Ian Dowty’s project from his Winter Term program is a great example of how to use the scholarship award.
By Kaely Holloway College Heights Herald
With hopes to broaden their horizons, learn another culture and research the natural wildlife of the Amazon River area, five students and two faculty went abroad over winter term to Iquitos, Peru. There, they not only studied and developed in their coursework, but they also gained personal experiences that left them wanting to return for more.
Read more… http://wkuherald.com/news/article_157d6f5e-74a1-11e2-9dd8-001a4bcf6878.html
WKU faculty members Dr. Jane Olmsted and Dr. S. Kay Gandy directed a collaborative faculty-led study abroad project in Peru titled “Community, Place, and Leadership on the Amazon Frontier” during the Winter Term 2013.
True to its vision to be a leading American university with international reach, WKU offers students numerous opportunities to engage in hands-on learning throughout the world. Through Faculty-Led Study Abroad (FLSA), WKU faculty members are able to expand their classrooms beyond campus borders, allowing students to travel and learn alongside fellow students.
Read More…http://wkunews.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/flsa-winterterm2013/
Thanks for Susan Esters for spreading the word!
For many WKU students, Winter Break means more than just a pause from college life and classes. The time off can also be an opportunity to travel, learn more about their world and earn additional college credit through Study Away courses. This January over 34 WKU students took advantage of Study Away opportunities during Winter Term, studying in New York City, Pasadena/San Francisco or New Orleans/Galveston.
Fifty-six WKU students received a total of $17,100 in scholarship funds to participate in Faculty-Led Study Abroad (FLSA) courses during winter 2013. The funds were provided through a new scholarship award offered by WKU Extended Learning & Outreach (DELO).
Read more…
As non credit programs begin to be a more important focus, the combined DELO staffs of Lifelong Learning and Career and Workforce Development have contracted with ASTD to enhance the skills and professionalism of a selected group of new and existing instructors.
ASTD is delivering their flagship course-ASTD Training Certificate Plus- delivered by one of their top expert facilitators, Marcia Jackson. This four-day workshop is a practical, how-to overview of the entire training function. It prepares new trainers with critical training skills and introduces seasoned practitioners to the latest techniques for delivering powerful training.
The ASTD Training Certificate content is practical and grounded in the real world, not just academic theory. ASTD uses all of the latest tools and research available to deliver training that delivers results on the job. The ASTD Training Certificate focuses on what happens before, during, and after you deliver training, and what to do if training is not the right solution.
As you can see from the pictures, Marcia kept them busy!
WKU’s Study Away partners with faculty and departments to administer faculty-led study abroad programs. At this point we show the following levels of participation for Winter Term 2013:
Programs: 8 http://www.wku.edu/flsa/programs/
Students: 128 (includes credit and one noncredit group)
American Travelers: 11 (noncredit participants)
Program Leaders: 30
Total: 169
This is the first Winter Term that DELO has supported faculty-led study abroad programs. We look forward to adding options with over 27 more programs actively in-progress through the Summer of 2014.
Happy Holidays! This has been a semester to remember for the Division – we’ve made record strides in enrollment growth in distance learning, in dual credit, cohort and incubator programs, and notable successes in summer sessions, and independent learning. Manon and Sharon in our new unit, Continuing & Professional Development worked hard this year to develop and implement a reorganization of our non-credit outreach into what, I believe, will be an outstanding asset to WKU through great support of educational outreach programs. Manon retired this year and now Sharon has decided to leave us as well for beachier weather. We will miss both of you. Your accomplishments and contributions to workforce development and lifelong learning to this region have been exceptional. We in DELO pride ourselves on taking the University into the community and connecting the community with our University – Manon’s and Sharon’s work epitomizes the best of what we hope to live through support WKU’s mission by providing lifelong learning opportunities for our constituents in this community, knowing that our community reaches around the globe.
We have new faces in Conference Services and in the coming weeks, there will be more. As we support Alumni Affairs with conference needs at the Augenstein Alumni Center, forge a closer relationship with our catering partner, Aramark, and work with groups on multiple day events in partnership with Staybridge Suites, Conference Services will strive to support our mission as well. I know good things will come in the new year! I joke about my job, that I spend a lot of time eating, breakfast meetings, lunch meetings, dinner, and on, but at least the food and the space are excellent! We are truly lucky to have such a wonderful work environment and to be able to support this type of environment for WKU and our community!
Distance Learning is always out there, living on the cutting edge – of technology, of teaching and learning, of assessment. We’ll launch our first MOOC with Dr. Mike Stokes this spring. We will be having campus conversations about MOOCs and open educational resources this spring and hope that we can engage faculty and staff in this conversation to help the folks in DL better support the next “big” thing, whatever that may be!
As I reflect back on this year, I feel so lucky to work with such an amazing group of people! You make this place great – it is a pleasure to share the field of educational outreach with you! Have a happy break!
Independent Learning hosted their Spring Registration Kick-off December 4th and 5th. Tables were set-up in MMTH and in Garrett Conference Center. Students were given information about on demand courses offered through Independent Learning as well as ear headphones.
There are over 100 graduate and undergraduate courses delivered through WKU On Demand and students can finish in as little as 7 weeks. For more information, contact the Office of Independent Learning at 1-800-535-5928 or www.wku.edu/il.
