Share Tweet Share Email

Girls-Game-Camp2Imagine taking classes by video game. You wouldn’t just try to get to the next level or beat the game for the fun of it, you would play to ace a test and pass a class. Researchers are harnessing that motivation to play and win video games to teach new and challenging concepts to learners of all ages.

At the next STEM Café, NIU experts Brianno Coller and Aline Click will discuss the successes they have had using video games as a vehicle for learning.  The program “Get Your Learn on Like Donkey Kong: Gaming to Engage Your Mind” will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at Eduardo’s Restaurant located at 214 E. Lincoln Hwy. in DeKalb.

The event is free and open to the public. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Brianno Coller

Brianno Coller

Coller, professor of Mechanical Engineering at NIU, has been using video games for eight years to help students solve difficult engineering problems. The students must employ creative thinking and advanced problem-solving skills as well as a mastery of math and science to create successful solutions to the games. Students who learn with his games show greater achievement of learning outcomes and improved engagement in their courses.

“The results speak for themselves,” Coller said.

Aline Click

Aline Click

Click, director of eLearning Services and the Digital Convergence Lab (DCL), has been developing learning games for ten years. In addition to creating games with teams of NIU students, the DCL sponsors summer camps where learners, anywhere from fifth grade students to adults, can get hands-on experience with video game design and development.

“The complexity of the games and the teamwork required always surprise game-builders,” Click said.

NIU STEM Outreach presents these free STEM Cafés every month. Food and drinks are available for purchase from the host restaurant. Upcoming presentations include:

  • WISSARDs of Antarctic (encore presentation) –  July 9 at Claddaugh Irish Pub in Geneva
  • The Science of Beer  – August 6 at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora
  • Star Gazing – August 11 at Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park

The STEM Café series is just one of the many ways STEM Outreach helps the public learn about the critical role that the STEM fields play in today’s rapidly changing world.

Find more information on upcoming STEM Cafés and other events from STEM Outreach at http://www.niu.edu/stem, or contact Judith Dymond at jdymond@niu.edu or (815) 753-4751.

Date posted: June 11, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on It’s all fun and (smart) games

Categories: Centerpiece Community Communiversity Engagement Engineering Engineering and Engineering Technology Events What's Going On

NIU teacher candidates and District 428 mentor teachers socialized before the PDS celebration at DeKalb’s Founders Elementary School.

NIU teacher candidates and District 428 mentor teachers socialized before the PDS celebration at DeKalb’s Founders Elementary School.

NIU teacher candidates and their co-teaching partners in District 428 recently celebrated the successes of a new model of teacher preparation – the professional development school’s co-teaching model.

In the co-teaching model, an NIU teacher candidate is paired with a master teacher from a partnering school district. The pair spends a full year collaborating on lesson plans, classroom management, and student improvement.

At the celebration, the co-teaching pairs agreed that their work together delivered strong benefits to everyone involved.

Students had access to two instructors instead of one in the classroom. NIU teacher candidates gained a full year of experience learning every aspect of a teacher’s work.

This differs from a traditional student teaching model where student teachers instruct a class for just 16 weeks. District 428 faculty and NIU faculty and staff collaborated in so many ways that, according to them, they learned from each other.

Kimberly Foster, an NIU teacher candidate who finished her co-teaching experience in April, said she recognized the value of the new model right away. “My cooperating teacher and I met for the first time over the summer. The experience was great from day one,” Foster said. Foster graduated this May and has already accepted a teaching position at DeKalb High School.

Foster’s cooperating teacher at DeKalb High School, Colleen Solomon, shared her excitement about the program. “I was hesitant to participate in the co-teaching model at first, but now that I’ve been through it, I wouldn’t do it any other way. It was great having Kimberly there even before school started, and we had a seamless transition into having her lead the lessons during the second semester.”

428/NIU DeKalb High SchoolDistrict 428 Superintendent James Briscoe praised the program during the celebration, saying that he and other area administrators saw the NIU PDS graduates as comparable to new teachers who already had a year of teaching experience. He added that these students were prime candidates for available teaching positions, even in this competitive job market.

DeKalb High School Assistant Principal Jennie Hueber, who coordinates student teacher placements at DHS, said that the district is serious about using a student teaching model that best supports District 428 students.

“Beyond anecdotal stories from co-teachers from both the district and NIU, we are in the process of collecting data to quantitatively determine the success of the program,” Hueber said. “Our evaluation process is tracking performance of district students in the PDS classrooms to make sure that the model contributes to students’ growth.”

Based on the national professional development school model, NIU’s professional development schools are customized to meet school improvement needs at every school site and are aligned with standards set by the National Association of Professional Development Schools. Ottolino in the University Office of Teacher Certification, coordinates PDS operations across the region. The College of Education Partnership Office provides support, and the P-20 Center evaluates the PDS programs.

Sharon Smaldino and Tris Ottolino

Sharon Smaldino and Tris Ottolino

Since the establishment of the first District 428 PDS in 2004, the PDS program has expanded to all schools in the district, although the year-long co-teaching variety is used only in selected programs.

