Departmental News

Katherine Perone, Social Work, presented, Fraternity in Field Education: The Use of an In-Service Project and Poster Presentation in the Agency Setting in San Diego, CA.

Josh Butcher, IDS, recently received the Student Supervisor of the Year award. He was nominated by Amanda Richards who works in the IMM Lab.

The Social Work Student Association held a food drive on March 30 to benefit Loaves and Fishes at Wal-Mart and Jackson Street Market. In addition to the food collected, students also raised $77 to donate to the organization. The picture featured at the top of the newsletter shows the students with the food collected.

Lloyd Kilmer, EDL, presented, Data Teams: Just Another Fad of the Promise for Improved Student Achievement? And Pay for Performance: Teacher and Principal Evaluation at the AASA Annual Conference in Houston, TX. He also served as Associate Editor for Ubiquitous Learning: An International Journal.

Drs Amanda Divin and Mark Kelley and Allison Gilbert, Health Sciences, traveled to Boston, Mass, to attend the American Allience for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) March 13-17. Dr. Divin had three research posters accepted to the conference: The assocation of nonmedical prescription drug use and suicidality in college students (co-authored with Dr. Keith Zullig, West Virginia University), Drinking Motives Behind Alcohol and Energy Drink Use (co-authored with Dr. Weston S. Kensinger, Oswego State University), and Mental Health First Aid for the Health Educator (co-authored with former HS graduate students Jo Ann Howd and Joseph Heckman). Allison Gilbert, HS senior, traveled to AAHPERD to attend the American Association for Health Education Undergraduate of the Year Ceremony. Allison was selected as the outstanding undergraduate health science major from Western Illinois and attended the AAHE ceremony celebrating her accomplishment.

Eta Sigma Gamma, the Health Sciences Honorary, traveled to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale April 1-2, 2012, to attend the 2012 Russell Research Symposium and mini-interstate Eta Sigma Gamma Conference. Several WIU students presented research posters at this event: Second year HS Masters student Doucette Alvarez presented “Why do they leave? A study examining WIC participation,” First year HS Masters student Chaundra Bishop presented “Contributing factors to health disparities experienced in the development and treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome in African American men,” First year HS Masters student Nkechi Nwaoha presented “Factors impacting sexual and reporductive behavior in African American adolescent females,” and Junior HSM major Angela Castello presented “Childhood obesity: A national epidemic.” These research posters were peer reviewed prior to acceptance to the symposium. Eta Sigma Gamma faculty advisor, Dr. Amanda Divin, was also intivted to present “Benefits and barriers to physical activity in college students: What can we do to get them moving?” The symposium concluded with a presentation by Dr.Bryan Keith Lindsey, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, entitled: “80/40/15 USPHS Syphilis Study at Tuskegee: Past, Present, Future.”

Mindy E., an Early Childhood Resource Specialist at the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood/Starnet Regions I & III, was presented the annual Illinois Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (IAER) Distinguished Service Award for her work in promoting, developing, and improving education and rehabilitation services for persons who are blind or visually impaired. The award was presented on February 16, 2012 in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Jill Joline Myers, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Department, and Leaunda Hemphill, Instructional Design and Technology Department, were invited presenters at the Professional Development Conference, “Focus on Excellence: Classroom Best Practices”  sponsored by the Regional Office of Education Peoria County.   The WIU faculty members conducted two breakout workshops. The first workshop dealt with  ”Digital Dirt: The Realities of Network Privacy in Online Communications” and the second workshop  highlighted their collaborative research on effects of social networking on schools and proactive strategies for developing digital citizenship.

Dr. Christopher Koch, Illinois State Superintendent, was the featured speaker at the November 4th, 2011, meeting of the Administrators’ Round Table of Western Illinois. COEHS Dean Sterling Saddler introduced Dr. Koch. A large crowd of superintendents and principals participated in the meeting held in the Capitol Room of the University Union. Also in attendance were Associate Dean Lance Ternasky and Assistant Dean Rori Carson.

