Dr. Kim Sommers, PsyD, LP and Dr. Lindsay Murn, PhD, LP – Minnesota State University, Mankato On Twitter and Instagram, memes and jokes about therapy and counseling have gone viral. Of course, this is not the same as mental health and psychological support, but it does mark that the conversation around mental health is changing…. Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: Attack of the Pod People – Establishing and Maintaining a Student-Created Podcast
By Travis Dolence and Nathan Rundquist, Minnesota State University Moorhead Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past several years, you’ve noticed that the number of podcasts on the market has exploded. From politics and true crime to more niche topics like fly tying and pen collecting, podcasts have become a vehicle for… Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: Cross-Curricular Online Graphic Organizers
Written by Alissa Martinka Are Your Students Really Reading Their Textbooks? Our story begins about ten years ago when we decided to return to graduate school. Mary Gruis and I wereboth composition and literature instructors, but our college is a small institution, so when we needed reading instructors, several of us decided to add this… Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: Cycling to the 21st Century Technical College
It is said that “necessity is the mother of all creation.” If that cliché’ holds true, then the world of vocational/technical education should be undergoing a renaissance. Across the nation, technical colleges have been suffering from declines in enrollment, transitioning of the traditional manufacturing employment space, and an identity crisis questioning what a technical college… Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: Opening Access to Biological Anthropology
How we created an innovative, high quality, open educational resourceBy Katie Nelson, Ph.D. Inver Hills Community College On the first day of class, I frequently ask my students to write on a note card how they would define anthropology. The responses are always interesting. Many accurately state that anthropology is the study of what makes… Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: A Mindful Path Toward Equity
By jenny sippel, Minneapolis College “Consider sitting in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you think you do not have the time, then consider sitting for an hour.” Seeing mindfulness for the first time I was first introduced to mindfulness in 2005 by Nancy Boler during a lunchtime yoga class at Orchestra Hall. For… Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: Minnesota State REFLECT
Minnesota State REFLECT: Research Experiences For Learning, Engaging, Connecting, and Teaching Author: Dr. Catherine Ford, Program Director of Educational Development, Minnesota StateNote: Minnesota State REFLECT was formerly known as “MN REFLECT.” What do you do when you have a program that you believe can add value across Minnesota State and you want to shout this… Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: FlexPace: Let’s Try Something Different
Author: J.C. Turner, Ph.D., Director of Instructional Technology and Intellectual Property and Deb McManimon, Ph.D., Business Faculty, Riverland Community College As the saying goes, “The only constant is change,” and change is something that all of us encounter pretty regularly, whether in road construction detours, apps updating on our smartphones, or our kids outgrowing their… Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: Student Learner Hub hits a home run for manufacturers, high schools, and students in Southeast Minnesota
Author: Katryn Conlin, Communications Director, Minnesota State College Southeast Student Learner Hub hits a home run for manufacturers, high schools, and students in Southeast Minnesota When most 17-year-olds want to earn extra money, they usually have to babysit, mow lawns or flip burgers. Caledonia High School’s Alyvia Ness is in the sports manufacturing game, and… Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: How We Started a Virtual Reality Laboratory at RCTC
Author: Guy Hamernik, Multi Media Producer, Rochester Community and Technical College How We Started a Virtual Reality Laboratory at RCTC In 2017, Rochester Community and Technical College embarked on a new 21st century journey. A journey that took students from their own 3D drawings and sculptures to the furthest galaxy, all without leaving the institution…. Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: Geolocation Storytelling and Interactive Case Studies: new approaches to engaging students
Author: Bob Bilyk, Director of the Center for Online Learning, Metropolitan State University Geolocation Storytelling and Interactive Case Studies: new approaches to engaging students Geolocation Storytelling Students and faculty have a strong connection to place. As designers of instruction, we can hook students’ interest with stories about place. Examples at Metropolitan State University are everywhere. … Continue Reading →
Stories of Innovation: Author a Textbook? Yes, You Can!
Author: Ruth Fairchild, English Instructor, Ridgewater College Author a Textbook? Yes, You Can! Students look at me with surprise, confusion, delight. I savor this moment on the first day of my introductory communication classes. “You heard right,” I say, “your textbook is free.” A student says, “Thank you.” The Idea and the Proposal The textbook… Continue Reading →