Because of demand from the school districts, NIU’s PDS sites have grown to include schools in four more districts – Huntley District 158, Kaneland District 302, St. Charles District 303, and Sycamore District 427.

This year 566 NIU teacher candidates and 30 NIU faculty members participated in the PDS programs. In the districts, 214 P-12 faculty acted as co-teachers and 16,841 P-12 students thrived on the extra attention and expertise.

The professional development schools also help teacher candidates and practicing teachers continue to improve their skills and methods.

Sharon Smaldino, L.D. and Ruth Morgridge Endowed Chair for Teacher Education in the College of Education, added that the co-teaching collaboration between NIU teacher candidates and K-12 faculty also includes shared professional development sessions and joint research projects for K-12 and NIU faculty. “For students to participate in professional development and conference presentations with K-12 faculty, which is happening here, is rare across the country.”

At the celebration in DeKalb, Ottolino distributed certificates to both the cooperating teachers and teacher candidates before adjourning everyone to enjoy punch and cookies. Ottolino said that she enjoys seeing the bond that forms between NIU teacher candidates and their co-teaching mentors.

“We are so pleased with all our districts, the cooperating teachers, and our NIU teacher candidates,” Ottolino said. “NIU’s experience confirms research findings that the PDS model provides benefits to everyone involved.”

by Deborah Pixton

Date posted: May 16, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on NIU, District 428 celebrate co-teaching model used in local professional development schools

Categories: Campus Highlights Community Communiversity Education Engagement Liberal Arts and Sciences Students

STEM camps offer sessions such as the Tinker Lab, where campers can take electronics apart and see how they work.

STEM camps offer sessions such as the Tinker Lab, where campers can take electronics apart and see how they work.

Summer is just around the corner.

If you’re looking for a fun, educational way for your kids to spend those school-less months, consider an NIU summer camp. From June to August, NIU offers more than 30 day and residential camps for students entering first- through 12th-grade.

From athletics to activism, there is something for every young learner.

Registration is now open for all camps, many of which offer early registration discounts. Some camps also offer reduced rates for multiple campers from a single family, children of NIU employees, and returning campers. Need-based and merit-based scholarships are also available from many camps.

Mark Pietrowski, associate director of College of Liberal Arts & Sciences External Programming, says that camps help students prepare for the rigors of higher education.

“We have seen firsthand how summer camp experiences help inspire students to develop their skills and interests further at the university level,” Pietrowski says.

Camps also offer a social outlet for students.

Creative Writing Day Camp students share stories over lunch at NIU’s Grant Hall.

Creative Writing Day Camp students share stories over lunch at NIU’s Grant Hall.

Deborah Booth, director for the College of Visual and Performing Arts External Programs, has seen lasting friendships form between campers. “Beyond providing campers with expert training in something they love, these camps provide a great social setting for kids with the same interests to get to know one another,” Booth says.

Campers will also have a chance to explore university life, from living in residence halls and dining in the cafeteria to experiencing advanced curriculum and problem-based learning.

STEM Outreach Director Pati Sievert tells parents and students that summer camps are not like a typical week of school.

“Summer camps offer a unique, in-depth learning experience that you’re not going to find elsewhere. Students get the opportunity to dig into concepts and careers that they might not otherwise be exposed to.” One camper reached out to Sievert after camp and told her, “My life started with science camp!”

Camp directors assure parents that campers will be able to learn in a fun, safe environment. “You can be confident that your child’s safety is a priority,” Sievert says. Campers are always accompanied by camp staff, who are trained and mature, and who pass annual background checks.

Registration for call camps is open now, but spaces are going fast. To find a camp that is right for your young learner, download a brochure or visit NIU’s Summer Camps web portal to see a complete list of camps or search by date, subject area or grade level.

Young athletes can take their training to the next level at NIU’s athletics camps.

Young athletes can take their training to the next level at NIU’s athletics camps.

Athletics

The Huskies might have ended up at the Orange Bowl, but they started out as young athletes with big dreams. At NIU’s sports camps, top collegiate coaches provide instruction to help makes those dreams a reality.

Campers are grouped according to age and skill level and use NIU facilities.

Huskie Pup Camps

NIU’s Huskie Pup Camp, administered by the Department of Campus Recreation, offers fun educational programs for youth ages 6 through 12. Camps run Monday through Thursday, from June 10 through Aug. 8.

Children of students, faculty, staff and community members can register for each of the nine summer sessions for just $125 for each four-day session. The camp is also open to the general public for $150 per week.

Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences External Programming hosts camps to help students learn to fine-tune their creative endeavors or channel their efforts into global leadership initiatives.

  • NEW Archaeology Day Camp – Grades 6-8. Aug. 5-9.
  • Broadcast Journalism Camp – Grades 9-12. July 14-19.
  • Creative Writing Camp – Grades 9-12. June 16-21.
  • Creative Writing Day Camp – Grades 6-8. July 29-Aug. 2.
  • Film Camp – Grades 9-12. June 23-28.
  • Global Leadership and Philanthropy Camp – Grades 9-12. June 16-21.
  • NEW GSA Camp: LGBTQA Leadership and Activism – Grades 9-12. July 7-12.
  • NEW Journalism Camp – Grades 9-12. July 14-19.
  • NEW Math Camp – Grades 9-12. July 7-12.
  • Speech Camp – Grades 9-12. June 23-28.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)/Engineering and Engineering Technology

Teens interested in health careers can register for STEM Career Exploration Camp and get hands-on experience in NIU’s labs.

