Weekly Bulletin

Back up SPARK course materials by Dec. 21

SPARK, one of the learning management systems (LMS) for on-campus courses at UMass Amherst, is going away at the end of the fall 2012 semester. Academic Computing recommends that SPARK course materials be backed up by Friday, Dec. 21.

Blackboard Vista, the software behind SPARK, is no longer supported by its vendor, Blackboard Inc. After the campus’s license expires on Dec. 29, files and data stored on SPARK will no longer be accessible.

Users have several options available for backing up SPARK course materials:

Manually Download Files from Spark to Your Computer

Use SPARK's File Manager to

Hatch to lead Blended Learning Faculty Forum

Heath Hatch, senior lecturer in Physics, will lead a discussion on "The Best of Two Worlds: Blended Course Design and Implementation" on Thursday, Nov. 29 from 1-2 p.m. in the Teaching Commons on the 26th floor of the Du Bois Library.

The space has been reserved until 3 p.m. for attendees who want to continue the discussion.

The Faculty Forum is a series of faculty-led discussions on the challenges, rewards and opportunities of teaching with technology, sponsored by the Office of Information Technologies, the Libraries and the Center for Teaching and Faculty Development.

Syracuse scientist speaks on specification, patterning of spinal cord neurons

Katharine Lewis, associate professor of biology at Syracuse University, will speak about specification and patterning of spinal cord neurons at a Neuroscience and Behavior colloquium on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. in 222 Morrill Science Center II.

STEM talk by Yuretich examines technology and team-based learning

Geosciences professor Richard Yuretich will present a STEM talk titled “Technology and Team-Based Learning (TBL) in Introductory Oceanography” on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. in 138 Hasbrouck Laboratory.

Team-based learning (TBL) is an active-learning strategy that uses class time primarily for investigations conducted by formal groups kept intact for the semester. Prior research has demonstrated that TBL increases student engagement, allows for a more flexible and dynamic class environment, fosters critical thinking and analysis and elevates student performance.

Doctoral oral exams for Dec. 3-7

The graduate dean invites all graduate faculty to attend the final oral examinations for the doctoral candidates scheduled as follows:

Eve Ng, Ph.D., Communication. Monday, Dec. 3, noon, E-31 Machmer Hall. Dissertation: “Rebranding Gay: New Configurations of Digital Media and Commercial Culture.” Lisa Henderson, chr.

Anand Atmuri, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering. Monday, Dec. 3, 1 p.m., Gunness Student Center, Marcus Hall. Dissertation: “Effect of Colloidal Interactions on Formation of Glasses/Gels, Stable Clusters and Structured Films.” Surita Bhatia, chr.

Ahmed Hassan, Ed.D., Education.

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