In Brief

University Libraries ends
‘renewal-by-phone’ service

The University Libraries’ “Renewal-by-Phone” service is no longer available. Everyone is encouraged to renew their books online at the NIU Libraries Web site (www.niulib.niu.edu). Select “Our Catalog” from the Quick Links drop-down menu and click “My Account” on the menu bar to log in.

Faculty Development announces
January seminars, workshops

The Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center has scheduled five seminars and workshops for January, including an overview of Blackboard. Please contact Amy Deegan at the Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center at 753-0595 or send e-mail to facdev@niu.edu to pre-register. Program locations will be made available when you register. If you register for a program and are unable to attend it, please notify the center at least two working days in advance so that those on the waiting list can be given the opportunity to attend that program.

Blackboard Overview
9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 14
Learn the basics of creating and developing a course in Blackboard, NIU’s Web course management system. Participants will get a hands-on overview of course layout and navigation, and will have an opportunity to place materials in a sample course. Knowledge of Web browsing is necessary. Advanced registration is required.

Multimedia Sampler
9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16
This hands-on workshop will highlight and review the assortment of different multimedia tools faculty can use to enhance their teaching skill set. Topics will include video/audio capture/editing, streaming video, integrating digital images to enhance PowerPoint presentations, short focused tutorials, multimedia integration into Blackboard, CD/DVD burning and developing portable e-portfolios. This introductory workshop is intended to inform and create awareness about the range of multimedia possibilities for instruction. Participants should have a good understanding of the Windows directory structure, including saving and accessing files. Advanced registration is required.

Quick Online Assignment Turnaround
2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22
In this hands-on workshop, faculty will learn to efficiently post, receive, grade and provide feedback on assignments using Blackboard. One of the most exciting new features of Blackboard 6 is the Assignment Manager (separate from the Digital Drop Box), which allows quick turnaround of assignments. This will reduce time spent on the entire assignment process. If you currently collect assignments manually, or if you ever used the Digital Drop Box to receive assignments in the past, you will be amazed at the quick turnaround this new assignment feature provides you. Advanced registration is required.

Using Excel for Managing Grades
9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26
Many faculty find that keeping an electronic record of students’ grades saves them time and energy at the end of the semester, when scores need to be averaged and grades submitted. Faculty who attend this workshop will receive a copy of an Excel grade book template that can be customized for their particular needs. Whether you keep a traditional paper grade book or use Blackboard for storing grades, this Excel grade book can help you quickly calculate student scores. While this is not a Blackboard workshop, one segment of the session will cover how scores can be downloaded from Blackboard into Excel. Basic computer skills, including saving and opening files, are essential. Advanced registration is required.

Creating and Publishing Streaming Media with Real Helix
1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29
This hands-on workshop is intended for faculty who intend to stream video/audio clips online. Participants will capture video/audio and encode the clip with the software program Real Helix for the purpose of streaming. Participants also will be shown how to upload these files to the university’s media server using an FTP program. Previous attendance at a video capturing program is preferred but not required. Advanced registration is required, and seating is very limited.

Relay for Life to host
kick-off party Jan. 21

NIU’s American Cancer Society Colleges against Cancer will hold a Relay for Life kick-off party from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Rec Center. Everyone interested in participating in NIU’s Relay for Life, the festive overnight fundraiser scheduled for April 2 and 3, is invited to attend.

Saturday art classes
available for children

The spring semester session of Saturday art classes for children will cost only $15. The program has been expanded to include 4- and 5-year-olds, so the age range of eligible children is 4 to 14. There are five sessions beginning Saturday, Jan. 31, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Classes meet in the Art Building. The teachers are art education majors supervised by NIU faculty.

Children are divided into classes by age. They work on a variety of projects, in a range of art media and reflecting a variety of world cultures. The children’s art is displayed in a public exhibition with a reception Wednesday, March 3. To learn more, or to receive a registration form, contact the NIU Community School of the Arts by Friday, Jan. 23, at 753-1450. Be sure to mention that you are an NIU staff or student calling about the Saturday art classes.

Euchre tournament, raffle
to benefit NIU softball team

The NIU Softball Euchre Tournament and Raffle is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7, at the River Heights Golf Course Clubhouse, 1100 S. Annie Glidden Road. Enjoy a ballpark atmosphere and the opportunity to meet the NIU softball team and coaching staff. The cash bar opens at 6 p.m., and the first shuffle will begin at 7 p.m. There will be raffle opportunities and prizes for the tournament winners.

The cost is $25 pre-registration (by Tuesday, Feb. 3) or $30 at the door. Pre-registration is encouraged, as space is limited. For more information, call Tara Hawkins at 753-5510 or send e-mail to thawkins@niu.edu.

NIU Clarinet Cornucopia
scheduled for Feb. 21

The third annual Clarinet Cornucopia is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21.

The event focuses on Japanese music this year and features a solo performance of Japanese music by John Bruce Yeh, clarinetist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Other highlights are a talk on jazz clarinet and Japan by E. Taylor Atkins, associate professor, Department of History; a clarinet choir composed of attendees; and master classes with John Bruce Yeh and faculty host Greg Barrett.

All events are in the Music Building. The day begins at 9 a.m. For more information, call Renee Page at 753-1450.

Community School of the Arts
announces sixth Performathon

On Saturday, March 6, the NIU Community School of the Arts hosts the sixth Performathon, featuring music performances, a student art exhibit, a music swap, and much more. This fundraising event is for the scholarship programs, so participating students will be requesting pledges from friends and family.

The community school is accepting contributions for the music swap. Please bring your used sheet music, CDs, records, tapes and any other musical items to Room 132 of the Music Building during office hours, or call 753-1450 to arrange a pick-up.

Summer in the Arts program
announces 2004 camps

Camp booklets are available for the 2004 Summer in the Arts at Northern program.

Four residential camps are scheduled for the last two weeks of July: Theatre Arts Camp Junior (grades 6-8) is July 18-23, while Theatre Arts Camp Senior (grades 9-12), NIU Jazz Camp (grades 8-12) and Visual Arts Experience (grades 8-12) are July 25-30.

Campers stay in the Summer Conference Center and enjoy a full daytime curriculum of focused arts activities. For more information, call Renee Page at 753-1450.

1-12-04