminal justice majors. While in Chile, program participants will study the Spanish language in an immersion program, live with host families, conduct educational research, participate in field experiences in Chilean schools, and engage in a variety of cultural activities.

Developed by Pixita del Prado Hill, professor of elementary education and reading, the IPDS Chile Program is in its fourth year. The program is founded on a strong relationship and exchange between Buffalo State and Universidad Mayor in Santiago. Please wish this year’s IPDS travelers well and follow their travel blogs at buffalostateipdschile.weebly.com.

A workshop on the integration of TurningPoint and Blackboard will be offered on Wednesday, May 20, and repeated on Thursday, May 21. Both will be held at 12:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 104.

Workshop participants will learn how the integration of TurningPoint and Blackboard can simplify the use of "clickers" and be used to automate quiz and attendance grading. The workshop will cover adding the TurningPoint tool to your Blackboard course, managing participant lists, and settings for attendance grading. Familiarity with TurningPoint is helpful but not essential. 

Register for the May 20 workshop.
Register for the May 21 workshop.

The Buffalo State Pedagogical Institute will present High-Impact Practices in the Classroom on Tuesday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m. in Butler Library 181B.

The National Survey of Student Engagement, better known as NSSE, suggests that high-impact practices, such as engaging in service learning or a learning community, can significantly enrich the collegiate experience for undergraduates. Join colleagues in this discussion on how to include these practices in classes to increase engagement, retention, and student satisfaction. ?Light refreshments provided.

The 2015 Pedagogical Institute is sponsored by the Professional Development Center, the National Coalition Building Institute, and University College with support from the College Senate.

The Buffalo State Pedagogical Institute will present Reaching All Learners: Universal Design for Learning on Tuesday, May 19, at 1:00 p.m. in Butler Library 181B.

Workshop participants will learn how to use the principles of universal design for learning (UDL) to eliminate barriers and create flexible learning paths to accommodate the interests and needs of all students. Creating flexible learning paths doesn’t mean creating a different curriculum for each student or making a course less rigorous. UDL means considering the needs, skills, and interests of your students and designing your course and assessments with flexibility in mind. The UDL principles enable you to build in support to eliminate barriers caused by the curriculum and keep the challenges where they belong. During this workshop, participants will develop an action plan that will enable them to support student success. Please bring your course syllabus and copies of course assessments.

The 2015 Pedagogical Institute is sponsored by the Professional Development Center, the National Coalition Building Institute, and University College with support from the College Senate.

The Buffalo State Pedagogical Institute will present In the Spirit of Inclusion: Students with Cognitive Disabilities on Tuesday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m. in Butler Library 181B.

This conversation will help faculty members identity strategies that promote inclusion for students with disabilities both in and out of the classroom.

The 2015 Pedagogical Institute is sponsored by the Professional Development Center, the National Coalition Building Institute, and University College with support from the College Senate.

The Buffalo State Pedagogical Institute will present Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Helping Students Reach Financial Success on Tuesday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m. in Butler Library 208.

What is the financial reality for our students and what will their financial future be? A better understanding offers the knowledge to equip our students to successfully navigate their financial world. This session will help faculty and staff members understand today's financial realities, including debt, credit, savings, and financial fitness. Light refreshments provided.

The 2015 Pedagogical Institute is sponsored by the Professional Development Center, the National Coalition Building Institute, and University College with support from the College Senate.

The Buffalo State Pedagogical Institute will present the interactive workshop Creative Learning: Models and Methods on Tuesday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m. in Butler Library 181B.

This workshop is designed for faculty members who are interested in incorporating creative thinking into their lessons and courses. Tim Switalski, director of leadership development, will highlight two models that can be used to promote creative learning. Participants are encouraged to identify a learning objective to be used as a focus for their own application during the session.

The 2015 Pedagogical Institute is sponsored by the Professional Development Center, the National Coalition Building Institute, and University College with support from the College Senate.

The Buffalo State Pedagogical Institute will present SCARF: A Framework for Success on Tuesday, May 19, at 9:00 a.m. in Butler Library 181B.

SCARF (status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, fairness) is a framework that provides an avenue for exploring the roles and relationships of students and faculty in the learning environment. This session explores SCARF and opens discussion to effective use of the model to promote engaged classroom experiences. Light refreshments provided.

The 2015 Pedagogical Institute is sponsored by the Professional Development Center, the National Coalition Building Institute, and University College with support from the College Senate.