Departmental News

Dean Alexander, LEJA, hosted Dr. Mir Sadat, faculty from the National Intelligence University on October 12. Dr. Sadat’s visit was part of The Homeland Security Research Program’s Lecture Series.

The Department of Counselor Education, hosted an Open House on October 20. Interested degree-seeking students and Practicum/Internship site supervisors were provided information by the CNED faculty and staff, Financial Aid, and Graduate Studies. Special thanks to all of those who helped make the Open House a success!

Terry Smith, C&I, was featured in the McDonough Voice for the Monster Mash project with local schools. This is a global project that includes 42 classrooms in the United States, Russia, Australia, Canada, Korea and England. To see all of the monsters visit  www.smithclass.org/proj/Monsters/index.htm.

Barry McCrary, LEJA, and Christine Anderson, C&I, hosted a community forum discussion panel concerning Keys to Success or Pitfalls for Failure on October 26.

Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood/Starnet Regions I and III activities:

• Carol Weisheit presented Teaching Children to Resolve Conflicts Peacefully on October 6 in Urbana.
• Mindy Ely and Rose Slaght presented the webinar Writing Reports: From Trash to Treasure on October 11.
• Sponsored Transitioning Children from Early Intervention to Early Childhood on October 12 in Princeton, in collaboration with the Illinois Early Intervention Training Project.
• Sponsored Authentic Assessment through Observation and Portfolios, presented by Gayle Gronlund, on October 19 in West Peoria and on October 20 in Decatur.
• Connie Shugart, with Brian Michalski of the Illinois Resource Center, presented the webinar, Introduction and Implementation of the Creative Curriculum on October 24-25.
• Carol Weisheit and Anna Owen presented Social Emotional Training Level III: Intensive Individual Interventions on October 24-25 in Mattoon.
• Sponsored Transitioning Children from Early Intervention to Early Childhood on October 26 in Jacksonville, in collaboration with the Illinois Early Intervention Training Project.

J.Q. Adams, EIS, presented Deconstructing Race and Ethnicity on College Campuses on October 19 as part of the Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program at Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX. Adams also presented, Who in the World is in Here? and Staying Unfinished: Strategies for Staying Culturally Competent in an Increasingly Diverse Work Place, at Facing Our Challenges: Building Our Solidarity, the Fall Professional Staff Meeting at the Professional Development Center in Springfield, IL.

Francis Steward, C&I, along with 10 WIU students, helped area children in the Reading Scavenger Hunt on October 7 in support of Paint the Town Pink event. The WIU students guided children with the read aloud approach, higher order thinking questions, and vocabulary enrichment in fiction and nonfiction books. Children enjoyed 10 reading stations, books, and treats, while the WIU students bonded with the children through sharing the books, stories, and pictures. See pictures from the event on the Cohesion blog!

Diane Hamilton-Hancock, Health Sciences, Hoyet Hemphill, and  Leaunda Hemphill, both of IDT, presented the CITR session, Evaluating Online Group Projects for Levels of Student Engagement on October 18.

Jill Myers, LEJA, and Leaunda Hemphill, IDT presented the CITR session, Metadata Minefields on October 19.

Cathy McMillan, Jennifer Plos, and Mark Cole, KIN, presented, Critical Analysis of Using the iPad in Movement Sciences on October 21.

Michael Godard, KIN, along with colleague Timothy Roberts from HIST, presented the CITR session, Strategies for Getting Articles Accepted in Referred Journals on October 25.

Andrea Hyde, EIS, will present Yoga Tools for the College Classroom on October 31.

Horn Field Campus was featured on the PBS show, Illinois Stories on October 20, 21 and 26.

AECT, a student organization in the Department of Instructional Design and Technology, held a halloween/portfolio party on October 26. The group held a costume contest and conducted a seminar on IDT portfolios.

Senior Social Work student, Cecily Doyle, organized an open mic night to collect food for the Western Illinois Regional Council’s food pantry as part of a class project. Read the article about the benefit at WIUM’s site.

