Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Campus Equity Week: 10/24 - 10/30/11
Campus Equity Week is October 24 – 30 this year. It’s about equal pay for equal work and benefits for part-time faculty.
WE NEED YOUR STORIES: Part-Time Faculty work under conditions which most people would find unacceptable: classes cancelled with no notice and no replacement work; the month of October, during which most of us get NO PAY, even though many of us worked during the summer; no health insurance and no paid sick days, and more. Please send your anecdotes to Barry Edwards at barry.edwards3@mac.com no later than October 15 (sooner is better). He will collect them and give them to Mark Bony and/or Gary DeRoest for posting on the Community College website.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Combatting Larger Class Sizes
From our OEA Consultant, Brett Nair . . .
Large class size weighing you down? Looking for ways to work smarter and not just harder and longer?
Here’s a preview of things you will find at this link:
Large class size weighing you down? Looking for ways to work smarter and not just harder and longer?
Go to the OEA Website to explore practical and specific tips for teaching large class sizes for K-12 teachers and paraprofessionals as well as community college faculty:
Here’s a preview of things you will find at this link:
ü Create specific, seamless procedures for attendance, collecting or distributing papers, asking questions, etc. that utilize student helpers. Give reinforcement, extra credit, etc. to helpers that perform their duties without distraction, reminding or interrupting. Develop a system for changing helpers.
ü As much as possible reduce the “feeling of overcrowding” that can affect learning and limit movement in the classroom by removing or replacing oversized or unnecessary furniture. This also allows you, the teacher, to move around the room getting closer to as many students as possible and making the class “feel” smaller to the students.
ü Be sure to develop in your classroom management system, routines and ground rules for movement around the classroom (passing assignments in, sharpening your pencil, entering and exiting, etc.) as well as activities or tasks that students are routinely expected to do at their desks when they enter to minimize crowding.
ü Group projects encourage rich, inclusive and interactive learning that, if you can manage it well, will motivate a large classroom. Be sure to structure it so that each group is also judged, graded, awarded points daily for working well together and including everyone, but be very specific about what that “looks like” and reinforce it consistently.
ü To allow for differentiation and to minimize volumes of papers to grade, you can create menu options for ways to complete an assignment (problems/questions in a text, essay of the major points, flow charts/diagrams or pictures with explanations, point/counterpoint outlines, etc.) and then create and manage an in-class review committee for each type of assignment choice. Students group themselves in the review committee that matches their assignment choice. Give each committee clear and rigorous guidelines for how to review each assignment. They can “grade” them in three categories of exceeds, meets or needs improvement. You can then do a very quick review of their assessments to determine accuracy and intervention strategies.
Faculty Unions at Southern Illinois-Carbondale Are Ready to Walk Out
From the Chronicle of Higher Education Blog "The Ticker" 11-07-11
Faculty Unions at Southern Illinois-Carbondale Are Ready to Walk Out
October 6, 2011, 4:13 pm
All three unions representing instructors at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale are now authorized by their members to strike. On Wednesday, 83 percent of the members of the non-tenure-track faculty association who voted on the question authorized a strike by their leadership. The result brings that union into line with those representing graduate assistants, tenured and tenure-track faculty members, and civil-service employees, whose members voted last week to authorize strikes.
Faculty Unions at Southern Illinois-Carbondale Are Ready to Walk Out
October 6, 2011, 4:13 pm
All three unions representing instructors at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale are now authorized by their members to strike. On Wednesday, 83 percent of the members of the non-tenure-track faculty association who voted on the question authorized a strike by their leadership. The result brings that union into line with those representing graduate assistants, tenured and tenure-track faculty members, and civil-service employees, whose members voted last week to authorize strikes.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Back to School and the Winter Blues
by Ivan L. Mancinelli-Franconi, Ph.D
When in doubt always call your doctor.
Light Therapy:
Studies support light therapy as an effective modality for treating winter blues. Vitamin D is a vitamin the body needs to function properly and one way of absorbing it is from the sun’s rays through the skin. Sunlight passes through the eyelids and the pineal gland, found in the brain, process it. The pineal gland then secretes melatonin and passed through the bloodstream. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter biochemically derived from tryptophan, is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system. Serotonin and melatonin work together to help the body’s daily rhythm as well as its immunity, body temperature, blood pressure and blood clotting, sleep/wake cycles and pain. The lack of sun affects our body’s hormonal balance causing the dreaded winter blues.
