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Fall 2007 & Spring 2008 Seminars
“The Art of Storytelling as a Powerful Teaching Tool”
Presenter: Laura J. Bobrow, Storyteller
Friday, October 19, 2007
Briefing Room
Center for Innovative Technology,
2214 Rock Hill Road, Herndon, VA 20170
Seminar Overview
“Storytelling is the way of communicating with the world. It is the way of teaching and learning. In all the forms our communications take, there is a story. Even the material that is on television or at the movies or in the news starts with a story. Our theories about creation, the nature of the world, the nature of humanity or just how our children grow up are stories.
Storytelling is an art. Thankfully it is being taken seriously as a professional art form, and it is being reborn in the United States. An indication of this is the number of professional organizations, conferences, ways to network and professional publications that have grown up around storytelling.
Before storytelling started its professional coming of age, it was an activity done almost exclusively by the elders of a culture. It was the way wisdom and knowledge was transmitted. This was especially true in pre-literate societies, and we are beginning to recognize that it is also true for literate societies. We are learning that we have been telling stories all along even when we dress it up and called it science, history, psychology or especially language arts. Often the activity termed telling stories is said to be for children, and the only way some contemporary adults allow themselves to hear stories is to bring their children.
In the classroom, students should not only be told stories but become involved in telling their own stories. When students are engaged in storytelling, either by hearing or telling, their communications skills (listening, talking, writing and reading) develop more rapidly, they acquire some appreciation of all the cultures from which stories come, they become more sociable and they achieve some level of assurance and self-confidence when speaking in front of a group.
Storytellers in this day and age are called by many names. They are called reporters, scriptwriters, authors, poets, rappers, singers, journalists, playwrights, novelists, lyricists, actors, technical writers, physicists, musicians, ministers, teachers, lexicographers, correspondents, secretaries, psychologists and professors. And finally, they are also being called storytellers.”
Adora Dupree- The Community Network Arts Reading Room (CAN)
http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles/2003/10/telling_it.php
Join us for this seminar as Laura Bobrow leads us in discovering the art of storytelling as a powerful tool for the community college classroom.
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About the Presenter
Laura J. Bobrow is an author who talks out loud. She has been described as having "the mind of a poet,
the wisdom of a philosopher, the wit of a comedian, and the voice and diction of an orator" or, as one young fan put it,
she is "funny and mysterious." Like the ancient bards, she often puts stories into verse to enhance their telling.
Laura’s stories, poems, children’s poems, light verse and lyrics have been published in more than a hundred venues.
In 1961 Louis Untermeyer referred to her as "the American Milne."
Laura has been creating and performing stories professionally for more than fourteen years.
In addition to her original material her huge repertoire includes folk tales, literary tales, story songs and anecdotes
Laura’s work has been recognized by cultural organizations such as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
and the New York City Opera, who have included her performances in their fund-raising auction catalogues.
Affiliations include American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; National League of American Pen Women;
Poetry Society of Virginia; Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; Women’s National Book Association;
National Storytelling Network, Virginia Storytelling Alliance; and Voices in the Glen.
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What people have said about Laura Bobrow:
"Her pleasure and animation in the telling of the story rippled through the room as people
were caught up in the delight"
"Wonderfully compelling"
"The storytelling community has been given a great gift through her work."
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Audio Cassettes:
"Grimm Tales Retold"
"Laura J. Bobrow, On the Air"
CDs:
"Story Poems" for children of all ages
"I Wrote These for You" original stories for children
"From the Heart" Irish tales retold
"Just Hanging Out" mostly true personal anecdotes.
