The Basic Skills Workshop was founded in 2012 to provide workshops to Purdue graduate students in skills and advise that will assist with their careers in teaching, academia, and industry.
AWM Basic Skills Workshop
Resources:
Teaching Discussion:
- Fridays 1:30-2:20pm
- BRNG 1242
- A discussion about the past week in teaching. All are invited.
PhD Career Ladder Program:
Please contact me if you are interested in a monthly career development program.
Workshops:
- Title: Stepping away from the Chalkboard: Engaging Students in Small Group Activities in a College Math Classroom
- Speaker: Dr. Rachael Kenney, Purdue University
- Date: Nov. 29, 2018
- Abstract: There is much research that suggests that engaging students in small group activities can lead them to develop deeper understanding of material. Several components are needed, however, for small group work to benefit both teaching and learning. In this talk, we will discuss ideas surrounding the benefits of handing the task of doing the mathematical thinking over to student groups, and share tools and techniques for doing this effectively.
- Title: Creating a Learner-Centered Environment
- Speaker: Erica Lott and Daniel Guberman, Center for Instructional Excellence
- Time: Nov. 8, 2018
- Abstract:
- Identify activities appropriate for reaching learning goals and aligned with assessment
- Consider different modalities of instruction and mentoring (online, hybrid, face-to-face) and what is possible in each
- Appreciate the values of active learning and how active learning can be accomplished in different settings
- Title: Assessing Student Learning
- Speaker: Erica Lott and Daniel Guberman, Center for Instructional Excellence
- Time: Nov. 1, 2018
- Abstract:
- Identify what you want students to learn
- Design measures for effective learning based on what students should know
- Develop Strategies for providing growth-oriented feedback
- Title: How Good Talks Happen
- Speaker: Zach Letterhos, Purdue University
- Time: Thu. Oct. 25, 2018
- Abstract:
This meta-talk will be a blend of my two loves: cognitive psychology and telling people what to do. We will explore some of the fundamental things that cognitive psychology tells us about the brain and human behavior and how to exploit them for the nefarious purpose of making people enjoy our talks. Through examples, I'll provide a framework that you can use to construct successful talks for any purpose. I will primarily focus on how to give academic talks, but most of the advice I give is general enough that it could be applied to any form of public speaking, including your teaching!
- Title: Introduction to R
- Speaker: Sarah Percival, Purdue University
- Time: Thu. Oct. 18, 2018
- Abstract:
R is a free programming language for statistical computing and graphics. In this workshop, I will guide you through the installation and setup of RStudio so bring your laptop if you want to follow along. We will also cover basic statistical and data manipulation tools, as well as graphing using the ggplot2 package.
- Title: How to Create a Personal Webpage
- Speaker: Nicole Eikmeier, Purdue University
- Time: Thu. Oct. 11, 2018
- Abstract:
In this talk I'll give you the basics needed to make your math department website. I will also give you some suggestions on how to manage updates to your webpage, and how to move documents onto the math department server. We will also do a few short HTML and command line coding demos in class, so bring your laptop if you want to code along!
- Title: Preparing for Life after Grad School
- Speaker: Chris Creighton, Purdue University
- Time: Thu. Sept. 13, 2018
- Abstract:
So all of us decided, for whatever reason, to go to Graduate School. But then what? The goal of this workshop is to get you thinking about your next stage in your career and how to prepare for it by taking a look at your goals, some job ads, and the basics of building skills and networking to get those jobs.
- Title: Questions to Get Students Talking in Math Class
- Speaker: Dr. Rachael Kenney, Purdue University
- Time: Thu, Apr 26, 2018
- Abstract:
Dr. Kenney will talk about the important role that questions and discussion play for both students and teachers in the college math classroom. She will share ways of opening up traditional textbook questions so that they provide opportunities for student discussion, and explore teacher-moves that encourage students to play a more active role in developing their understanding of math concepts.
- Title: Getting a Job at a Small College Pt. 2
- Speaker: Dr. Philip Mummert, Purdue University
- Time: Thu, October 19, 2017
- Abstract:
What are liberal arts colleges looking for? What should job applicants expect? How do applications get noticed? What's really going on at each step of the hiring process? Dr. Phil Mummert, Assistant Department Head, will share some advice and field questions. He attended Cedarville University (a small liberal arts college) for undergrad, completed his PhD at Purdue (not a small school) in 2007, worked at Taylor University (small liberal arts college) from 2007-2014, and at Butler University for one year, where he also served on an employment search committee. This is the second part.
- Title: Getting a Job at a Small College Pt. 1
- Speaker: Dr. Philip Mummert, Purdue University
- Time: Thu, October 5, 2017
- Abstract:
What are liberal arts colleges looking for? What should job applicants expect? How do applications get noticed? What's really going on at each step of the hiring process?
Dr. Phil Mummert, Assistant Department Head, will share some advice and field questions. He attended Cedarville University (a small liberal arts college) for undergrad, completed his PhD at Purdue (not a small school) in 2007, worked at Taylor University (small liberal arts college) from 2007-2014, and at Butler University for one year, where he also served on an employment search committee.
- Title: Working in Industry Q&A
- Speaker: Dr. Thomas Backing, Systems and Technology Research
- Time: Fri, Sep 29, 2017
- Abstract:
An informal question and answer session with Dr. Thomas Backing who graduated with his PhD from Purdue University in Mathematics in 2016 and is currently working at System and Technology Research. He will give some general advice about working in industry as well as provide information about potential full-time and summer internship positions at System and Technology Research.
- Title: Know Who You Know - Networking
- Speaker: Stephen Roach, Purdue University CCO
- Time: Thu, September 21, 2017
- Abstract:
- Understand the purpose of networking
- Define the individual's network
- Learn the keys to networking
- Learn the do's and don'ts of networking