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Division NewsLetter
Division NewsLetter
Innovation Connections is a monthly newsletter that features Instructional Innovation Division updates and college-wide innovation and collaboration. Contact Luann Crosby, Interim Director of Library Services, if you wish to contribute to the content.
Message FROM THE DEAN
Message FROM THE DEAN
As we welcome many new employees to the NPC family this year, I’d like to take this opportunity to briefly introduce our division - who we are and what we do here at NPC.
The Instructional Innovation Division houses support from the Libraries, Instructional Technology and Curriculum Support, Early College, Office of Accessibility and Inclusion, and Perkins Grant. The mission of the Division is to promote and support a diverse life-long learning community committed to innovation, creativity, collaboration, that is inclusive in all aspects of the education process. We aim to promote effective and innovative teaching and learning, strengthen internal and external educational partnerships, and foster a learner-centered and inclusive educational environment that increases access...
meet our staff
meet our staff
Tammy Black, Early College Advisor
Tammy Black, Early College Advisor
Where are you from, originally, and/or currently?
I am originally from Nebraska and my grandparents were farmers in Kansas. I am currently relocating to the White Mountains from a small rural town way west of Phoenix called “Arlington”. I just sold my house, and while I’m waiting for it to close, I am currently living out of a suitcase at a friend’s house until I find a rental or home (fixer upper) to buy in this area.
What is your educational background and what makes you great at your job?
I have a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from ASU-West. My first position out of college was at Lewis Prison Complex in Buckeye, AZ as a case manager. I have spent 19 years in corrections as a case manager, GED/ABE/Rio Salado instructor, and, most recently, as a site director for Ashland University (Ohio) who provide correctional education to the inmates in many states including Arizona. The inmates now have personal tablets that they can use in prison. With the Ashland University program, I would enroll “qualified” inmates into online college courses and advise, coach, mentor and monitor their success/progress. I ABSOLUTELY THRIVE on student success. Whether it was my case load as a case manager, an instructor, a site director, or now as an early college academic advisor, it was/is enjoyable to me to help people and watch them become productive, educated and successful individuals in the community!! 😊
What do you love about your job?
Well, I have only been with NPC for a few weeks, but I can tell THIS is right up my alley. As an advisor, it is ALL about the student, putting the pieces together and watching them succeed academically and in life!! I’m REALLY impressed with the type of students we work with. In the past, the inmates, who I worked with, could be a little “challenging” and the prison environment was also very challenging, so I’m not used to working with students who seem so focused and centered. 😊
What areas in this job are your strong points and how will this make you a great resource?
I think the fact that I was a very non-traditional college student (single mom), took twelve years to earn a bachelor’s degree, kind of a knucklehead in high school (didn’t think I needed college), struggled with academics (never took, or liked, math), and had to take college algebra 5 TIMES before I could pass it, makes me more relatable to students who may be struggling with life and college. My experiences/failures are testimony to never give up. Later on, while working as a GED instructor, I taught math almost every single day! I learned to love it and the students would tell me how I made it so easy to learn. I made it “easy” for them because it didn’t come “easy” for me, so I knew how to break it down simply.
What are your favorite things to do/eat/read?
I enjoy following real estate, building houses/projects, riding the EZgo, critters, playing badminton, walking the dogs, music, hiking and just about anything outdoors. I like to eat just about anything and not much of a reader.
What's something you want to do once the pandemic is over?
I want to go to a concert!!
Instructional Technology and Curriculum Support
Instructional Technology and Curriculum Support
Keep On Learning!
Keep On Learning!
Do you want to learn a new skill or instructional strategy or use a new technology to engage with your students?
Faculty and staff at NPC have several resources available to them and they are FREE of charge! These services can be used to improve your skills, increase your knowledge and give you new abilities in many different areas. See a list of services and learn more details by clicking the link below for the Instructional Technology and Curriculum Support September newsletter.
Library SERVICES
Library SERVICES
Information Literacy For Your Class
Information Literacy For Your Class
Did you know that library staff do live and virtual information literacy sessions? We cover topics such as how to use our library catalog, searching online databases, citing sources, avoiding plagiarism, and evaluating and using websites. If your students have an assignment or research paper coming up soon, we would love to help. We can instruct once or multiple times. We can personalize the topics we cover for your specific class. Fill out the form linked here to set up an information literacy session for your class:
Subject Guides
Subject Guides
Have you seen the library's subject guides? Would a guide specifically for your course be useful for your students? We would love to create one! Check out the history course guides at the link below to see the possibilities for your class. Contact a librarian to have one created just for your class.
Library September Newsletter
Library September Newsletter
Check out the Library September Newsletter linked below to find information about upcoming library events such as the first meeting of the Fantastic Books and Where to Find Them book club (formerly called Readers and Writers Book Club). Are you looking for your next great read to talk about at the book club? Maybe you'll find it on the shelves at one of our NPC libraries. Check out our newsletter to see examples of some fantastic new books chosen by our librarians among hundreds we've recently purchased.
EARLY COLLEGE
EARLY COLLEGE
The Early College department has been working on the implementation of a new software product called DualEnroll. This software is specially designed for colleges to use in enrolling and registering high school students who take college courses. It is currently in the testing phase and three of our partner high schools will be using it as a pilot this fall. The full implementation will occur by November 2022, to allow us to use it at all high schools for the Spring 2023 registration. We believe this will streamline our current processes and allow our advisors to have more time to work directly with students.
Office of accessibility and inclusion
Office of accessibility and inclusion
Free Software Helps Students Test with Audio
ReadWrite is free software for anyone with an NPC email address that converts highlighted text to audio format. Once installed, this floating toolbar sits at the top of your screen and turns highlighted text in a webpage, word document, spreadsheet, or Respondus test into audio content.
Step 1: Visit www.npc.edu/oai and scroll down to the tabs and install ReadWrite on your device.
Step 2: Open ReadWrite so that the floating toolbar is located at the top of your screen. Highlight the text you want to listen to and select the play button on the floating toolbar.
Step 3: Once you become comfortable using the floating toolbar, you may want to try using it while taking a Respondus test. You may be aware that Respondus is a lock down browser and that is one of the methods by which they ensure test security. ReadWrite however, is the ONLY exception to their lock down policy. Follow these steps to use ReadWrite while taking a test with Respondus.
ODds and Ends
ODds and Ends
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