Teens interested in health careers can register for STEM Career Exploration Camp and get hands-on experience in NIU’s labs.

Northern Illinois University is a regional leader in STEM studies.

Building on the popularity of community programs such as STEMfest, Science Saturdays and the STEM Teen Read, NIU STEM Outreach and other STEM departments invite students to participate in day and residential camps on everything from the science of art and roller coasters to the exploration of STEM careers.

  • Camp Invention Day Camp – Grades 1-6. June 17-21
  • STEM Career Exploration Camp – Grades 9-12. July 28-Aug. 2.
    • Track 1: Health Careers
    • Track 2: Engineering Careers
    • Track 3: Video Game Careers
  • Engineering Amusement – Grades 5-7. July 21-26
  • Enhancing Engineering Pathways – June 10-14
  • Exploring STEM through Art – Grades 7-9, June 23-28
  • Exploring STEM through Nature – Grades 7-9. June 23-28
  • Green Energy – Grades 6-8. July 7-12.
  • Nanotechnology Day Camp – Grades 10-12. Aug. 5-9.

Video Game Design

The Digital Convergence Lab hosts day camps where students can explore the technical and creative sides of game design. The DCL staff will guide students through lessons on animation, virtual worlds, character design, story development, logic and even sound effects as they create the detailed worlds of their games.

  • Games Camp Just for Girls – Ages 10-16. June 24-28.
  • STEM Career Exploration Camp (Video Game Careers) – Grades 9-12. July 28-Aug. 2.
  • Advanced Video Games Camp – Ages 13-adult. Aug. 5-9.

Visual and Performing Arts

At the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ summer camps, budding artists, musicians, and thespians will learn to innovate, experiment, and grow through group activities, personal exercises and feedback from mentoring artists.

  • NIU Jazz Camp – Grades 9-12. July 14-19.
  • Theatre Arts Camp Junior – Grades 7-9. July 7-12.
  • Theatre Arts Camp Senior – Grades 10-13. July 14-19.
  • Visual Arts Camp – Grades 9-12. July 14-19.
The College of Visual and Performing Arts will offer its popular Jazz Camp the week of July 14.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts will offer its popular Jazz Camp the week of July 14.

Ross Powell (left) and fellow NIU geologist Reed Scherer recovered sediment from a subglacial Antarctic lake bed.

Ross Powell (left) and fellow NIU geologist Reed Scherer recovered sediment from a subglacial Antarctic lake bed.

You can check an app on your phone to see what the weather will be tomorrow, but what about 10 or even 100 years from now?

To predict climate changes, geologists are drilling into the heart of Antarctic ice and studying the effects of millions of years of weather.

Join NIU STEM Outreach at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, when its popular STEM Café series presents “WISSARDs of the Antarctic” at Eduardo’s Restaurant, 214 E. Lincoln Hwy. in DeKalb.

The program will focus on the National Science Foundation-supported WISSARD project (Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling), which is using a hot water drill to explore the environment beneath the Antarctic ice sheet.

WISSARD’s co-leader, Ross Powell, is the speaker at the May STEM Café. Powell is a Distinguished Research Professor in Northern Illinois University’s Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences.

Powell says that the work he and his team are doing in Antarctica will give scientists clues about Earth’s warming and cooling cycles and the effects of climate change.

WISSARD used a hot water drill to bore through the Antarctice ice sheet.

WISSARD used a hot water drill to bore through the Antarctice ice sheet.

“We are gathering data on the water system under the ice to better understand how it all works so we can make more solid predictions on how the ice sheet may behave in the future and consequently, how fast sea levels may continue to rise,” Powell says.

Powell will also discuss the drilling process, which required the team to bore through 800 meters of ice using a hot-water drill fitted with a filtration and germicidal system. The drill was specially designed to prevent contamination of the subglacial environment and to recover clean samples for microbial analyses.

The WISSARD team spent over three months in Antarctica last year and will return again soon to continue their research.

Organizers are pleased that Powell will share his adventures and discoveries during a STEM Café.

“STEM Cafés are fun, casual events where adults can eat, drink, and chat with world-class scientists like Ross Powell” says STEM associate Judith Dymond. “Antarctica is one of the world’s last great frontiers. While most of us won’t get to experience the frozen continent first hand, the STEM Café will give people an opportunity to talk to Powell and learn how his research can shed light on issues like climate change and rising sea levels, which will shape our world’s future.”

STEM Cafe logo: Feed your mind!

NIU STEM Outreach hosts STEM Cafés every month. The events are free and open to the public and food and drinks are available for purchase from the host restaurant.

STEM Outreach offers many engaging events to the public throughout the year to increase public awareness of the critical role science and other STEM fields play in our world. For more information on upcoming STEM Cafés and other events from STEM Outreach, visit http://www.niu.edu/stem or contact Dymond at jdymond@niu.edu or (815) 753-4751.