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Further Information on Laura Brobow available at:
http://www.writeonspeakers.com/laura_bobrow.htm
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Related Learning Links on Storytelling
Teaching Storytelling
Storytelling as an Educational Tool: A Collaborative Website of Educational Resources
“The Art of Teaching: Using Acting Techniques in Improving Teaching”
Presenter: Dr. Gregory Justice
Associate Professor, Theatre Arts
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Friday, November 9, 2007
Center for Innovative Technology
2214 Rock Hill Road
Herndon, Virginia
Seminar Overview
This workshop looks at some of the techniques used by professional theatre, film and television performers that can be used to enhance communication effectiveness with faculty, staff and students. Whether you are trying to reach an audience of one or 100, these techniques will enhance both your speaking and performance abilities.
Topics examined include: nerves, using the body in a more dynamic way, developing a better voice, and improving your creativity through imagination, concentration, observation and relaxation. The workshop is participatory, fun and probably quite different from any other workshop you have taken on teaching skills.
Gregory Justice is a professional actor and an acting professor at Virginia Tech. He has been presenting workshops on using acting techniques to improve teaching for over 20 years. He is one of 2 experts in the field in the United States.
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About the Presenter
Gregory Justice has been offering workshops on “THE ART OF TEACHING: USING ACTING TECHNIQUES
IN THE TEACHING/LEARNING PROCESS” and “THE ART OF BUSINESS: USING ACTING TECHNIQUES
IN TRAINING, SALES AND CORPORATE COMMUNICATION” for over 20 years.
Justice is a professional actor, director, and award-winning teacher of theatre arts.
He has provided workshops for thousands of university, high school and middle school teachers.
Institutions include Northern Illinois, Duke, Radford, Carilion Corporate University, and over 50 academic
departments, centers and programs at Virginia Tech.
He has worked numerous times with The Virginia Community College System and led workshops
for several Virginia community colleges, including, Thomas Nelson, New River, Paul D. Camp,
Wytheville and Eastern Shore.
Justice has conducted educational presentations for the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association,
the Virginia Association of Colleges and Employers, Certified Medical Representatives Institute,
The Health Occupation Educators of Virginia, the Lilly South Conference on Education,
and the Entomological Society of Virginia, just to name a few.
Some of his corporate and business participants include Pfizer Pharmaceuticals,
Allstate Insurance Company, Roche Diagnostics, Lowe’s Home Improvement,
Witt Mares Certified Public Accountants, The American Registry for Internet Numbers,
The Virginia Fire and Life Saving Coalition and the Society of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Trainers.
Justice is an associate professor of Theatre Arts at Virginia Tech.
He has been an employee of the University since 1983. He teaches courses in Acting, Directing,
Theatre Movement and Audition Technique. Greg has directed over 40 productions and has
appeared in over 100 theatrical productions and numerous television and radio commercials.
Greg has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah and a Master of Fine Arts degree from
Pennsylvania State University. He has received numerous major teaching awards, including the
Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Diggs
Teaching Scholar Award for innovative teaching.
He is also a member of the Academy of Teaching Excellence at Virginia Tech and
is an honorary inductee in the National Golden Key Honor Society. Justice is cited in Who's Who in the South,
Who's Who in Entertainment, and Who's Who in Education.
Testimonials from Workshop Participants
"We would like to thank you for the workshop. Even though we did the planning, it wouldn't have
been possible without you. It's nice how an email solicitation can turn into such a successful event.
I've read the reviews, and let me tell you, the participants RAVED and want you to come back."
(J. Giesen, Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, University of Northern Illinois)
· “Thanks again for taking time to lead this event here at Duke. I've already received emails asking
when you're able to come back since we had a 'waiting list'?! Unfortunately, some people didn't
show -- even after email reminders...and it left other people out. In any event, please know that
I'd like to schedule you for the same event in Fall 2007 -- we'll attract other of our 2,300 PhD
students. (D. James, Director Academic Support Programs, Duke University)
· “Our advisory board is made up of representatives of more than 40 different pharmaceutical
companies and composed of trainers, directors, and executives. They expect a high quality,
well prepared presentation that has been designed to meet their needs. I have hired many speakers
over the last few years and Mr. Justice by far exceeded other presenters in his evaluations.”
