SaMnet News and Ideas
This Month’s Question:
Have you got a new teaching initiative, project or concept that you wish to share with the community for feedback and advice?
Please let us know via samnetaustralia@gmail.com and we will highlight your project to the network of SaMnet Scholars.
Upcoming Events and Activities
University of South Australia, Adelaide, 24-26 September 2017
The Women in Mathematics Special Interest Group is organising this research conference to showcase the research of women in the mathematical sciences in Australia.
Expressions of Interest are open; click here to submit your EOI.
Monash University, Melbourne, 27-29 September 2017
The theme for this year’s ACSME is “Science and Mathematics Teaching and learning for the 21st century”.
Early bird registrations are now open; please click here to register.
SaMnet, ACSME and IJ-ISME
Submissions have now closed for ACSME 2017; all the best to those who have submitted papers, talks and posters.
Early bird registrations for ACSME 2017 are open, so get in quick to take advantage of the discount. The committee is hard at work with preparations; two of the keynote speakers at this year’s conference will be Paul Francis (ANU) and Karen Burke de Silva (Flinders).
Ideas:
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Jay R. Howard in the book Discussion in the College Classroom: Getting Your Students Engaged and Participating in Person and Online
How can you persuade colleagues to use SoTL strategies? In presenting their case for stimulating attention and engagement in class, the author refers to SoTL publications for each strategy to elevate it above personal anecdote. How would you adapt this approach to persuade your colleagues to implement SoTL strategies?
Linda C. Hodges in the book Teaching Undergraduate Science: A Guide to Overcoming Obstacles to Student Learning
Do you know how your students approach readings in your class? What cognitive challenges do your students face with the readings you assign them? The author addresses several dimensions regarding students and readings in the context of science; an essential area of learning but often seems to be neglected. Focusing on these areas may provide a fertile pathway to publication and profiles.
Leadership Insights
Ellen de Graffenraid for Inside Higher Ed
How can you bring attention to the issues that require those higher in the hierarchy to solve? The author outlines key aspects that allow you to bring up these issues; identifying and framing the issue, taking a step back in perspective, picking your battles to conserve your energy for when the issue requires is and delegating spokesperson rights where effective. What issues do you identify that you could apply this process towards?
Careers
Daniel W. Byrne in the book Publishing Your Medical Research
What do you focus on when publishing your research? Do you think about the cover letter or letter of inquiry to the journal of publication? The author highlights the good and bad of cover letters to journal editors and is a useful piece to show to your postgraduate students. Did you know you could send pre-submission inquiries to several journal editors at the same time?
Classifieds
For those looking for international higher education links, check out the ISSOTL directories for teaching and learning journals and conferences (hosted at Keenesaw State University).
