Thursday, July 31, 2014

Welcome to Our Corner of the Inter-Tubes

Hello from our new blog space for UWT in the digital age

Our beautiful urban-serving campus is a unique place for students, faculty and staff to learn, explore, dream and invent. We love the challenge, but it often seems that things change so quickly, and that technology is pressing down on us at ever maddening paces.

This blog is here to help, keeping you informed of what's new in faculty tools, ideas and practice. We've heard from a number of you that there's often no longer time for "just in case" training, that you need "just in time" (JIT) answers and "just whenever" access to ideas. Got it! 
  • We're moving many JIT answers to our new TLT Web site
  • We'll use this space to profile some exciting work being done in the classroom: whether in class, flipped or online. 
  • We'll share stories, successes and hard-earned tips from colleagues.
  • We'll post news and ideas from UWT and news from the internet on technology innovators in higher education.
So how about if we start close to home with a quick over-view of how far we've come as a campus recently? Three years ago, we opened the Faculty Resource Center (WG 208) as a space for workshops, discussions, research writing groups, and forums on teaching and research.  We've learned a lot about creating engaging spaces for shared interests and hope you've had a chance to visit, stop in for a spot of tea and conversation, or to participate in events that help you in your professional development. If you haven't had that chance, stop by! If we're not in, your key card opens the door. You'll find books, help guides, a soft couch near the window, and tea waiting.

When too busy to visit, this blog, created by request and in the spirit of whenever you want it information retrieval, will capture some of the ideas and conversations shared in the FRC. It may not be as warm and fuzzy as attending the events in person, but you'll be able visit this site anytime: in your pajamas/at 5am/while on hold or on the bus. We'll include updates on faculty practice and campus data. Our students will share posts on their ideas, needs, hopes and frustrations regarding technology at UWT. If there are topics you'd like to see covered, let us know. 

Now, how about a spot of tea?

Colleen
CC BY-ND for tea: http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvqirn153W1qja9t7.jpg