2012 Fischler Faculty Retreat: Blending Tradition with Innovation
On April 17, 2012, Dr. Wayne Driscoll, Dean of Faculty, gave a resonant welcome to Fischler Faculty Staff and Administration during Day 1 of the Fischler Faculty Retreat. Dr. H. Wells Singleton, University Dean provided an upbeat update on the “State of Fischler School of Education”, highlighting the significant contributions of Fischler School in advancing Nova Southeastern University’s mission of “engaging all students and produce alumni who serve with integrity in their lives, fields of study, and resulting careers.”
Combining tradition with innovation, the 3-day Retreat focused on soliciting ideas on fostering intellectual inquiry, leadership, research and strategies and bleeding-edge instructional technology diffusion to engage faculty and students in a dynamic lifelong learning environment. Faculty sessions centered around strategic priorities on (a) Enhancing Faculty Quality, (b) Improving Incoming Student Quality, (c) Enhancing Student Performance Engagement and Retention, (d) Curriculum Review Process.
A 40th Fischler School Anniversary Luncheon was graced by Dr. Abraham S. Fischler, Founder, who reminisced with faculty and staff about the beginnings of Fischler School and its quantum leap and gargantuan contribution in the quality education of teachers from the baccalaureate through the doctoral levels. On Day 2,Fischler Faculty Champions and Title V-B Project Staff provided hands-on training sessions, i.e.: Weekly Lesson Pages:
- A New Approach to Course Design—Dr. Michelle Tenam Zemach and Dr. David Ross
- Elluminate: Novice—Dr. Maryann Tobin
- Elluminate: Intermediate/Advanced—Dr. David Lewis
- Prezi—What’s All the Zoom About—Dr. Tony Bright and Dr. Gary Brown
- Instructional Media Selection: The Right Tool for the Job—Dr. Anymir Orellana
- Title V-B: What’s in it for Me? – Lili Steiner and Judith Slapak Barski
In a closing general faculty session to the whole faculty Dr. Michael Gaffley made a presentation on the Title V-B Mentoring and Dr. Debbie Nellis provided an update on the Title V-B Higher Education Professional Engagement (HEPEG) Award and leadership development atraining programs at the Chair Academy.the mentoring program. Also it was showcased The Faculty Support Portal and The Faculty Toolbox’ features.
On Day 3, Dr. Stephanie Brown, NSU Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services provided an update on the application of the newly-enacted federal law on reporting satisfactory academic progress.
Additionally, a status report on the “Faculty Webpage” plans were presented by Dr, Steve Thompson, Dr. Troy Robinson, Dr. Michael Guerdon and Victoria Rodriguez.
Furthermore, Dr. H. Wells Singleton closed the Faculty Retreat with enthusiastic words of appreciation to the Fischler School Community with special thanks to Dr. Wayne Driscoll, Dean of Faculty. A videoclip showing of Dr. Driscoll welcoming the faculty to the virtual Faculty Support Portal translating to life Fischlers’s paradigm of “Cause an Effect, and, I Believe in NSU!” was a fitting culmination of blending the Faculty Retreat tradition with innovation.