Related:

Date posted: May 9, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on WISSARDs of Antarctica

Categories: Community Communiversity Engagement Events Liberal Arts and Sciences Science and Technology What's Going On

April’s Bright Futures event will teach students the power of wind and the science behind the turbines that dot the northern Illinois landscape.

April’s Bright Futures event will teach students the power of wind and the science behind the turbines that dot the northern Illinois landscape.

April’s strong, gusty winds are good for more than just flying kites.

The next Bright Futures program, “Fun with Wind Energy,” will introduce elementary and middle school students to alternative energy and the science behind wind turbines. This free event will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at NIU’s Engineering Building, 590 Garden Road.

Free parking will be available in the NIU parking lots surrounding the building.

“Wind is an important source of energy for us to tap into as it contributes very little to the accumulation of greenhouse gases,” says Pati Sievert, director of STEM Outreach.

Sievert and Melissa Burlingame, program coordinator for the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy, will share how wind energy can be harnessed to do work. Students will then get to participate in hands-on activities to test the different aspects of windmills and discover what makes them most effective in generating energy.

At these free Bright Futures programs, students learn by doing. Students get hands-on experience working with circuits and electricity.

At these free Bright Futures programs, students learn by doing. Students get hands-on experience working with circuits and electricity.

Burlingame says that this event will be a good way for students to have fun while learning about the technologies that will shape their future. “When these kids grow up, they will have opportunities to continue to enhance the use of wind energy. Getting them excited about this rapidly growing field early will help them ask questions we never thought to ask and take the technology to the next level,” she says.

Bright Futures will continue to offer fun, educational programs throughout the spring.

On Sunday, May 12, organizers will present the Electric Art Lab at NIU’s Department of Physics, where kids can learn the science behind electric art and then create some art of their own.

The program will conclude Thursday, June 6, with an Electric Fair at the DeKalb Public Library. The fair will celebrate electricity with electrified hot dogs and pickles, face painting, squishy circuits, electric art and much more.

STEM Outreach associate Jeremy Benson recently visited the DeKabl Public Library to demonstrate the new snap circuit kits that are now available for checkout.

STEM Outreach associate Jeremy Benson recently visited the DeKabl Public Library to demonstrate the new snap circuit kits that are now available for checkout.

Bright Futures is a partnership among DeKalb Public Library, Cortland Community Library, Hinckley Public Library District, Sycamore Public Library and NIU STEM Outreach and is sponsored by a generous grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

In addition to the live events, the Bright Futures program helped the libraries purchase hands-on circuit kits and books and DVDs about energy, electricity, and electrical engineering.

These materials are available for check out from participating libraries.

For more information, call (815) 753-0533 or email jjbenson@niu.edu.

Date posted: April 23, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on STEM Outreach’s Bright Futures event April 30 will teach students how to harness wind energy

Categories: Community Communiversity Engagement Engineering and Engineering Technology Events Liberal Arts and Sciences Science and Technology What's Going On

Green Lens Environmental Film Festival logoThe Green Lens Environmental Film Festival will conclude Thursday, April 25, with a Green Night Out party and Best of the Fest screening in downtown DeKalb.

Beginning at 5 p.m., community members are invited to spend a fun-filled evening viewing award-winning films, eating, shopping and sharing ideas for going green.

Organizers say that participants should check in at the Egyptian Theatre or Eduardo’s to get a “Green Card” – a map to the night’s activities and specials. From there, participants can explore downtown and get their Green Cards stamped at participating businesses when they listen to short talks about environmental issues, see unique artwork that focuses on nature, and get deals on everything from candy to manicures.

For the past week, the Green Lens Film Festival has been entertaining community members with family-friendly nature hikes, craft parties and special screenings of independent films that focus on environmental issues. Organizers from NIU Outreach and the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy (ESE) see Green Night Out as the perfect way to end the celebration.

“We wanted to throw a big party and give people a chance to learn quick, easy ways that they can make changes in their everyday lives,” says festival co-director Gillian King-Cargile of NIU Outreach. The short environmental talks at downtown restaurants will focus on topics such as home composting, gardening with native plants and using Pinterest to increase your eco-awareness, she adds.

Shopping local is one of those easy ways for people to go green, King-Cargile says; “We have so many great restaurants and shops right here in DeKalb. When you spend your time and money downtown, you’re not just supporting your community; you’re also saving gas and reducing your carbon emissions.”

Recycling symbol in green grassParticipating locations and specials for the Green Night Out include:

  • Tapa La Luna – Short talks on sustainable restaurant practices, green drink specials ($3 for Irish Recycling Bins)
  • Small Town Skate Shop – Environmental art exhibit, short talks on long-boarding for the environment, sale
  • Helen’s Hair Design – Free eyebrow waxing or shellac manicure
  • Eduardo’s – Short talks on vermicomposting, gardening with native plants, eating weeds and more!
  • O’Leary’s – Green drink specials ($3.50 for Green Hornets and Emerald Isles)
  • Confectionary – Candy specials and extended hours until 8 p.m.
  • Gallery 215 – Environmental art by Anna Miller
  • Cracker Jax – Extended hours until 8 p.m. and deals on vintage and up-cycled clothing and furniture
  • Rosita’s – Drink specials (margaritas $3.50, flavored margaritas $3.80)

At 8 p.m., participants can return their Green Cards to the Egyptian Theatre and enter a raffle for a chance to win a prize package.