(M.O’Conner, Vice President, Learning and Curriculum solutions, CMR Institute)
· “It was a pleasure meeting you and experiencing your presentation Friday. The feedback I
received from the audience was outstanding and I hope it supports your efforts to reach people
and organizations with your expertise in presentation skills. You turned our numbers up for this
one, so that is a real tangible measure.”
(R Hollandsworth, Business Assistance Center, Radford University)
· “I was in the audience last Monday when you spoke at Thomas Nelson Community College. You
have some great tips on how to improve performance in the classroom. I suggested that you write
a book on the subject. I promise that if you ever do, I will be first in line to buy one.”
(D. Paradiso, Thomas Nelson Community College)
· “As I was walking in this morning, a teacher who has been here for 30+ years stopped me and
told me how much she enjoyed your presentation last night. She also saw you last fall, but she
said she would love to hear you again because she can never see herself tired of listening to what
you have to say about teaching. (S. Moye, Radford University)
· You were outstanding at the University Development/Alumni/Relations retreat—I have heard so
many positive responses about the quality of your presentation—from the thoroughness of the
topic to the fun and informative way you presented it. You’ve now got quite a fan club here.
(K. Johnson, Virginia Tech Development Director)
· I have absolutely no doubt that every single member of the audience, myself included, benefited
greatly from your presentation. I enjoyed looking around the room and seeing literally every
participant keenly focused on your captivating presentation and being fully engaged mentally and
physically in the activities you had them perform. I don’t recall ever seeing as many “ah ha”
expressions in their eyes.
(J. Knight, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Virginia Tech)
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Registration and Contact Information:
To register, contact: Rosalyn M. King, Chair, CTE at roking@nvcc.edu or at 703-450-2629.
You can also visit our website at: www.nvcc.edu/loudoun/cte
Or
Contact your campus representative:
James Baer and Mary Hanrahan (NVCC-AL); Gerald Boyd , Trudy Gillevet, and Nan Peck (NVCC-AN); Chris Blake (NVCC-LO); Pat Lazzarino (NVCC-MA); Patricia Ottavio (NVCC-MEC); Cathleen Behan and Barbara Gershman (NVCC-WO); Joan Trabandt (ELI); Terry Rooker (GCC-Fredericksburg); and Randy Beckham (GCC-Locust Grove); Nicole Martin and Curtis Morgan (LFCC).
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Register Online:
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For Driving Directions:
For directions, type in your starting address:
Spring 2008
Rescuing Reading: Making Connections for Reading
across the Curriculum at the Community College
Dr. Thomas Lawrence Long, Presenter
Professor of English, Thomas Nelson Community College
and
Ms. Linda Simmons,
Associate Professor of History &Project Director, Reading Across the Curriculum
Friday, February 15, 2008
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Center for Innovative Technology, Briefing Room
2214 Rock Hill Road
Herndon, VA 20170
Seminar Overview
Reading is at risk, according to two reports by the National Endowment for the Arts (Reading at Risk [2004], To Read or Not to Read [2007. Data suggests that both the amount of reading and the proficiency of reading in America have declined in the past twenty years. This workshop will discuss national data on the state of reading, will examine one initiative that was designed to intervene--a two-year VCCS Chancellor’s Commonwealth Professorship called Rescuing Reading-- and will give workshop participants an opportunity to adapt existing or create new interventions designed to strengthen their colleges’ commitment to reading as a component of general education. Rescuing Reading demonstrated measurable improvements that other colleges may wish to replicate.
About the Presenter
Dr. Thomas Lawrence Long is professor of English at Thomas Nelson Community College (Hampton) and has been an adjunct at Old Dominion University and the College of William and Mary. As a VCCS Chancellor’s Commonwealth Professor he conducted a two-year project called Rescuing Reading: A Community College Response to the National Endowment for the Arts Report, Reading at Risk. Dr. Long is the author of AIDS and American Apocalypticism: The Cultural Semiotics of an Epidemic (State University of New York Press) and is editor-in-chief of Harrington Gay Men’s Literary Quarterly. He “blogs” at http://thelongview.tv.
