All posts by Linda Feiden

Walktober Step Challenge with Des Moines University and Wesley Life

Drake is again challenging Des Moines University and Wesley Life to a step challenge. We are putting together a team and want you to participate.

During the month of October, team members from all three institutions will track their daily steps. You may use a pedometer, fitness tracker, or smart phone app. Any movement that records steps counts, including walking, running, and fitness classes. You will be provided with a journal to make recording easy and receive fun facts and tips along the way.

At the end of the month, the institution with the highest average step total will win a traveling trophy and bragging rights for the year. Individual prizes will be awarded as well. We need your help to win that trophy!

This event is open to all faculty, staff, and students so spread the word. To register, email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. The deadline to register is Friday, Sept. 27.

— Linda Feiden, wellness & recognition specialist, HR

Scott Raecker to share how to bring the Core Values to life

Join an interactive session with Scott Raecker, executive director of the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310 & 311, to learn how to integrate Drake’s Core Values into your work experiences.

Our Core Values help guide us in our work and interactions with each other at Drake. Scott will share tips on how to have intentional conversations about values and bring them to life in day-to-day interactions across campus.

To attend the session, register online or send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, wellness & recognition specialist, HR

Have an inspiring professor? Refer them to the Center for Teaching Excellence

Which professors at Drake have inspired you to learn and grow as a student and as a person? The Center for Teaching Excellence is asking for your referrals as we build a corps of excellent teachers and mentors to help sustain Drake’s teaching-central mission. Please send an email to teaching.excellence@drake.edu with the name or names of excellent professors you’ve worked with and a few words about what makes them so great. Help us build a truly excellent Center for Teaching Excellence.

— Craig Owens, Professor of English

Team trivia at Oct. 17 Drake Social

All Staff Council Special Events is joining forces with the Provost’s Office to host Trivia on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Drake Social in Shivers Court Side Club. Trivia teams will register on site at the Social. Trivia teams are limited to five members with a total of 10 teams. There will be raffle prizes awarded between rounds with a grand prize awarded to the winning team. Participants can also sign up to win the annual parking pass giveaway. Don’t forget to bring non-perishable foods and items for Drake’s Little Pantry Initiative. Questions? Please contact ascspecialevents@drake.edu.

— Jill Batten, director, Student Affairs, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Recognize your colleagues for Joyful Accountability at upcoming social

Drake faculty and staff who exemplify the core value of Joyful Accountability will be recognized at the next Provost’s Drake Social, Thursday, Oct. 17, from 4–6 p.m. at Shivers Hospitality Suite.

To nominate a colleague, please use our Qualtrics form. You can nominate up to five colleagues on each form. Feel free to fill out multiple forms. All those nominated will be recognized on a rolling display.

How do we define Joyful Accountability at Drake? We look for colleagues who are curious, creative, bold and brave, and for those who strive each day to do their best. When you nominate colleagues, be prepared to describe how each colleague meets these descriptions. From among those nominated, several will be chosen at random for prizes.

Refreshments will include wine, beer, soft drinks, and light snacks. This is a family friendly event.

The October Drake Social will be preceded by a Town Hall at 3:30 p.m. regarding the upcoming climate assessment survey.

All Staff Council is joining forces with the Provost’s Office to host Trivia at the Social, beginning at 4:45 pm. Trivia teams will register on site at the Social. Trivia teams are limited to 5 members with a total of 10 teams. There will be raffle prizes awarded between rounds with a grand prize awarded to the winning team! Participants can also sign up to win the annual parking pass giveaway. Don’t forget to bring non-perishable foods and items for Drake’s Little Pantry Initiative. Questions? Please contact ascspecialevents@drake.edu.

September’s featured digital faculty member: Matthew Mitchell

Each month a faculty member, nominated by their dean, is recognized for their efforts to integrate innovative technology into their classroom. September’s digital faculty member of the month is Matthew C. Mitchell, associate professor of International Business, College of Business and Public Administration. Read an interview with Matthew below:

What course do you use this technology in? I currently utilize Aliber 006 in my team-based capstone courses: MBA 260 – Strategy and MGMT 170 – International Management. Additionally, the entry level MBA 200 – Who is U.S.? An Interactive Guide to Globalization and Cross-Cultural Communication.

