2004 News Archive

DIIA Awards First ASPECTS Certificate to Maria de la Paz Garcia posted December 2004

UTOPIA Wins in 2004 "Best of the Web" contest

In the 2004 Digital Education Achievement Awards (DEAA) Best of the Web contest, UT Austin's UTOPIA site was announced as a winner in the category of Integrated/Multi-Focus Application. The DEAA Best of the Web program evaluates higher education, K-12 state and K-12 local district Web sites on their innovation, Web-based delivery of public services, efficiency, economy, and functionality for improved student and faculty access.

Campus Instructional Technologists' Showcase Fall 2004 posted November 2004

The Instructional Technologists' Showcase was co-hosted by DIIA and Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services (LAITS) this year.  IT staff from all over the UT Austin campus joined together to share news, show projects, and discuss new tools and techniques. [more]

IITAP, Innovative Instructional Technology Awards Program, 2004 Exemplars Announced

Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson presented the 2004 Innovative Instructional Technology Awards at this year's IITAP showcase and reception Nov 10. Gold Award exemplars are Français Interactif and Virgil.

DIIA Organizes Large Classroom Initiative Colloquium posted October 2004

UT Austin Executive Vice President and Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson (center, holding book) joined the selected faculty, graduate students, and DIIA staff who participated in a three-day large classes colloquium this summer. The gathering, dubbed by the Provost the Colloquium on Achieving “Stunningly Excellent” Teaching in Large Classes, brought together faculty noted for their teaching and their GSIs from the Colleges of Natural Science and Liberal Arts. [more]

DIIA Launches ASPECTS Program for Graduate Student Assistants posted October 2004

ASPECTS  or Advancing Student’s Professional Excellence with Certificates in Teaching Series is being offered by DIIA and the Office of Graduate Studies to foster professional development among UT’s Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs). UT Austin considers their GSIs to be a potent resource and offers this series of seminars to further GSIs’ teaching career skills. ASPECTS encourages ongoing pedagogical, personal, and professional development throughout their careers. Students at left are attending one of the first ASPECTS sessions to be offered, Designing Effective Discussions. [more]

Marilla Svinicki Receives Inaugural Burnt Orange Apple Award posted September 2004

DIIA Hosts New Faculty and Graduate Student Instructor Seminars posted August 2004

Tracy McMillan and Ming Zhang, assistant professors in the School of Architecture, collaborate during the seminars DIIA held to launch the academic year for newly arrived faculty and graduate student instructors. The overlapping seminars, spanning four days, were held at the Thompson Conference Center. Both events focused on teaching excellence, and featured sessions from UT Austin faculty recognized for outstanding teaching, members of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. President Larry Faulkner addressed the faculty group at the beginning of the first day, and Executive Vice-President and Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson spoke to the group near the end of the seminar.  [more]

DIIA Welcomes New Faculty and GSIs posted August 2004

DIIA welcomes new faculty to UT Austin with a three-and-a-half-day teaching and orientation seminar held at the Thompson Conference Center during the week before fall classes begin, August 17-20. The new faculty seminar overlaps with a two-day seminar for new graduate student instructors August 19-20, also at TCC, with some sessions in common. Both events focus on teaching excellence, and feature sessions from UT Austin faculty recognized for outstanding teaching, members of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. President Larry Faulkner will address the faculty group at the beginning of the first day, and Executive Vice-President and Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson will be speaking to the group on Thursday. Leaders from the University's administration and representatives from its major services will offer an introduction to the campus. In addition, campus organizations and services have joined together to provide representatives and displays at a resource fair open to both groups.

New Faculty Seminar Program

New Graduate Student Instructors Seminar Program

DIIA Welcomes New Faculty Development Specialist posted July 2004

Dr. Lynn Jones Eaton has joined DIIA’s Center for Teaching Effectiveness as a faculty development specialist, but she is not a stranger to the DIIA staff, having worked during the last year with the UTOPIA project and its development of K-12 resources for educators. For her work with UTOPIA, Lynn called on her experience as a middle school and high school science teacher. Those years, coupled with her experience at UT Austin as a science education professor and her participation in the NASA Opportunities for Visionary Academics (NOVA) Project has allowed her a unique view of opportunities for improving instruction within a large research institution. Dr. Eaton has also published a chapter in the book Reform in Undergraduate Science Teaching for the 21st Century (Research in Science Education) entitled “Teaching for Diversity in Undergraduate Science.” In her first project with CTE, she is organizing a large class colloquium this summer, initiated by the Provost, to improve teaching in large lecture classes.

Summer Orientation Sessions Call for Teamwork posted July 2004

SOS—Summer Orientation Sessions—requires teamwork among many people from DIIA’s Measurement and Evaluation group. With seven orientation sessions this summer, plus a final wrap-up orientation as school begins, the group led by Connie Williams efficiently coordinated advising, test administration, and test scoring to provide needed services for the incoming freshman class. [more]

DIIA Plays Instrumental Role in Major e-Learning Report  posted July 2004

ACADEME TODAY, the Chronicle of Higher Education's Daily Report, featured the release of a major e-learning report for The Weatherstation Project in which DIIA staff played an extensive role. [more]

DIIA Director Ashcroft Represents UT Austin at Two National Groups posted July 2004

DIIA’s Director Dr. Judy Ashcroft attended annual meetings of two educational organizations for which she holds elected national office. [more]