Also at 8 p.m., Green Lens will screen the winning films from this year’s film festival. The program will include the winning short films from the student, documentary and narrative categories, as well as the Audience Choice and Committee Choice winners. Tickets for Best of the Fest are $5.

For more information, email gkingcargile@niu.edu.

Related:

 

Date posted: April 22, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on Think global, shop local at Green Night Out, planned April 25 throughout downtown DeKalb

Categories: Arts Community Communiversity Engagement Events Students Visual

Green Lens Environmental Film Festival logoCelebrate Earth Week at the third annual Green Lens Environmental Film Festival, scheduled from Saturday, April 20, through Thursday, April 25.

The festival offers film screenings, filmmaker talks, outdoor adventures, kids’ crafts, DIY presentations and a “Green Night Out” in downtown DeKalb to help people of all ages have fun while learning about the environment.

Green Lens is presented by NIU’s Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy (ESE) and NIU Outreach.  Thanks to a generous grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation, organizers will be able to present a six-day community festival and offer free educational items such as children’s books and green do-it-yourself kits.

“We encourage people to think about the impact of climate change and carbon emissions, but we also want them to come away with ideas that they can use in their everyday lives,” said Melissa Burlingame, program coordinator for ESE and co-director of Green Lens. “We can make small changes – like recycling, composting, conserving water, gardening with native plants and teaching our children to respect the environment – that will add up.”

Green Lens offers “ a great chance to see unique and thought-provoking films, explore DeKalb and learn new ways to take action and make a difference in the world around you,” she added.

DeKalb’s Egyptian TheatreMost events are free and open to the public. The Film Competition Showcase and Best of the Fest are $5 per person.

The Egyptian Theater, 135 N. Second St. in downtown DeKalb will host Green Lens the Competition Showcase Screening Sunday, April 21, and the Best of the Fest screening Thursday, April 25.

Saturday, April 20

  • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Green Family Fun at Lions Park. Throughout the day, families can come to the park for nature hikes, kids’ crafts, a geocache scavenger hunt and creepy critter exhibits.
  • 1 p.m. – STEM Café at Lincoln Inn. Join ESE Director Melissa Lenczewski for a discussion discussion on the ways that tourism impacts water quality and island ecosystems.
  • 2 to 4 p.m.  Lorax Craft Party at the YMCA. Kids are invited to watch the 1972 Dr. Seuss film and make crafts that teach them how to speak for the trees. Kids can take home free activity books and kits to learn more about the environment.

Sunday, April 21

  • 3 to 7 p.m.  Film Competition Showcase and Environmental Fair at the Egyptian Theater. See unique and original short films that focus on environmental issues and talk with local environmental organizations about ways to go green. (Tickets $5)

Monday, April 22

  • 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Film Screening and Filmmaker Q&A at NIU’s Montgomery Hall Auditorium – Everglades of the North explores the history of the Kankakee marsh, an extraordinary home for everything from water birds to Civil War deserters. Why did the marsh vanish, and should we take action to bring it back?

My Village My LobsterTuesday, April 23

  • 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Storytime and crafts for young children at DeKalb Public Library. Parents, bring your little ones to the library for a “green-themed” storytime and age-appropriate crafts. Kids can take home free activity books and kits to learn more about the environment.
  • 4 to 5 p.m. Second-Chance Crafts for K-8 students at DeKalb Public Library. Learn how to recycle and upcycle trash into treasures!
  • 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Film Screening and Filmmaker Q&A at NIU’s Montgomery Hall Auditorium – My Village, My Lobster focuses on lobster fishing in Nicaragua. Learn the real cost of your seafood dinner.

Wednesday, April 24

  • 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Film Screening and Filmmaker Q&A at NIU’s Montgomery Hall Auditorium – Turtle Derby focuses on a group of children who are finding and training turtles for their town’s annual turtle race. When some of their turtles end up on the endangered species list, the community must decide whether their small-town tradition should change to protect the turtles.

Thursday, April 25

  • 5 to 8 p.m.  Green Night Out – The community is invited to downtown DeKalb for various food and drink specials, short DIY talks, raffles, art exhibits and workshops at various businesses throughout downtown, including Tapa La Luna, Eduardos and the Smalltown Skateshop. Attendees can also enter a raffle to win prizes.
  • 8 to 10 p.m.  Best of the Fest at the Egyptian Theater – The festival will conclude with a screening of the winning films from each category, the Committee Choice Award and Audience Choice award. (Tickets $5)

To find more information and printable schedules, visit www.niu.edu/greenlens.

by Gillian King-Cargile

Date posted: April 17, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on Green Lens Environmental Film Festival offers six-day celebration, awareness of Mother Earth

Categories: Arts Community Communiversity Engagement Events Latest News On Campus Science and Technology

Photo of a credit card with a golden gift bowAn Irish pub might be the last place you’d expect to learn about your finances, but Northern Illinois University is ready to change that perception with a fun and innovative program called “Money Math: Using Credit Wisely.”