People suffering from winter blues can absorb the needed light through light boxes/lamps especially designed to emit light that is similar to the sun's natural light. The high intensity of light produced by these boxes/lamps improves a person's mood and behavior. Commercially-available balanced-spectrum lights are ideal and easier on the eyes.
Some people who have difficulty waking up and when they do wake up feel tired and depressed might need a “dawn simulator.” This is a computerized device that is attached to your nightstand lamp. You program it so about 30--45 minutes before you want to wake up, the light from this devise begins to slowly fill your bedroom with sunshine.
Color therapy
Red, Orange and yellow are colors associated with the sun and can be used to enhance your home and wardrobe to bring in the energy of the sun.
Make your home and office cheery places that uplift your spirits:
Diet
People undergoing depression get urges to eat food that has high-sugar content and gives temporary boost, yet shortly after decreases the energy.
Eat healthy food:
Exercise
Alternative medicine
St. John’s Wort has been traditionally used for treating mild depression. Chamomile, Valerian root and Skullcap, are used as sedatives and sleep aids. These are used either in tinctures or teas. Lavender, when inhaled releases serotonin and calms your body.
If you want to use alternative medicine, such as herbs and tinctures, ALWAYS talk with your doctor before as the herbs and tinctures might not be compatible with other medications you are taking. Some people are also allergic to some herbs. Recovered alcoholics should not take tinctures as they are made with alcohol. Ask for the glycerin-based tinctures instead.
Sources:
Ivan Mancinelli-Franconi, Ph.D is a mental health and alternative medicine practitioner.
www.mancinelliandassociates.com
360-993-1666
imancinelli@imancinelli.com
by Ivan L. Mancinelli-Franconi, Ph.D
As we enter fall and winter seasons, and the days get shorter, our spirit, or mood also change. Many people experience mood and behavioral changes accompanied by feelings of exhaustion. Some people are deeply affected by the lack of sunlight, experiencing “Winter Blues.” Winter Blues is most often associated with not being able to be outside as much, unpleasant memories of past holiday events, and not being able to be with one’s loved ones. “Winter Blues,” may last a few days, but may also last throughout the whole winter season. Some people may experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a disorder that prevents people from functioning normally without medical and/or psychological help and it is caused by lack of exposure to the sun. Depressive episodes lasting more than 2 weeks and compounded by other physiological symptoms, e.g., irregular sleep pattern, unable to get out of bed, lack of appetite, suicidal thoughts, etc., require medical attention and may need medication.
In some people Winter Blues causes depression and lack of energy. This compromises the immune system lowering your defenses and making you more susceptible to colds or flus.
When in doubt always call your doctor.
There are several things you can do to fight the winter blues.
Studies support light therapy as an effective modality for treating winter blues. Vitamin D is a vitamin the body needs to function properly and one way of absorbing it is from the sun’s rays through the skin. Sunlight passes through the eyelids and the pineal gland, found in the brain, process it. The pineal gland then secretes melatonin and passed through the bloodstream. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter biochemically derived from tryptophan, is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system. Serotonin and melatonin work together to help the body’s daily rhythm as well as its immunity, body temperature, blood pressure and blood clotting, sleep/wake cycles and pain. The lack of sun affects our body’s hormonal balance causing the dreaded winter blues.
People suffering from winter blues can absorb the needed light through light boxes/lamps especially designed to emit light that is similar to the sun's natural light. The high intensity of light produced by these boxes/lamps improves a person's mood and behavior. Commercially-available balanced-spectrum lights are ideal and easier on the eyes.
Some people who have difficulty waking up and when they do wake up feel tired and depressed might need a “dawn simulator.” This is a computerized device that is attached to your nightstand lamp. You program it so about 30--45 minutes before you want to wake up, the light from this devise begins to slowly fill your bedroom with sunshine.
Color therapy
Red, Orange and yellow are colors associated with the sun and can be used to enhance your home and wardrobe to bring in the energy of the sun.
Make your home and office cheery places that uplift your spirits:
- The color red encourages activity while raising your body’s metabolism.
