ESL Department Flexday, Fall 2014

Wednesday, August 27th, 8:30-3p

ESL 103

Minutes

Present: Melody, Alex, Trisha, Vickie, Eunhye, Lois, Ed, Rena, Sarah, Christina J., John, Richard, Laila, Jessup, Bahiyyih, Andrea K., Anita, Keith, Liz, Tracey, Michael, Andrea S., Debbie L., LeeAnne, Maria, Judy, Matthew, Sheri, Naomi, Deborah W., Janet, Sharon, Emily, Toni, Julia, Christine H.

Announcements & General Information:

  • Welcome our new fulltime faculty, LeeAnne Langton and part-time faculty, Marilyn Lee, Ed Morrow, and Timme Jacobs
  • Mailboxes have been re-alphabetized, so make sure you’re using the correct one; Toni Randall’s mailbox has moved to the wall next to the storage room beneath Pam’s mailbox
  • Enrollment at the college is down 1%, but international student FTES rose by 2%, so that has helped both the college and our department as far as classes filling
  • If you haven’t already done so, please email Toni youroffice hours/location for F14
  • New instructors and some continuing instructors are due forpeer evaluations; they have already been notified
  • All instructors should receive training from the Media Center personnel before using thenew equipment in rooms; there is a special session for the ESL Dept scheduled Sept 5, 11-11:30 in ESL 103; if you cannot attend, please make arrangements with the Media Center
  • It is vital that we protect the new media equipment in our classrooms, so please close and lock windows when you leave an ESL classroom that isn’t occupied immediate following your class
  • If you encounter problems with the new media equipment, call the extension on the cart from the classroom phone (that way, they know where you are without you having to tell them).
  • If you are in an ESL classroom when we are notified of a lockdown, please immediately disengage the push bar on the TWO front doors. That will prevent anyone from entering. Also, close the windows, draw the blinds, and turn out the lights.
  • If you experience an emergency in the classroom, call Campus Police from the classroom telephone. There’s a speed-dial button on the classroom phone, so you don’t need to memorize their phone # (which is 434-4300).
  • If you plan to use the Faculty Computer Lab to update your eCompanion shells, create syllabi, etc. be advised that they have moved temporarily to DH302.
  • Friday, Aug 29th is VIP day; many thanks to Alex, Matthew, Trisha, Andrea K., Keith, and LeeAnne for hosting the ESL table
  • The Dept has been awarded a new FT position for F15; the application process will begin in early October and end in late November with interviews held over the winter intersession; all part-time faculty interested in a full-time position are urged to apply!
  • Carpeting/painting of the ESL classrooms will be done in winter
  • Flex sheets are now completed online
  • Sp15 teaching requests are due to Toni Friday, Sept 12th
  • The Randy Larson Scholarship Fund – make your check out to Janet or the Foundation or give her cash; she is delivering a card from the Dept today
  • Z drive for Pathways online materials will be installed on all computers
  • Liz, Anita, Maria were chosen to participate in the FSI event this summer; they felt it was positive and worthwhile
  • ESL/Eng C.E. meeting, Friday, Oct 10th, 10-1, BUS111
  • This year's objectives:
  • Objective 1: Increase success rates in ESL11A, 11B, 21A, and 21B by modifying content to include: 1) a more systematic approach to teaching vocabulary from the Academic Word List; 2) more comprehensive grammar instruction; and, 3) greater emphasis on pre-writing activities. [See Fig 2 below]
  • Objective 2: Collaborate with Life Sciences faculty to help increase success rates for ESL students concurrently enrolled in ESL classes and Life Sciences classes.
  • Objective 3: Gather information in the form of a survey of noncredit ESL students regarding their academic goals to determine the efficacy of developing a certificate of achievement for noncredit students.
  • Fig 2 Success and Retention F12 - F13 Core Courses
  • 10G10W11A11B21A21B
  • F12 Success76%74%60%81%70%85%
  • Retention92%94%95%93%90%95%
  • Sp13 Success76%65%62%75%73%78%
  • Retention94%90%94%97%93%90%
  • F13 Success75%75%68%71%64%79%
  • Retention96%91%92%95%92%92%

We began updating core course outlines for 10G/W, 11A/B, 21A/B, had a wonderful lunch (THANK YOU to our chefs extraordinaire!), visited with our publishing reps, and participated in break-out sessions (10G/W, 11A/B, 21A/B) to discuss diagnostics, rubrics, major assignments, class materials and texts, etc. from 12:30-3:00.

Course coordinators F14:

  • 10G/W Janet Harclerode and Tracey Ellis
  • 11A/B Melody Nightingale and Judy Marasco
  • 21A Keith Graziadei and Liz Koenig-Golombek
  • 21B Emily Lodmer and John Hoover (Sharon Jaffe is also available for assistance but isn’t teaching 21B this semester)

NOTE: If you were unable to attend today’s meeting, please make sure to communicate with the course coordinators because new texts and approaches have been adopted. Look for announcements from them regarding norming/grading sessions.

Tentative Dates Fall 2014 Departmental Meetings:

  • Oct 10, 10-1, BUS111 (21A/B Eng/ESL)
  • Oct 31, 11-1, ESL 103
  • Nov 21, 11-1, ESL 103