Release Date:  November 9, 2001

The SBC Ameritech Faculty Development Technology Program has named Monmouth College assistant professor of education Ken Grodjesk as a teaching and learning mentor for the 2001-02 academic year.

Under the program, Grodjesk will guide faculty members from all college departments in ways to use technology to enhance their teaching and improve students’ learning.

“Technology can have a significant impact on students’ learning, if it is used properly,” said Grodjesk, “and that is the challenge. One of the greatest benefits of the Teaching and Learning Mentor program is that we can help our colleagues learn not only how to use specific technologies, but how to use them effectively in teaching.”

The mentoring program is the latest addition to SBC Ameritech’s faculty development efforts, which for the past five summers have included workshops for faculty to learn how to best integrate technology in their classroom activities.

In the past two years, participants have completed extensive research on effective practices for enhancing education through technology. The research has resulted in a set of practical resources faculty can use on their own or in conjunction with programs the teaching and learning mentors will implement on campus this fall. Grodjesk will provide an on-campus link between Monmouth College’s faculty and the resources available through the SBC program.

To prepare for the Teaching and Learning Mentor role, Grodjesk attended the first Teaching and Learning Institute held August 2-4 at Millikin University. Teaching and learning mentors from 55 colleges and universities in the Midwest participated in train-the-trainer sessions designed to familiarize them with new technologies and ways to share these resources with faculty members. The workshops concentrated on effective use of course management systems such as Blackboard and WebCT, as well as process writing strategies that incorporate the use of tools such as Microsoft Word and e-mail.

During the fall semester, each teaching and learning mentor will meet with other faculty and staff members to share information about the Program’s resources and activities.

Released by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330

NEWS AT MC

Located in the lower level of the Admission/College Relations building, the office is responsible for media relations, official college publications, the college Web site and sports information.