For more information on the Rescuing Reading project visit http://www.tncc.edu/rescuingreading.
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Linda Simmons will conclude this seminar with a grant preparation session as described below:
Risky Reading
Want your students to read more? Not sure what to do? Join a 30 minute discussion and identify one strategy to try, then spend a few minutes drafting a proposal for a grant that will allow you to try the strategy. Proposals may fit into the Initiative’s existing topics, such as “What to do during the First Class meeting,” or maybe on topics beyond those the Initiative currently supports.
The Reading Across the Initiative will fund up to 5 proposals.
Facilitator: Linda Simmons
This seminar is collaboratively sponsored by the VCCS Regional Center for Teaching Excellence
and The Reading Across the Curriculum Initiative
"Chancellor's Colloquy on Great Teachers"
Dr. Glenn DuBois, Chancellor, VCCS, Presenter
Friday, February 29, 2008
1:00pm-3:00pm
Center for Innovative Technology
2214 Rock Hill Road
Herndon, VA 20170
Colloquy Overview
In this colloquy, VCCS Chancellor, Dr. Glenn DuBois will share his thinking on great teachers and their characteristics. He will discuss some of history’s greatest teachers as well as teachers in our everyday lives and the important traits they possess. He will highlight his own work and research on the subject as well as that of others. Dr. Dubois’s research has revealed some interesting hidden characteristics associated with master teachers and he delineates these qualities that lead to effective and great teachers which had not been previously reported prior to his research.
To summarize this session, Chancellor DuBois writes: "Great teachers liberate students and make them succeed. Great teachers in the community college classroom through their talents and charisma, motivate their students'
intellectual growth, evoke their students' emotions, and improve their students' self-esteem. Great teachers encourage students to find meaning in their lives, a sense of purpose and vision. The great teacher possesses a unique form of altruism, an unselfish commitment to the welfare of the student, approaching the Greek "agape"–unselfish love and concern for others. Teaching is an ongoing passion.
After the Chancellor’s opening remarks, he invites you to join him in open dialogue on the subject and the VCCS professional development and research initiatives needed to enhance your greatness. We look forward to your joining us for this important session.
About Chancellor DuBois
Chancellor Glenn DuBois is the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Community College System and Secretary to the State Board for Community Colleges. Dr. DuBois was appointed Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System in July 2001.
A renowned expert on the dynamics of community college teaching, Dr. DuBois helped launch and speed the system’s progress toward the Dateline 2009 goals and has spearheaded the development of new transfer agreements with four-year institutions.
Dr. DuBois came to Virginia’s community colleges with a broad background in higher education and an outstanding record of leadership and academic performance. He served as the Commissioner and CEO of the New Hampshire Community Technical College System from 1998 to 2001, managing educational and workforce development initiatives for a statewide system on seven campuses. He also was the director of community colleges for the State of New York, which has one of the nation’s largest networks of community colleges. In addition, Dr. DuBois chaired the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges from August 2000 to July 2001.
Dr. DuBois received his doctorate of higher education administration, research, and policy from the University of Massachusetts.
Relational Communications
Strengthen your Personal and Professional Communication Success
Face to Face Skills for the TECH- NARCIST Workplace
Trish Rubin, President, EdVentures Group, Presenter“
Friday, April 4, 2008
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Center for Innovative Technology
2214 Rock Hill Road
Herndon, VA 20170
Seminar Overview:
Strengthen your Communication Success in your workplace and personal life… And do it in a New York MINUTE!
Every hour we spend looking at screens impacts our face to face time with co-workers, clients, friends and family. Today we stay in touch at arm’s length! As we fall more in love with technology we become isolated. As good as technology gets, it works against our basic human wiring---we are programmed to connect face to face. Learn to balance your online self with your real time communication self.