This free community event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at Claddagh Irish Pub, 1702 Commons Dr. in Geneva Commons.

“Money Math” is part of NIU’s STEM Café series, monthly talks where people can eat, drink and have lively discussions about the latest research in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Organizers stress that the events are not formal lectures. University experts move away from the podium and into local restaurants and encourage audience members to engage in casual, free-flowing conversations.

NIU’s STEM Outreach department has been hosting these popular events in DeKalb, Sycamore, Maple Park and Geneva for the past year. Their topics have included everything from the Asian Carp invasion of Illinois rivers to the future of space exploration.

At the event at Claddagh Irish Pub, experts will focus on the science of finance. Judge John H. Squires and attorneys Janice Alwin and Donna Wallace, bankruptcy experts, will provide a lively, lighthearted presentation about making credit work for you, affording debt and living debt-free.

Money Smart Week logoThe group uses humor and visual aids like advertisements to share information on why it pays to save early and often. Organizers say that participants will learn how to manage credit and debt in financially sound ways while avoiding the pitfalls of credit misuse and excessive debt.

The event is free and open to the public. Throughout the evening, food and drinks will be available for purchase from Claddagh Irish Pub.

“Money Math: Using Credit Wisely” is being presented in observance of The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Money Smart Week®, which takes place from Sunday, April 21, through Satruday, April 27.

For more information on NIU’s future outreach programs and up-coming STEM Cafés, contact Judith Dymond at jdymond@niu.edu.

Date posted: April 3, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on NIU to host ‘Money Math: Using Credit Wisely’ STEM Café at Claddagh Irish Pub in Geneva

Categories: Communiversity Engagement Events What's Going On

edcamp logoEducators are invited to attend edcamp Northern Illinois, a day of free professional development that offers opportunities to share new classroom techniques, discuss teaching innovations, and make connections with like-minded professionals.

This innovation in professional development will be held Saturday, April 20, at Kaneland Harter Middle School in Sugar Grove. The event is open to K-12 teachers and administrators, university faculty and NIU teacher candidates.

In contrast to traditional professional development that incorporates external speakers and experts, NIU is looking to recruit local experts to share innovative ideas that are being put into practice across the region.

NIU planners of edcamp Northern Illinois include the Center for P-20 Engagement, External and Global Programs Office in the College of Education, Partnership Office in the College of Education and the Professional Development Schools Office in the NIU University Office of Teacher Certification.

Tris Ottolino, Professional Development Schools (PDS) coordinator, says edcamp Northern Illinois will include a unique group of participants.

Tris Ottolino and Kristin Brynteson

Tris Ottolino and Kristin Brynteson

“K-12 teacher and university faculty usually attend separate conferences, and teacher candidates do not often participate in professional conferences of this type. Edcamp will offer sessions for people working at NIU’s PDS sites. I am delighted that several of our co-teaching pairs, classroom teachers and candidates who work together throughout the school year, have volunteered to lead sessions on PDS issues, successes, and challenges.”

“Edcamp Northern Illinois is not your typical conference,” says Kristin Brynteson, assistant director of the P-20 Center. “The format is based on an ‘unconference’ model that focuses on participant-driven programming in a high-tech, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environment.”

Instead of attending the usual panel or lecture presentations, edcamp participants will decide what topics are most important to them and then engage in free-flowing conversations about those topics. Organizers expect the discussions to focus on shared challenges for area school districts such as implementing Common Core Standards, technology in the classroom, professional development schools, co-teaching, and conducting action research.

Here’s how an edcamp works:

  • Before the conference, educators who register to attend may suggest topics for sessions.
  • In the first hour of the conference, participants get to know each other and vote on the topics they want to discuss.
  • During each session, participants are encouraged to “vote with their feet,” meaning that if they do not find a topic valuable, they can jump to another conversation.

Edcamps are also marked by their use of social media.

Throughout the sessions, participants are encouraged to tweet ideas at #edcampNI and to share session materials and related weblinks on Edmodo, a social networking site for educators. Organizers hope to create an ongoing online community where participants will continue to share ideas and strengthen professional ties after the conference ends.

“This model saves school districts money and takes the commercialization out of the conference experience. There is no vendor floor. It’s not about getting a bunch of swag in another free tote bag. It’s about the energy, and ideas, and connections that teachers will make,” Brynteson says.

“The most valuable ideas I bring home from most conferences come from discussions I’ve had in the hallways outside of sessions, at lunches, even in the lobby at the end of the day. These conversations are the times when people come alive and spark ideas off one another,” she adds. “We wanted to bring that kind of energy to edcamp.”

Sharon Smaldino and Terry Borg

Sharon Smaldino and Terry Borg

Sharon Smaldino, Morgridge chair and director of the College of Education’s Office of Partnerships, works regularly with partner schools throughout northern Illinois and was excited to help provide a platform for them to share innovative ideas.