- The color orange has been traditionally associated with joy/happiness and healing grief. Think of Halloween and the Orange-colored pumpkins, and the bright yellow-orange blossoms of the Marigold sacred to the dead in Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos.
- The color yellow is known to alleviate depression by stimulating the mind. The color yellow clears the mind so it can think better. Some believe yellow relieves headaches.
- Add plants that are cheerful and add a touch of spring in your home by bringing nature indoors. Use water fountains and chimes also.
Diet
People undergoing depression get urges to eat food that has high-sugar content and gives temporary boost, yet shortly after decreases the energy.
- Eat foods that are naturally high in carbohydrates ( pasta, rice, legumes, and fruits).
- Eat whole grain breads, corn and potatoes which are rich in starch.
- Eat foods high in Vitamin D to increase serotonin levels.
- Use B-complex vitamin supplements - the brain and nervous system need to be charged.
- Get plenty of exercise to reduce stress and elevate your mood.
- Exercise has been long known to increase serotonin levels. Only one-hour of exercise outdoor is equivalent to 2.5 hours of indoor light therapy.
- Take a short vacation or get away on the week end to do some outdoor activities, either skiing or hiking.
- When indoor exercise using your stationary bike, treadmill or rowing machine. Do chores you have postponed for months.
Alternative medicine
St. John’s Wort has been traditionally used for treating mild depression. Chamomile, Valerian root and Skullcap, are used as sedatives and sleep aids. These are used either in tinctures or teas. Lavender, when inhaled releases serotonin and calms your body.
If you want to use alternative medicine, such as herbs and tinctures, ALWAYS talk with your doctor before as the herbs and tinctures might not be compatible with other medications you are taking. Some people are also allergic to some herbs. Recovered alcoholics should not take tinctures as they are made with alcohol. Ask for the glycerin-based tinctures instead.
- Holistic Online- Color Therapy. http://www.holisticonline.com
- National center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort
- National Mental Health Institute, The. http://www.nimh.nih.gov
- Winter Blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder, What it is and how to cure it. (1993). Norman Rosenthal. New York: Guilford Press.
Ivan Mancinelli-Franconi, Ph.D is a mental health and alternative medicine practitioner.
Washington State Mental Health Practitioner/Consultant
University Psychology Professorwww.mancinelliandassociates.com
360-993-1666
imancinelli@imancinelli.com
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Arne Duncan Town Forum (Oct 12th)
Dear friends and leaders:
Think before you print
Many of you know about this already, but OEA is hosting a town hall exclusively for OEA members about public education policy in our state and the nation. The event is being held due to the arrival of U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan in our city this upcoming Tuesday, October 12, 2011. Mr. Duncan will be present to hear directly from OEA members in K12 and community colleges about the challenges our members face in our schools and colleges. While the date of Mr. Duncan’s visit has been known for while, it’s only recently that the event has been confirmed with Secretary Duncan and his staff.
Duncan is in town to meet with the Oregon Business Alliance over dinner to thank them for their success on their education agenda in the last session of the legislature. OEA members and activists have seen this agenda translate into decreased funding, increased class sizes and an even greater intrusion of a private-sector model of education into schools and colleges. This meeting is our opportunity to let Arne Duncan and the President know that the dream of quality public education and popular democracy is under threat.
OEA is canvassing members about what questions Mr. Duncan should be asked to publicly respond to. We need your help to identify those questions. All OEA members can leave a question by using the link in the email below, or by emailing a question to myself – I will pass any questions I get on to my hard-working fellow staff responsible for coordinating the event.
The event will be held near the location of two of our largest community college employers – Clackamas Community College and Mt Hood Community College. We very much hope that we can get as many of our members from those two locals to attend by asking people to get a ticket to the event as per the email appended below this message. The tickets are free. Please encourage members of your Association to go as well.
For local Associations unable to attend due to distance, OEA is asking for members to submit questions. Also, we expect to have other ways for locals some distance away to participate – via live feed over the internet, and also via a signed petition. I hope to have details about that out shortly.
I will be in touch with you about this event again over the next few days. In the meantime, best wishes to you for the new term and for your families. Thank you for everything you do to build a strong voice for education professionals in Oregon’s community colleges.