What type of technology do you use? Aliber 006 combines 16 shared screens with eight team-pods and wall-to-wall whiteboards. The Extron controls allow the professor to control the full room or enable the students to share their screens individually or with the full class. Furthermore, the room is equipped with one smart-board, live-streaming capability, and eight Bloomberg terminals at every team-pod table.

The digital design is fantastic, however, in my opinion, the best innovation/technology in this room is the elegant integration of the tables and whiteboards. The tables encourage sharing and the whiteboards invite creativity and collaboration through analog and digital media.

How does this type of technology align with your teaching pedagogy? Aliber 006 is best-suited for team-based classes and seminars that include significant discussion. Lecture-based classes would not be well-suited for Aliber 006.

Where did you get the inspiration to make a change (colleague/seminar/administration/etc.)? I’m not sure where the original inspiration for Aliber 006 came from, but it was only realized through the hard work and determination of a collaborative team of Drake leaders from all over the university including Sheri Gavin, Tom Root and a small army of leaders from Drake ITS including Brad Toussaint, Jerome Hilscher, James McNab, Greg Christie, Jeremy Ray, and many others.

How long did it take for you to implement this technology? From design to initial testing it probably took about a year. I begged to let us into the space early and Drake ITS went out of their way have the classroom ready early so we could test out the bugs. However, we continue to test and learn all the functionalities of the space through to today. The technology isn’t difficult, but changing how we think about teaching, space and classroom design has been a fun challenge.

Did Drake ITS assist you in implementing this technology? If so, how? YES. Drake ITS was an essential leader and partner in the design, implementation and maintenance of this amazing space. Thank you!

—Jon Hurdelbrink, CPHS; Carla Herling, ITS

Midterm grades due Oct. 21

Midterm grade entry is now available in MyDUSIS.

Midterm grades are due by 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21. Students are able to view their midterm grades as soon as you submit them.

To access the MyDUSIS grade-entry link, log into myDrake, click on the “Grading” icon under the Faculty & Advising section, and then click on “Mid Term Grades – Submittal Link.”

Those of you who would like to send your midterm grades from Blackboard to MyDUSIS can follow the instructions here.

Students have until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28, to drop a course with a “W”.

—Kevin Moenkhaus, Associate Registrar

J-Term course materials due now

It’s time to submit your course material requests forJ-Term 2020.

Access the Online Adoption Tool

  1. Visit www.drake.bkstr.com
  2. Go to Books in the top navigation and under the Information heading, click Online Adoptions.

Are you a New User?

  1. Follow the steps listed above.
  2. Click on New? Register Here and complete the required fields.
  3. Enter 1623 in the Bookstore Supplied Password field.

—Donna Hallstrom, University Bookstore

Introducing Follett Discover

The online adoption tool, now called Follett Discover, has been enhanced.

Follett Discover allows faculty to search a vast publisher library, view open educational resources, create custom content, and adopt their textbooks by simply entering the relevant ISBN. View a video for an introduction to Follett Discover.

Orientation sessions will be offered at the dates, times, and locations below. The Bookstore team will demonstrate the new tool, provide access points, and provide time for Q&A. If you have questions or comments prior to or after the sessions, please contact Donna Hallstrom at the Drake Bookstore at 1623txt@follett.com or Derek Pollock at dpollock@follett.com.

Sept. 19 from 3–4 p.m. in the Science Connector Building, Room 301.
Sept. 27 from 2–3 p.m. in Meredith Hall, Room 238.

—Donna Hallstrom, University Bookstore

Updated link to faculty/staff development opportunities

The University faculty/staff development opportunities webpage has an updated link: www.drake.edu/fsdo/.

Whether you’re interested in developing a short-term learning experience abroad or better incorporating writing into your courses, the web page makes it easy to browse upcoming development opportunities.

—Sandra Harris, Administrative Support Specialist, Provost’s Office