1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC
Our weekly services are on hiatus during Thanksgiving break.
2. T-BREAK CHILI LUNCHEON
Monday, Nov 19, 11:30-1:00 in the GLC Multipurpose Room
You are not alone! Join others who don’t get to leave for Thanksgiving break and enjoy some wholesome home-cooked vegetarian or meat chili, corn bread, rice, and cookies, brought to you by your friendly and caring GLC- and Grad-School staff. We asked you to register by 2:00pm on Friday, Nov 16, to help us estimate how much we need to cook. However, if you didn’t register and still want to join us, please come! We cooked enough for 100+. We ask that before going back for seconds, wait until everyone has been served once.
3. COMMENCEMENT VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT – 1st posting
The university commencement committee is seeking graduate student volunteers to serve as ushers at the Spring ceremonies on Dec 21. The University Graduate Commencement will be held at 3:00 pm in Cassell Coliseum and the University Ceremony will be at 11:00 am. Ushers should arrive at least one hour prior to the ceremony. If you are interested in serving the university community in this manner, please contact Thomas W. Broyles, tbroyles@vt.edu, or by phone at 540-239-4365.
4. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR XCALIBER AWARD – DEADLINE DEC 1
The XCaliber award recognizes faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and teams (faculty/ staff/ students) who have made notable contributions to integrating innovative technology in teaching and learning in a course or in a significant technology-enriched project. All graduate students and faculty are eligible for the award. If you know of someone who has done outstanding technology-enriched teaching and learning in 2012, or if you know of a group of individuals who have contributed to a significant technology-enriched project, please complete the online nomination form by Dec 1, 2012. All students are encouraged to nominate outstanding contributions. Self-nominations are also welcome. More information and online nomination form.
5. CALL FOR PAPERS FOR INTL JOURNAL ON INFO TECH & MGT – 2nd posting
You are invited to submit a paper on game mechanics and dynamics for gamification, gamification methodology, processes, strategies, and tools, innovation using gamification, human cognition and performance related to gamification, gamified learning and training, legal and ethical issues of gamification. Submit manuscript by Dec 31, 2012; final version due Apr 30, 2013. Learn more >>; to submit a paper. Questions: Contact Kibong Song at gibbs@vt.edu
6. DIVERSITY SCHOLAR NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN – 2nd posting
Diversity scholars are graduate students who specialize in and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. A diversity scholar’s goal is to create dialogue, provide advocacy, and implement change for a more diverse and inclusive experience for all graduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Nominations are open now. The deadline is Dec 6, 2012. Learn more or contact Dannette Beane.
7. CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS FOR KIDS’ TECH UNIVERSITY – 2nd posting
Kids’ Tech University (KTU; http://kidstechuniversity.vbi.vt.edu), invites
undergrad and grad students to turning their research into a hands-on exhibit.
If you are interested in honing your presentation skills to create a research centric hands-on event hosted on the VT campus, you may apply for a grant award ($50-100) to support your project, to be used towards supplies that KTU leaders will purchase; no money will be exchanged or given directly to award recipients. Dates for hands-on events include: Jan 26, Feb 23, or Mar 23, 2013 (tentatively 1:30-4:00pm). All interested students must fill out the form at: http://kidstechuniversity.vbi.vt.edu/undergrads.php. You will be asked to meet with Dr. Kristy Collins to discuss your project.
8. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR SURVEY ON MOBILE PHONES AND CONTEXT REMINDERS – 3rd posting
A graduate-student team would appreciate any feedback you can provide through this survey for a class project. Their research is related to context awareness and mobile reminders. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Alan Baines at abaines@vt.edu.
9. UPCOMING EVENTS:
GRADUATE STUDENT BOOK CLUB
Monday, Nov 26, 9:00 PM, GLC Room C
Seth Grahame-Smith’s first book, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, was a surprise hit. Then Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter came along and got its own movie adaptation. Want to get serious on this comic novel? Join the GLC fellows and other graduate students for light refreshments and discuss the book for this monthly book-club series. Sponsored by the GLC Fellows. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Smiley at esmark86@vt.edu.
THE VIRTUAL GLC CAFÉ
Wednesdays, starting Nov 28, 2:00-3:00 pm, Lobby of vGLC
Join the Graduate School Staff weekly for online chats in the Virtual Graduate Life Center (vGLC). This week’s topic: End of Semester/Graduation Checklist. Get into the vGLC lobby. The Virtual Graduate Life Center (vGLC) extends VT’s graduate-education community from campus to computer. Using avatars they have created, visitors to the vGLC can currently visit with Graduate-School staff about general academic questions; find Grad-School forms and policy information; consult with the Graduate Student Ombudsperson; attend virtual seminars and workshops; socialize with other vGLC visitors; and explore the vGLC space, which mirrors the real-world Graduate Life Center on the Blacksburg campus. Download the software. If you have questions or suggestions, please email Jodi Cromer (jodilynn@vt.edu) or Marija Telbis-Forster (mtelbisf@vt.edu).
EFFECTIVE READING WORKSHOP – *NEW DATE*
Thursday, Nov 29, 5:00-8:00pm, GLC Room C
Educational researchers estimate that, at best, we retain only about 10 percent of the information that we read. Want to improve on that estimate in your academic reading? The key to becoming a more effective reader is to learn how academic information in published papers is structured and then to discipline one’s self to hunt for information actively rather than passively wait for the information to appear on the page. This workshop will describe how YOU can read more actively and purposely in order to locate needed information, increase comprehension, and boast retention for later use. Questions? Contact Tara at tara@vt.edu. Please sign up online.
GSA DELEGATE MEETING (LAST ONE IN FALL)
Thursday, Nov 29, 5:30–7:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
The GSA delegate body is comprised of graduate students who serve as representatives for their respective academic departments and are liaisons to graduate students regarding graduate student issues/concerns, activities, etc offered by the GSA. If you are interested in learning more about the delegate body and how GSA functions, please attend this meeting, and register to help organizers better estimate for food and drinks. For more information please contact Shaimaa Abdallah, GSA President.
COMMUNITY VOICES PRESENTS PAM MCMICHAEL
Thursday, Nov 29, 7:00pm, Lyric Theatre
Pam McMichael, Director of the Highlander Research and Education Center, will present, "Did Horton Hear a Who? An Exploration of the Small and Mighty Voices of the Highlander Center: Making Change for 80 Years." Through stories spanning eight decades, McMichael’s presentation will address the power to make change through the extraordinary acts of everyday people connected to the Highlander Center. She reflects on the deep listening necessary to find, hear and amplify those community voices, and the challenges and opportunities for deep listening in our fast paced technology-filled world. The Highlander Center works with people fighting for justice, equality and sustainability, and supports their efforts to take collective action to shape their own destiny. Contact graduate student Kate Preston for more information, kapresto@vt.edu.