NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

4/10/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Darlene Williams, director of the Office of Electronic and Continuing Education at Northwestern State University, has been selected as a presenter for the 10th annual Teaching in Higher Education (THE) Forum which will be conducted April 15-17 in Baton Rouge. Co-presenters will include NSU Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Bill Housel and Title III staff members Hedy Pinkerton, Terrie McCallister, and John Rodriguez.

The theme of the Forum is Crossing Boundaries: Making Knowledge about Teaching and Learning Visible. The Northwestern presentation, "Breaking New Ground ­ A Faculty Metamorphosis," will be under the conference heading Innovative Approaches to Student Learning. This is one of five categories which will form the nucleus of the Faculty Learning Conversations at the conference.

Williams' presentation will focus on Northwestern's Title III grant, Innovative Student Services and Faculty Development. Now in its second year, the $1.8 million Title III grant has funded the creation of a professional development program which accommodates 20 faculty members per year. The purpose of the professional development program is to provide faculty members with new skills to develop or redesign consistent, top notch courses to meet the ever increasing demand for online courses.

The presentation will review the first year program results, which include 14 new online courses, and 20 faculty who are equipped to develop new media rich, interactive courses which are applicable for both traditional and online courses. Additionally, the presentation will address some minor changes to the program for the subsequent years, based upon lessons learned, as well as resources and techniques used within the professional development program.

Williams will also have a poster presentation on the CALL initiative currently being piloted by Northwestern and Bossier Parish Community College.

Main Menu