“By bringing NIU’s students and researchers together with educators, we can share knowledge across the teaching spectrum. Each group brings a unique prospective to the conversation and every group can learn something new.”

Terry Borg, director of the External and Global Programs Office in the College of Education, says he hopes participants will come away with strong, actionable ideas that are useful right away: “ We want you to learn something on Saturday that you try out in the classroom on Monday.”

Edcamp Northern Illinois will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kaneland Harter Middle School, 1601 Esker Drive. Lunch will be provided to all participants at no charge.

Educators can learn more and register to attend at edcamp Northern Illinois and follow #edcampNI on Twitter for up-to-date announcements.

Edcamp Northern Illinois sponsors include SimpleK12 and Flocabulary.com. The sponsors are providing door prizes and free subscriptions to edcamp participants. Other interested sponsors should contact Brynteson at kbrynteson@niu.edu.

by Gillian King-Cargile

Date posted: March 25, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on ‘Edcamp Northern Illinois’ to provide free day of professional development for area educators

Categories: Centerpiece Community Communiversity Education Engagement Events Faculty & Staff Liberal Arts and Sciences

Photo of a woman in glasses next to a eye chartEyes get old, just like other parts of the body, but people can take steps to preserve vision.

“Eventually, we all develop cataracts,” says James Dillon, an NIU expert on eyes.

At the next STEM Café, Dillon will speak on how the eye changes with age and what people can do to slow the deterioration of vision.  His talk, “For Your Eyes Only,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at Eduardo’s Restaurant, 214 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

In addition to explaining the amazing biological process that allows us to see, Dillon will share practical advice on protecting the eyes. For instance, he says that many sunglasses on the market today do not provide protection from ultra-violet rays, which can harm vision. He will also discuss changes in vision before and after cataract surgery.

“For Your Eyes Only” is the first in a series of STEM Cafés dealing with health and disease research. A future session will include the latest scientific perspectives on glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other conditions that diminish vision in older adults.

James Dillon

James Dillon

Dillon has conducted extensive research on the human lens, the retina, and eye disease.  He directs NIU’s Center for Biochemical and Biophysical Studies, which emphasizes projects related to human health.  The Center includes faculty members and students from a number of departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Health and Human Sciences. Dillon earned his Ph.D. at Columbia University.

This talk is one of NIU STEM Outreach’s popular monthly STEM Cafés, which invite people to meet at restaurants throughout the area to eat, drink, and have lively discussions about the latest innovations in science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM Cafés are free and open to the public. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Eduardo’s.

STEM Outreach is also planning several STEM Cafés in April to share the latest research on everything from ground water to credit card debt.

  • Saturday, April 20, 1 p.m.: “The Impact of Tourism on Ecosystems” –  Lincoln Inn in DeKalb
  • Tuesday, April 23, 6:30 p.m.: “Be Smart about Using Credit and Debt” – Claddagh Irish Pub at Geneva Commons
  • Thursday, April 25, 5 p.m.: STEM Café will join the Green Lens Environmental Film Festival in Downtown DeKalb for several short discussions about going green.

Learn about these and other upcoming STEM Outreach programs by contacting Judith Dymond at jdymond@niu.edu or visiting www.niu.edu/stem.

Date posted: March 11, 2013 | Author: | Comments Off on For Your Eyes Only!

Categories: Community Communiversity Engagement Events Health and Human Sciences Liberal Arts and Sciences

Stock imagery of seven young childrenTaking a preview course before starting training for a new career is a little like taking a new car for a test drive – informative and helpful.

Northern Illinois University’s Department of Special and Early Education in the College of Education is offering people the chance to “test drive” the Early Childhood Studies program by enrolling in a special preview course in the 2013 spring semester.

The preview course will be offered at the University Center of Lake County (UCLC) and will introduce potential students to the full Early Childhood Studies bachelor’s degree program that will begin at UCLC in spring 2014.

Meryl Sussman, NIU’s director of Undergraduate Programs for Adults, says that the preview course is part of a great opportunity for students in the Chicago area to earn an NIU degree close to where they live and work.

“The spring preview course and the full program, which will be offered at UCLC in spring 2014, will bring a new opportunity to the residents in and around Lake County. Students who live near Chicago previously did not have access to this premier education program – a program for which NIU is nationally known,” Sussman says.

“NIU is reaching out to students through our regional centers and our community partners to offer the same high-quality programs for students on campus, off campus and throughout Northern Illinois.”

The preview course, “Observation and Assessment of Young Children,” gives people interested in early childhood education an overview of various techniques for understanding learning needs and helps them begin to prepare for careers as teachers and advocates for young children and their families.

Meryl Sussman and Maylan Dunn-Kenney

Meryl Sussman and Maylan Dunn-Kenney

Students will learn to:

  • observe children carefully and record observations.
  • select appropriate assessment tools for different kinds of lessons and purposes.
  • keep careful and well-organized assessment results.
  • create a complete profile of a child from a portfolio of assessments.
  • understand the value and limitations of standardized tests.
  • use assessment in customizing instruction as required by the Response to Intervention mandate.