Laura Lins, Kinesiology major, has been named WIU’s 2011 Student Laureate. The Student Laureate ceremony will be held on November 5 in Springfield, IL.

Alumni in the News

• Steven Glasgow, ’04 Kinesiology, had a featured Q&A article in the Review Atlas. Read the entire article here.

Announcements

• Blood Pressure and Body Composition Readings (Body Composition reading sponsored by Exercise Science students). All sessions are from 8 am – 10 am.
  • November 1 in the Hall of Fame Room in Western Hall
  • November 2 in Waggoner Hall Room 377
  • November 3 in Sherman Hall Auditorium, 3rd Floor
  • November 4 in Stipes Hall Room 111
• Plasma Glucose Screening sponsored by Bella Hurst Diabetes Institute on November 2 from 9 am – 3 pm in the University Union Concourse.
• Watch the Horrabin Hall Television for tech updates, pictures from events, and important dates for students!
• Faculty, send your students to Horrabin Hall 104 to complete their technology projects. We provide hands-on assistance in a one-on-one or small group format. Send us a copy of your project or lesson plan that you will be having your students complete so that we are prepared to assist with their exact needs.

Upcoming Events

• November 2 – The Homeland Security Research Program Lecture Series presents John Riley, Special Agent in Charge (Chicago) of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Horrabin Hall 78 at 1 pm.
• November 8 – Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Student Education Association (SEA), Best Buddies, and Therapeutic Recreation Association are cosponsoring a campus-wide program related to disability awareness. Stevie Hopkins will speak from 5:30 – 8:00 pm in the University Union Grand Ballroom. Along with this event, the groups are selling 3E Love t-shirts founded by Hopkins and his sister. For more information or to purchase a t-shirt, contact Mary Jensen,
• MM-Jensen@wiu.edu.
• November 9 – Difficult Conversations- University Policies and Intercultural Cooperation in the Lamoine Room of the University Union from 3:30 – 5:00 pm. For more information, contact Debra Miretzky at D-Miretzky@wiu.edu.
• November 9 – Athletic Training guest speaker, Joe Terry, PT, CSCS beginning at 7 pm. For more information, contact Renee Polubinsky at RL-Polubinsky@wiu.edu.
• November 15 – COEHS Annual Thanksgiving Dessert from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm in Horrabin Hall 1. COEHS Awards of Excellence recipients will be honored at noon. Come enjoy fellowship with your colleagues and of course, pie!

Knoblauch Café

• Tuesday, Nov. 1 – Chili/Vegetarian chili, baked potato bar with assorted toppings, deep dark chocolate cake
• Thursday, Nov. 3 – Turkey panini/Tomato and mozzarella panini, baked potato soup, raspberry cheesecake cupcake
• Tuesday, Nov. 8- Chicken parmesan/Eggplant parmesan, side caesar salad, garlic bread, cherry delight
• Thursday, Nov. 10 – Cornish hen/Stuffed pepper, homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, gooey toffee butter cake
• Meals are $7 and include beverage and dessert. Carry outs are available. Delivery is available in Knoblauch.
  For reservations, call Penny at 298-1085.

Tech Insights

Join the IMM Lab staff to explore a number of applications available to assist in data collection. Read more and sign up for demonstrations of form creation using Adobe Acrobat X, Google Forms, and Wufoo at TechInsights!

Do you have a suggestion for a TechInsights workshop? Been struggling to learn more about a certain technology? Contact Josh Butcher at JA-Butcher@wiu.edu with your recommendation!

RDG 433 and C&I 476 students work with area children on a Reading Scavenger Hunt during Paint the Town Pink

Don Powers, member of the Maurice G. Kellogg Science Education Center, facilitated a five-hour Project Learning Tree Workshop on Friday, September 16th.  Twenty-two undergraduate students participated in this workshop which focused on environmental activities related to trees and tree’s resources and habitats.  Each participate received a copy of the Project Learning Tree Activity Guide, a national supplemental curriculum for grades PreK-8 containing over 100 tree activities.