In Solidarity,
--
Brett Nair
Community College Consultant
6900 SW Atlanta St
Portland, OR 97223
(503)684-3300 (w)
(503)495-2150 (f)
"I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops. "
-Stephen Jay Gould
From: Oregon Education Association [mailto:webadmin=oregoned.org@mail8.us1.mcsv.net] On Behalf Of Oregon Education Association
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 6:01 PM
To: Nair, Brett (OR)
Subject: Arne Duncan to Meet With Oregon Educators: Get Your Ticket Now!
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 6:01 PM
To: Nair, Brett (OR)
Subject: Arne Duncan to Meet With Oregon Educators: Get Your Ticket Now!
October 3, 2011 | |
|
Working relationships
I'm so grateful to Abe and Catherine for starting a dialogue (which should be continued on the blog, by the way). I too, am looking forward to building a relationship with Admin, who I think is great. I have been meeting with some of them for a year; now I will begin to meet more often with HR, Joanne (the president), the other associations, and other governing bodies. Nobody wants a positive working relationship that I, and I beleive it can be done.
I apologize for not giving out enough bargaining info. Abe, you're right- just saying "it's hurtful" does more harm than good. When I give bargaining messages, I wrestle with giving out some info and not saying too much, ex-parte. We are not permitted to discussing bargaining outside of actual bargaining. This insures an open process with no behind-the-scenes deal-making. I'm a little green, so I'm not sure what can be said over email and what should be kept confidential. Regarding the "hurtful" comment, it is in reference to admin's decision to undermine our seniority rights by having certain language in the contract that undermines our seniority rights. How's that for transparent! :-)
Another item about bargaining and moodiness: it's hard work. For a year, I stayed distant, professional and quiet while I learned the ropes. In fairness to all parties, I'm proud to say I formed my own opinions. Having said that, there comes a time when you put so much work and energy into something that it does become personal and therefore encouraging and/or disappointing. Where does one draw the line between non-personal wrok issues and fighting for our values as an institution. To fight for values, one has to take it personally.
At any rate, I'm eager for our association to have many conversations over the next year so I can get to know you, and determine our needs and wants.
PS- I really, truly am working on reducing the number of emails :-)
Monday, October 3, 2011
Advocacy Conference 10/22/11
Learn about education reform, filing grievances, organizing, and bargaining. Either the PTFA or the OEA will reimburse your hotel, gas and meals. See the website for more details, and types of workshops.
You can register at this same website. The first 5 people are free!!! (however, if you back out, the association will have to pay $30.00)
Sunday, October 2, 2011
October 12 visit with U.S. secretary of education
We are excited to let you know that today we have confirmed
that OEA Members will be meeting with Arne Duncan on Wednesday, October
12th! We will have more information for you by the end of the week
on the logistics, but this is what we know today:
WHO: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and OEA
Members (this will be a ticketed event and limited to OEA Members) --- We are
looking for a venue that can hold several hundred people and with ample
parking.
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, October 12th
from 4:45 – 6:15 p.m.
LOCATION: TBD --- But, a metro area location that has
adequate parking so that OEA members from surrounding areas can arrive quickly
after school.
FORMAT: We expect this meeting to take shape like a town hall, with an opportunity for OEA to: 1) Share our stories about what is happening in Oregon’s schools; 2) and to ask questions about the state of education reform and its impact on student achievement today.
For purposes of a well-organized meeting with Secretary
Duncan, we invite UniServs to submit 1-2 questions to OEA-GR@oregoned.org
along with your name (local leader) and the name and contact information (cell
phone & personal email address) of someone from your UniServ that will be
able to attend the meeting and potentially ask your UniServ’s question.
Your UniServ’s questions should focus on: The state of
education reform and its impact on student achievement today. We will be using
stories submitted by OEA members about the start of their school year.
There will be time for 8-12 questions and we would like your help to ensure that the questions represent the concerns of members from across the state and that they are thoughtfully constructed so that we can get as many answered as possible. Our purpose is not to edit, but to have a purposeful discussion with Secretary Duncan.
We will have more information for you by the end of this
week, confirming a location and other logistics.
Thank you!
Director for
Public Affairs
Direct (503)495-2115
Cell (503)510-3153
Director for
Public Affairs
Direct (503)495-2115
Cell (503)510-3153
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