Students who enroll in the preview course can apply the credits they earn this spring toward a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education by continuing into the full program at UCLC in spring 2014 or by enrolling in the full program at NIU’s DeKalb campus in fall 2013.

Both the on- and off-campus programs were prepared by specialists in child development and early childhood education. Both programs also lead to a Letter of Approval in Preschool Special Education, which can help graduates find careers in that rapidly growing field.

According to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the need for Early Childhood Special Education teachers is very high. “Recent legislation has provided for more jobs,” reports the CEC, “with many grants being awarded to non-profit agencies targeted at ‘seeking out’ this population of children and serving them more effectively.”

Photo of a young child's "B" alphabet blockMaylan Dunn-Kenney, coordinator of Early Childhood Education, is excited about helping students start on the path to becoming teachers. “The Early Childhood Studies program provides students with the tools they need to help children grow, learn and thrive,” Dunn-Kenney says.

Recent graduates of NIU’s Early Childhood Studies program have found success as Pre-K through third-grade teachers, Head Start educators and administrators, school district early childhood coordinators, teaching consultants, intervention specialists and more.

Dunn-Kenney attributes that success to the wide variety of skills students learn in the program: “Students leave the program versatile, capable, and able to innovate. That’s just what you need in a dynamic field like early childhood.”

To learn more about the spring 2013 semester preview course, contact the Department of Special and Early Education immediately at (815) 753-1619 or seed@niu.edu. Applications for this course are due in early December. To meet this deadline, the College of Education’s staff are prepared to help interested people move quickly and smoothly through the application process.

To learn more about programs and careers in Early Childhood Education, visit the Department of Special & Early Education’s home page or its Academic Programs page.

by Gillian King-Cargile

Date posted: November 27, 2012 | Author: | Comments Off on NIU to offer preview in Early Childhood Studies next spring at University Center of Lake County

Categories: Community Communiversity Degree Completion Programs Education Engagement Latest News NIU Hoffman Estates NIU Naperville NIU Rockford

Sociology offers year-round opportunities for students to get involved in human-service-related programs. For nearly 25 years, the department has sponsored an alternative spring-break trip to Pensacola, Fla., where students have constructed more than 50 houses with Habitat for Humanity.

Sociology offers year-round opportunities for students to get involved in human-service-related programs. For nearly 25 years, the department has sponsored an alternative spring-break trip to Pensacola, Fla., where students have constructed more than 50 houses with Habitat for Humanity.

The Department of Sociology, in conjunction with the Sociology Student Advisory Committee and the NIU Criminal Justice Club, kicks off the 10th annual Sociology Week event tonight.

Sociology Week is being held in rooms 505 and 506 or the Holmes Student Center from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, through Thursday, Nov. 15.

The programs showcase sociology faculty and more than a dozen alumni and offer students from across the campus information on sociology-based internships, careers, volunteer opportunities, and the importance of sociological research on social issues. Current sociology majors and students who are interested in pursuing careers in sociology are encouraged to attend these free events.

Sociology Week was created by now-retired Sociology Department chair Kay Forest as a way of demonstrating the unlimited opportunities open to students who major in sociology. Current chair, Kirk Miller, is excited that the program continues to offer learning opportunities to students today.

“We are thrilled that Sociology Week is marking its 10th anniversary with another fantastic program,” Miller says. “This year’s events are again full of excellent student-centered speakers.”

The program provides solid information and networking opportunities for students who want to take the next step toward a sociology career, Miller says.

“For 10 years, Sociology Week has linked NIU alumni who are practicing sociology in their careers in the region with current students on campus.”

Sociology students have attained internships and study abroad experiences in places like this school in Sierra Leone.

Sociology students have attained internships and study abroad experiences in places like this school in Sierra Leone.

This year, a variety of alumni will talk about their careers as volunteer coordinators for non-profits, county health department directors, district loss prevention managers and more.

“In addition, we have added faculty speakers and a session on grad school and the Sociology master’s program, which we know students want to know more about,” Miller says.

Keri Burchfield, director of graduate studies, says “tonight’s Sociology Week panel will be a nice preview of Friday’s first-ever Sociology MA Program Open House. Both will provide information about the value of an MA in Sociology from NIU and what students can expect from the degree program.” Burchfield encourages interested students to RSVP to Friday’s Open House.

Sociology Week also offers opportunities for students to meet with faculty and alumni in more casual settings.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, students can attend a meet-and-greet at Pizza Pros and get their questions answered while enjoying free pizza. From 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, students can again chat with faculty and alumni from at Tapa La Luna. The Tapa La Luna event features music by Jill Sanderson and the Stat Cats. Sociology-themed drinks will also be available for purchase.

Get more information and see the full schedule of events at the Sociology home page the NIU Sociology Facebook page, or contact sociology internship coordinator Jack King at (815) 753-6440 or jackking@niu.edu.

Date posted: November 13, 2012 | Author: | Comments Off on Free presentations, networking opportunities await students interested in sociology careers

Categories: Alumni Communiversity Events Humanities Latest News Liberal Arts and Sciences On Campus Students