Buffalo State College will virtually host a free four-day cybersecurity workshop, sponsored by Google, for in-service secondary school teachers of Western New York from Tuesday, August 4, to Friday, August 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The goals of the workshop are increasing interest in cybersecurity careers and diversity in the cybersecurity workforce of the nation, helping secondary school students understand correct and safe online behavior and becoming good digital citizens, and improving teaching methods for the delivery of cybersecurity content in K–12 curricula. The workshop will present various topics in the area of cybersecurity, including data security, cyber ethics, ethical hacking, social engineering, cryptography, web security, the Internet of things, Python programming, Raspberry Pi, and cybersecurity career awareness.

Ensuring that enough young people are inspired to direct their talents in this area is critical to the future of our country's national and economic security as we become even more reliant on cyber-based technology in every aspect of our daily lives. If you know of any high school mathematics, science, or technology teachers who might be interested in attending, please encourage them to visit the CS4HS website and register for the free virtual cybersecurity workshop.

As we prepare for fall 2020, please join us for the webinar "Integrating Applied Learning in a Remote Setting: How Authentic Experiences Can Enhance Your Course," presented by Ann Emo, professor and chair of the Theater Department, on Thursday, August 6, from 3:00 to 3:50 p.m.

This discussion-based session will look at ways applied learning experiences can integrate real-life, hands-on activities into your course. Applied learning projects are a meaningful way of engaging and assessing student learning. The remote setting offers interesting challenges and unexpected opportunities to empower students to investigate, create, and share. We will look at ways to leverage student connections with technology and maintain the rigor we expect in our courses. 

You can access the webinar using the Teaching and Learning Center meeting room. Please review the BbCollaborate website to become familiar with using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra as a participant, if you'd like.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

As we prepare for fall 2020, please join us for the webinar "Blackboard Collaborate Ultra," presented by Todd Benzin, educational technology specialist, on Thursday, August 6, from 2:00 to 2:50 p.m.

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is the campus-supported real-time web conferencing tool. Learn how Collaborate Ultra lets you share files, applications, and even your desktop and use a virtual whiteboard to interact with participants. Communicate during the Collaborate sessions with a chat window, your webcam, and your microphone. Collaborate Ultra can be used for live class sessions, recording lessons, or even online office hours. 

You can access the webinar using Todd Benzin's Training Room. Please review the BbCollaborate website to become familiar with using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra as a participant, if you'd like. 

Google Chrome or Firefox is highly recommended as a browser. If you have a webcam and microphone, that's great. If not, you should be able to get everything you need as long as your headset or speakers are working.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

As the campus seeks to register and educate student voters this fall, we are also working to mobilize voters to the polls. Research shows that people who cast their first ballot when they are young (18–24 years old) are more likely to be lifelong voters in elections. 

To mobilize and encourage student voters, we are asking faculty, staff, alumni, and students to share their voting stories for the Bengals Voting Project. The Bengals Voting Project will use the Civic and Community Engagement Office's website and social media platforms to share our campus community’s voting stories. Please take five minutes to share your voting story with us.

As we prepare for fall 2020, please join us for the webinar "Beyond Discussion Boards," presented by Katrina Fulcher-Rood, associate professor of speech-language pathology, on Thursday, August 6, from 1:00 to 1:50 p.m.

This talk will first discuss the use of discussion boards in online or remote classes, including prompts, grading expectations, and rubrics. Following this, alternatives for student collaboration and engagement outside of discussion boards will be discussed (e.g., use of Google docs and presentations, breakout rooms, group discussion boards). Time for brainstorming among attendees will end the talk. 

You can access the webinar using the Teaching and Learning Center meeting room. Please review the BbCollaborate website to become familiar with using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra as a participant, if you'd like.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

As we prepare for fall 2020, please join us for the webinar "Using Online Journals," presented by Andrea Nikischer, associate professor of adult education, on Thursday, August 6, from noon to 12:50 p.m.

This webinar will describe how to use the Journals tool in Blackboard to facilitate critical reflection and instructor-student communication. 

You can access the webinar using the Teaching and Learning Center meeting room. Please review the BbCollaborate website to become familiar with using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra as a participant, if you'd like.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

As we prepare for fall 2020, please join us for the webinar "Blackboard Learn: Fostering Communication and Collaboration," presented by Meghan Pereira, director of instructional design and training, on Thursday, August 6, from 11:00 to 11:50 a.m.

To build a successful community, students need the tools to interact and have conversations. Blackboard Learn offers communication tools for self-reflection, collaboration, and communication. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to use the discussion board, journals, and groups to provide rich assignments and evaluate students in authentic ways where students can share and create knowledge.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

As we prepare for fall 2020, please join us for the webinar "Project-Based Learning in a Remote Setting," presented by John Draeger, director of the Teaching and Learning Center, and Ann Emo, professor and chair of the Theater Department, on Thursday, August 6, from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m.

Inquiry-based activities can help students see the connection between “real world” problems and the ways academic disciplines can help solve them. They can give students at least a glimpse into what it means to be passionate about an academic field. This session considers ways to promote inquiry-based projects in remote learning environments. 

You can access the webinar using the Teaching and Learning Center meeting room. Please review the BbCollaborate website to become familiar with using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra as a participant, if you'd like.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

As we prepare for fall 2020, please join us for the webinar "Creating Learning Activities and Course Content," presented by Brooke Winckelmann, instructional designer, on Thursday, August 6, from 9:00 to 9:50 a.m.

This discussion-centered session will complement module 5 (Creating Learning Activities and Course Content) of the self-paced Online Course Development series. We will recap important ideas from this module and expand on the discussion questions. 

Please come prepared to share your discussion responses for module 5 of the self-paced Online Course Development series. 

Before attending this session, we ask that you self-enroll in the “Online Course Development Series – Self-Paced" organization in Blackboard Learn and review the materials found within module 5. The series provides best practices for online teaching and learning, as well as guidance with educational technology.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

Buffalo State College seeks internal candidates for the position of interim associate dean of the School of the Professions (SOP). This is a 12-month administrative position beginning September 1, 2020, with a one-year commitment.

Job Responsibilities

• Represent SOP on various campus committees and work groups
• Serve as point person for SOP course schedule, curriculum revisions, program creation, program review, and catalog oversight as well as liaison for general education assessment
• Serve as resource for faculty development through ad hoc faculty training and as an informal resource for faculty inquiries
• Serve as point person for SOP probation and dismissal processes
• Advise students as needed
• Teach one course per year
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Record of successful, ongoing teaching, scholarship, and service to the college
• Ability to professionally represent the dean and the SOP within the college and in the community
• Successful administrative experience and demonstrated leadership capability
• Experience with curriculum development, assessment, and program review
• Experience with academic advisement
• Excellence in attention to detail and organizational, communication, administrative, and technology skills
• Ability to model collegiality, work as a team member, and demonstrate initiative and commitment to the SOP and Buffalo State mission, vision, and values

The interim associate dean is privy to sensitive and confidential information. The ability to maintain confidentiality is paramount.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a current résumé and a cover letter addressing the required qualifications. Applications may be submitted by e-mail to Rita M. Zientek, interim dean, School of the Professions, by Friday, August 7.