How we connect to each other has important significance to our success on the job and in our personal life. Using the tools of relational communication and social intelligence can broaden your ability to develop a connected, more successful presence with others. It can lead to your skill as an influencer in the lives of those you touch…for a minute, an hour, a semester…and beyond.
Discover a tool box of communication strategies under the model of Trish Rubin’s New York MINUTE. This nationally known educator and current owner of an international business development and coaching company is on a mission—to bring the power of our human presence back to our real time relational world. An interactive engaging session!
 Learn to connect to your relational social brain through emotional intelligence
 Practice relational communications tools that will raise your confidence as a communicator
 Improve your ability to meet and influence people face to face
 Build your network of colleagues who can “brand” your workplace as personable, efficient and connected
 Experience communication skills that bridge the generation gap.
About Trish Rubin
Trish Rubin is a business development consultant, speaker and writer. With more than twenty-five years experience as a communications professional and trainer, she works across the USA and internationally, partnering with Business, Education and Not-for-Profit organizations.
Her work takes her to boardrooms, to business venues, conferences, classrooms and to communities worldwide. Her mission is to promote active and continuous learning "Edventures" in organizations through Relational Communication Skill Training.
Ms. Rubin taught in grades K through collegiate level during her educational career. As a school administrator and manager, she served as district supervisor, assistant principal, curriculum director, mentor, literacy coach, and as an interim assistant superintendent.
In her role as a national educational consultant, she worked in thirty-eight states; first, as a consultant to the United States Department of Education, and later as a trainer for many public and private school districts. Currently, she is the national education consultant for USA Today Education in the field of Writing. Most recently, her books, The New York MINUTE for Business are published by Morgan James Press. A Japanese translation is due 2008.
Ms. Rubin's work in professional and organizational development focuses on implementing processes across cultures that create continuous learning. Through Relational Communications training, she facilitates and coaches multinational businesses, corporations, medical professionals and school districts that target communication performance of staff. Her work is based on a model of sustained personal and professional development which results in improved learning.
She is a literacy specialist and curriculum developer and constructs organizational assessments that inform and measure. She partners with technology specialists to interface current technology with best practice in organizations. Her Project Partners are specialists who provide training in the areas of an organization's learning.
Ms. Rubin is the President of the EdVentures Group, a New York based consulting group and the author of The New York MINUTE series of business communication books. Her keynote speeches span business and educational concerns. As a one-to-one coach, she sets the stage for support of organizational initiatives. She has presented at national and state conferences and represents international Coaching and Performance organizations. In the EdVentures Group Education Division, she works across the country, to establish communities of learning in states where performance is measured by state standards. Her work goes beyond learning for the sake of testing. Her belief is in genuine, continuous learning of the entire organization.
Ms. Rubin holds degrees in English Education, Reading and Supervision. She has a Masters degree in Government Administration from the Fels School of the University of Pennsylvania and coursework in progress toward a PhD. Her various articles appear in trade and "ezine" publications nation wide. She is a member of the National Speakers Association, Rotary International, Business and Professional Women INTL, as well as other prominent organizations.
Copyright 2005 Edventures Group. All rights reserved.
Registration and Contact Information:
To register or for more information, contact: Rosalyn M. King, Chair, CTE at roking@nvcc.edu or at 703-450-2629.
You can also visit our website at: www.nvcc.edu/loudoun/cte
Or
Contact your campus representative:
James Baer and Mary Hanrahan (NVCC-AL); Gerald Boyd , Trudy Gillevet, and Nan Peck (NVCC-AN); Chris Blake and Satarupa Das (NVCC-LO); Laura Bhadra and Pat Lazzarino (NVCC-MA); Patricia Ottavio (NVCC-MEC); Barbara Gershman and Barbara Marotta(NVCC-WO); Joan Trabandt (ELI); Randy Beckham and Terry Rooker (GCC-Fredericksburg & Locust Grove); Nicole Martin and Curtis Morgan (LFCC).
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For Driving Directions:
For directions, type in your starting address:
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