Blog

My name is Charles North and I have never used a blog before so this is a new experience for me. I have taught at FPU starting 2000. I originally starting teaching HIS 100 Introduction to Geography at FPC but that course isn't offered anymore.

I have taught SNHU since 1996 and I use Blackboard in every class that I teach both day and evenings. In the continuing education division most of my classes at hybrids which is partly online and one night of face-to-face. I have also taught at Plymouth State University using Web CT - 6.
I have taught taught in class and online at PSU. My specially at SNHU and PSU are geography classes especially world regional geography and human geography. I do teach some Western Civilization at SNHU but mostly during the summer sessions.

I taught IC 260 Twentieth Century at FPU and I used Web CT to deliver some on the instruction. I love using technology in the classroom.

C. North

Introducing Pat Trow Parent

Hi there,

I thought I'd introduce myself by way of an ice-breaker I often use with my Senior Business Seminar class. It requires students to tell the class 10 things about themselves, one of which is blatantly false. You all will need to guess which of the following is not true:

(1) I have never blogged before.
(2) Five minutes into this assignment, we lost power at our house. I am sitting in front of my laptop with an LLBean headlantern pointed at the screen loading my introduction. I deserve an A for effort, don't you think?
(3) I am currently working on a memoir called "Class Act".
(4) I took a 20 year sabbatical from teaching at the college level in order to be a K-12 public school administrator.
(5) I drive an in-your-face green Honda element.
(6) I live in a log cabin.
(7) I am a tenured member of the Franklin Pierce University faculty.
(8) I am a native of New Hampshire.
(9) I have high expectations for myself and my students.
(10) I look forward to meeting all of you on Monday.

Introducing Keith Detjen

Hello everyone, my name is Keith Detjen and I am an Instructor of Sports & Recreation Management at FPU. This year will be my first year teaching full time; I spent the last 4+ years teaching sport/recreation management courses as an adjunct professor at Southern NH University, Daniel Webster College, New England College, and Pierce. Over these past several year I have taught hybrid classes and utilized e-learning tools in my traditional style classes, but have yet to teach a 100% online class. I have used Blackboard but have not yet used WebCt. I am eager to learn how I can build off of what I have already been doing with e-learning and technology in my classes, as well as learning new forms of e-learning that I can incorporate. I found what Winni and Donna said about the online personas vs "real" personalities interesting, and also struggle with how technology can create an easier, more difficult or somewhere in between platform for learning. Another big issue I think all schools struggle with is writing across the curriculum and how technology, especially e-leaning platforms, can help bridge this gap. I look forward to meeting and working with you all at next week's workshop.

Introducing Minghua Li

My three year old son and me

Hi, Everyone! My name is Minghua Li and I am an assistant professor of Economics. I was born in China and came to the U.S. in 2000. I arrived at Franklin Pierce College last year. Before coming to Pierce, I taught economics at University of New Hampshire as a lecture when I was working on my degree.

As a new teacher, I am constantly learning and exploring how I can make my teaching more effective and the use of my time more efficient. I believe technology can play a big role. So I look forward to learning from this workshop as well as from all my colleagues who I believe are experienced and dedicated to excellent teaching.

See you next week!

Wayne has arrived through by way of the great techno divide.

Welcome to all who choose to read this humble attempt to introduce myself. I will be begin this portrait with my experiences at Franklin Pierce University. I am a member of the adjunct faculty who has travelled from the Salem to Nashua to Manchester, to Concord to the campus Hybrid and finally arriving in the campus of the 100% on-line. It has been a magical ride with many frequent car miles and experiences. I, being an adjunct faculty member, have other employment as the the Director of Social Services/Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher/GED Instructor at the Granite State High School which is located in the heart of NH State Prison. I provide social work services to our ever-growing population of under 21 years of age adjudicated population and teaching services to all. Prior to this gig, I was a social worker with NH State Prison for 20 years, working in a small out-patient clinic that provided regular and emergency services to 1600 potential clients. I will continue this portrait by saying that I have seen multiple decades ebb and floe, some I remember, others I do not(yea for the sixties). I have been described by my friends as being a hippie, draconian, a devil in disguise, a helper, risk-taker and just indescribable. A further component of this portrait, I was able to sample death this last year, by having a heart attack, that I did not know that I had for a total of 10 days and then agin when they did an angioplasty that had my blood pressure going to zero. I have sampled many experiences and would like to pass them on to others. In the background of this portait are my wonderful significent other who teaches first graders and two wonderful daughters who are smarter than this old hippie who contiues to mystify others.

Assignment 1

Hello, I am Kelly Kilcrease, Associate Professor of Management. I have been teaching at Pierce for ten years. For the past eight years I have been teaching and writing business courses on-line via e-College and I have just started to learn Blackboard. During that time I have found the biggest challenge is keeping student comments (found in on-line discussion, blogs, or e-mail) on pace to meet the course goals. Particularly challenging is keeping the written comments focused to the weekly objective. Last, I am concerned that on-line communication can stifle creativity and my not necessary serve as a contributor for organizational change.

Introducing Donna Decker

Hello, my name is Donna Decker. I am Associate Professor in English at Franklin Pierce. I directs both the Women in Leadership Program and the Honors Program. I have been teaching at the college/university for a dozen years.

Like Wini, I am interested in discourse, though I have not broadened my study into online discourse. I find challenging and compelling the idea of public/private discourse, and particularly the notion that we construct personas online -- that may or may not sync w/ our "real" personalities. Does technology allow us a greater freedom to try on personality costumes? Have we always done this? does technology allow us to do somore easily and publicly -- seemingly without consequence?

Just a few morning musings. See you all next week.