Ashcroft Named to Leadership Texas posted July 2004

The DIIA’s Judy Ashcroft is one of three women sponsored this year by UT Austin President Larry Faulkner for Leadership Texas, a program of the Foundation for Women’s Resources, focused on enhancing leadership skills and knowledge of the state. [more]

DIIA Participates in NISOD Conference posted June 2004

The National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development (NISOD), a 600-member international consortium of community colleges and universities, presents its twenty-sixth annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, May 23-26, in Austin, Texas. [more]

DIIA Honors Four Service Milestones posted May 2004

DIIA celebrated the service anniversaries of four staff members at a luncheon in their honor on the day of the University's Staff Recognition Program. Receiving awards were, from left to right: Raymond Doo, MEC, 10 years; Dena Goodman, MEC, 15 years; Joanne Holladay, CTE, 20 years; and Karron Lewis, CTE, 25 years. In introducing them, each of their supervisors offered a review of their career accomplishments as well as a glimpse of their personalities and the special qualities they bring the to workplace. DIIA Director Judy Ashcroft presented framed certificates of appreciation, and DIIA's Cindy Story offered closing remarks recognizing their combined 70 years of service.

DIIA Staffers Attend Teaching Retreat posted May 2004

Lynn Eaton, Lisa Graves, Joanne Holladay, Karron Lewis, Coco Kishi, and Marilla Svinicki all attended the weekend Wakonse-South Conference on College Teaching held recently at Camp Balcones Springs near Marble Falls. The conference fosters an inspirational exchange of ideas and resources among four participating universities in the region. [more]

Showcase Recognizes Instructional Technologists posted April 2004

DIIA's Center for Instructional Technologies hosted a campus-wide showcase for nine different IT groups to demonstrate new projects, share news, and discuss new tools and techniques. [more]

DIIA Participates in Earth Science Week Outreach posted April 2004

DIIA's Center for Instructional Technologies participated in the Earth Science Week for Austin middle school students. Dana Deloca, Joe Sanchez, and Malaika Boyd entertained and educated approximately 350 students using multimedia and advised the students about careers they can craft in this discipline. [more]

Two DIIA Staffers Present at AERA posted April 2004

Marilla Svinicki and Dawn Zimmaro presented papers at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, held April 12-16 in San Diego, California. This year's theme: "Enhancing the Visibility and Credibility of Educational Research." [more]

GSI Tower Tour is a springtime success posted March 2004

DIIA with the assistance of the President's Office held a private Springtime Tower Tour and Reception on Friday March 26 for graduate student instructors and their graduate coordinators. The day was perfect, with rain lifting for an overcast but mild and breezy afternoon, as two groups toured the University's historic Tower observation deck. DIIA sponsored the tour to promote its expanding support for TAs and AIs and to highlight the resources available within its Center for Teaching Effectiveness and throughout the division. The view from the CTE's 22nd-story tower offices is breathtaking too, and the reception there gave GSIs a chance to meet DIIA staff and to forge a stronger support network.

DIIA Measures Team charts course for Balanced Scorecard posted March 2004

Wearing their honorary sailor's hats--presented to them by the DIIA Core Team–the DIIA Measures Team celebrates the completion of charting the course to smooth sailing for the division's Balanced Scorecard, a management tool for setting goals and assessing performance. The group developed 73 measures for determining the progress of the division in four major categories: client services, resources, internal processes, and learning and growth. The proposed measures have been turned over to the Core Team to assign priorities and to determine implementation. The Measures Team members are, from left to right, front row: Judythe Wilbur, Dena Goodman, Mike Ragusa, Measures Team Leader Dawn Zimmaro, and Coco Kishi. Back row: Ron Mora, Connie Williams, Dave Campbell, Joanne Holladay, Joel Hiekes, and Lynn Jones Eaton.

DIIA Helps Texans Explore UT posted March 2004

The UTOPIA K-12 Open Knowledge website project debuted during Explore UT. The DIIA staffers were at several computer stations set up in the Peter T. Flawn Academic Center to help students and their parents peruse the ambitious new initiative designed to open the University’s doors of knowledge, research, and information to the public. The goal is to create the universal university, a pathway to information for all people, regardless of location, resources, or technical skills. The site offers knowledge that is accessible, usable, and authoritative. The UTOPIA initiative is designed to break down the physical boundaries between the university and the world.

eGradebook Customized to Meet Faculty Needs  posted March 2004

New features have been added to eGradebook to help instructors and their designees compile and post grades securely online. Learn how faculty are using this new electronic tool to meet instructional and course management needs. [more]

TAs and AIs Meet the Fear Factor Challenge posted February 2004

Over a hundred teaching assistants and assistant instructors attended Fear Factor: Surviving the UT Classroom in mid-January. This fourth annual teaching seminar for experienced TAs and AIs was sponsored by DIIA's Center for Teaching Effectiveness. The program incorporated specialized sessions focused on the needs of international TAs and AIs as well. The seminar provided sessions designed to help TAs thrive and to develop new strategies to fuel their confidence. DIIA's Center for Instructional Technologies also offered pre- and post-seminar workshops in using Blackboard, adding multimedia to classes and building online communities. Additional workshops for faculty as well as TAs and AIs are being offered throughout the spring semester.

Experienced Faculty Seminar posted January 2004

Karron Lewis from CTE, guest speaker Christine Stanley from Texas A &M, CTE director Marilla Svinicki and Judy Ashcroft, associate vice president and director of DIIA all celebrate 30 years of service by the Center for Teaching Effectiveness at the Experienced Faculty and Experienced TA seminars held as the spring semester began.