Faculty and Staff Meeting and Workshop Minutes

Spanish-American Institute

September 10, 2011

 

Schedule:  The Faculty and Staff Meeting started at 10:15 am and ended at 11:00.   The Workshop started at 11:15 and adjourned at 12:30 pm.   Mr. Ferraro invited attendees to lunch at Esca.

 

Attendance: G. Andryuschenko,  J. Arbai, N. Armyakova, Z. Batchaeva, T. Bobrysheva, O. Brazhnikova, F.A. Bush, A.M. Diaz, G. Diaz, I. Dimitrova, L. Eco,  D. Engulatova, D.V. Ferraro, L. Grajo, Y. Kireyeva, L. Klavsen,I. Lopez, M. Machado,  E. Manliclic, M. Marzhokhova, Z. Matiychyk, S. Mere-Mere, M. Nisimov, E. Nibeyro, V. Ortiz, A. Pliner, C. Prager, E. Ramos, R. Adbedl Rasol, K. Rodriguez, L. Dolina Ruck I. Rymer, T. Schwenke, P. Schiffman, S. Sergeeva, S. Shcheglovaova, B. Tagna, A. Tuldanes.

 

Excused:  Anvar Ergashev, Chrisian Gallardo, Bouchra Zouhairi

 

President:  Mr. Ferraro welcomed everyone.  He asked them to:

 

  1. clean lockers and desks of unwanted items;
  2. make use of “Big Pink,” the digital camera, for student presentations;
  3. use of the English Through the Arts Center for student presentations;
  4. report needed equipment repairs and instructional resource material replacement;  and
  5. help us add student names to the College Honor Wall upon college acceptance.

 

Computer Room Protocols:  He asked Computer Room faculty to make sure that students in Computer classes were working on legitimate assignments instead of surfing the web for reasons unrelated to class work. 

 

Accreditation Updates:  Mr. Ferraro also discussed the status of our ACICS application for accreditation renewal and our progress in submitting an application for CEA accreditation. 

 

School Move:  Mr. Ferraro indicated that within the next several months, the school may most likely move to a new location in the mid-town area.  He will keep everyone apprised. 

 

Chairs and Other Faculty:  Dr. Prager explained the academic reorganization into a Division of Career Programs and a Division of Intensive English Language (IEL).  Each Division will have a Business, Computer, and English Chair. The new IEL Division Chairs will work with the Career Program Chairs and with Dr. Prager to assure the English language learning outcomes and assessment of all ESL and non-ESL courses. 

 

Chairs

↓

Career Program Division

Intensive English Language (IEL) Division

Business Department

Freddie Ann Bush

Freddie Ann Bush

Computer Department

Enrique Nibeyro

Bouchra Zouhairi

English Department

Libertad Grajo

Nori Panganiban

 

      

Dean of Academic Affairs:  Dean Prager covered the following:

 

1.      Internet Course Review and Emerging Model for Computer Courses:  Computer faculty and Dr. Prager are working on a revised Internet course with an information literacy emphasis that will consist of three components:

 

·         an updated textbook with assignments that reflect more up-to-date aspects of Internet searching and production,

·         use of public access online databases and tutorials for information literacy skills development, and

·         regular production assignments correlated to the “research” assignments and reports in NorthStar textbooks found at the end of each unit (to be individualized according to the each student’s ESL course enrollment).    

 

The revised Internet course model will directly link application and ESL production skills.  It is hoped that it will become a model for other computer courses as well.  For example, Word students could be assigned regular production of Word documents for ESL coursework, PowerPoint students the production of PowerPoint presentations for individual and group ESL assignments, Excel students the production of speadsheets for ESL class presentations, etc. 

 

2.      ACICS and CEA Self Studies:  Dr. Prager also explained how the CEA Self Study differs from the ACICS one.  She emphasized that the Institute is seeking CEA accreditation for its English-Plus Course of Study.  She distributed the attached handout, “CEA Standards:  Aligning Curriculum and Student Achievement,” and discussed the need to provide evidence of an outcomes-based curriculum that aligns course goals, course objectives, and student learning outcomes for each ESL and non-ESL course.

 

3.      Bi-Monthly Exam Test Duplication Requests: She also distributed a draft form for requesting future duplication of bi-monthly exams (attached).  The new Test Distribution Request Form will help us validate for CEA and others that the Institute is measuring the English language student learning outcomes for each ESL and non-ESL course aligned to each course’s stated goals and outcomes objectives.  

 

Break:  11:00-11:15

 

Workshop:  11:15-12:30pm

CEA Standards and Self-Study:  Objective Bases for Defining, Aligning, and Assessing Measureable Objectives for ESL and Non-ESL Courses in the English-Plus Course of Study

 

During the workshop, faculty and staff reviewed and discussed the rationale for the norming of ESL learning objectives and outcomes measurements at different ESL levels (attachment).

 

Workshop participants reviewed the similarity and alignment between and among different learning taxonomies and ESL outcomes, including:  

 

 

 

 

Attachments: 

 

CEA Standards:  Aligning Curriculum and Student Achievement

 

Teacher Request for Exam Duplication Form

 

Bases for Determining Educational Objectives, Learning Outcomes, and Criterion Referenced Testing