Shambhu Sharan

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn senior staff   

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 08:41 PM

Engineering freshman Gustavo Robles takes part in paper marbling Tuesday in the Central Library. This activity was offered during the World of LibraryCraft event along with tasks that informed students about library services. (The Shorthorn: Meghan Williams)

Library assistant Kevin Schuck’s yellow foam exclamation mark hat told people he was the one to talk to.

The Central Library organized World of LibraryCraft on Tuesday to educate students about library resources. The event was based on the massive multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. In WoW, quest givers have yellow exclamation marks over their heads.

Library staff members Candy McCormic, left, and Christy Allan assist computer science freshman Johnny Weng through his quest to the ultimate game room Tuesday in the Central Library as part of World of LibraryCraft. An event like this is held every year to inform students about the services offered by the library in a fun way. (The Shorthorn: Meghan Williams)

Horsfall said students engaged in various department competitions. Four departments participated in the book cart competition.

Schuck said the event was excellent and had positive impacts.

“The format of the event was different from those of the past, enabling us to collect more data and those results are in the early stages of evaluation,” Schuck said. “However, it appears we made last year’s participation, and a survey of the evaluations indicates a very high percentage of the students loved the event.”

English sophomore Joseph Thron said he had fun walking around and meeting people.

“I learned about a lot of resources the library has,” Thron said. “Although I don’t use mapping software, it was interesting to know about it. It helps students to do research. It was fun being here, playing games and learning about the library.”

Archivist Claire Galloway handed out candies and interlibrary loan manager Rachel Robbins helped with different patterns in a marbleizing painting game.

“All of the excellent and wonderful volunteers helped to make it an outstanding event,” Schuck said. “The purpose was to educate students about the resources of the library and teach students resources available to the students.”

Music freshman Benjamin Morgan said he got involved due to free food. He was glad to participate and had a fun experience, he said.

Industrial engineering junior David Ebenezer said he played video games and asked the librarians questions.

“I went to different desks to ask questions and learned about the library,” Ebenezer said. “It was really creative and cute. I think the library put a lot of work into it.”

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Monday, 24 August 2009 09:16 PM

Left, Political Science sophomore Sharon Tshibangu and Bio Engineering Graduate Ling Grong gather information on the first day of classes in the newly renovated 4th floor of Central Library. The 4th and 5th floors feature new furniture for students to study. (The Shorthorn: Jacob Adkisson)

Renovations lasting from May to August have made some libraries on campus cleaner, safer and easier to use.

The Central Library’s fourth and fifth floors were renovated by adding 65 new user spaces, furniture and machines. Each floor took six weeks to complete.

“It was a challenge to renovate library while it was open,” said Tommie Wingfield, assistant to the Dean for Marketing and External Relations. “It was non-disruptive during summer semesters.”

Knowledge Image Centers were added to the Central, Science and Engineering, Architecture and Fine Arts libraries for students to scan materials and books, said Library Dean Gerald Saxon. Students can scan and save documents to their jump drive or e-mail them if they want to save money for prints.

“Central, Science and Architecture library added eight group study rooms with computers, electronic white boards with projectors and connection to laptops,” Saxon said.

Business administration junior Jeremy Favors said the renovations are contemporary, with more laptop plug-ins and bigger desks for laptop accessories.

“Now, it is more individualized,” Favors said. “I can plug [in] my computer to work.”

Other changes include students being able to use their Mav Express card for photocopy services in every library. The Central Library will get fax machines for the campus community and the public. Also, a scantron vending machine for 24-hour access may be added to the Central Library’s basement. The library catalogue also undergoes changes.

“New user interface, which searches the library’s catalogue is revised and improved which is easier, faster and more precise,” Saxon said.

Every floor in the Central Library will be connected to the sprinkler system. New sprinklers were installed to the fourth and fifth floor.

Saxon said the university’s central administration paid for the sprinklers and pumps for safety issues, and the library paid for the new furniture, technology and new spaces.

The Central Library will continue renovations for several years, Saxon said.

Biology junior Homero Llanas said the tables are better than the ones the Central Library had and the new environment is better.

“The study area is more comfortable,” Llanas said. “I find more space to do research and study. Now, the library has more computers to access and no need to wait. I can finish my project faster and sooner.”

The Central Library also installed energy-saving lightbulbs to make it brighter and ecologically efficient.

Biology genomics junior Laura Lavender studies on fifth floor.

“I like the fifth floor of the library because it is a quite place,” she said. “It was dark and hard to stay awake. Now, it is bright which keeps me awake.”

A quiet zone sign will be painted on the fifth floor, Saxon said.

Administrative manager Carleen Dolan oversaw the renovation.

Dolan said the painters returned Monday, but she couldn’t give an exact date to when the fifth floor painting would be completed.

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Wednesday, 09 September 2009 06:55 PM

Ebby Halliday: Courtesy Photo

The Central Library is sponsoring a fall lecture series featuring authors with a chance to meet them. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Central Library Parlor.

The first event brings Michael Poss, author of Ebby Halliday: The First Lady of Real Estate, and his talk will be about real estate in today’s economy. Halliday is a Dallas real estate agent. “The book chronicles Halliday’s life and business success with intriguing stories, charming humor and business wisdom,” according to the book’s Web site, ebbysbook.com. Copies of Poss’ book will be available for buy after the presentation and both speakers will sign autographs.

Michael Poss is a life-long Dallas resident and serves as webmaster of PerotCharts.com, a site devoted to explaining economic problems facing the country.

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Thursday, 17 September 2009 08:54 PM

George Mehaffy

George Mehaffy will speak to the faculty and staff of the College of Education and Health Professions about The Future of K-16 Education from noon to 1:30 p.m., Friday, in the University Center’s Red River and Concho rooms.

For 10 years Mehaffy served as the vice president for Academic Leadership and Change at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington D.C., a higher education association, representing 3.7 million students of 430 public colleges and universities, said Jeanne Gerlach, College of Education and Health Professions dean.

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Thursday, 03 September 2009 08:48 PM

In a new course, offered under the university’s newly-created Southwest Center for Mind, Brain and Education, graduate students are learning how to integrate separate fields, such as neuroscience and psychology, to better understand how students learn.

The new master’s level course borrows from a Harvard program designed for students interested in “connecting cognition, neuroscience, and educational practice,” according to the Harvard program’s Web site. While UTA’s course is currently standalone, the college expects to launch a master’s program in September 2010, said center’s director Marc Schwartz.

Jeanne Gerlach, College of Education and Health Professions dean, hired Schwartz in fall 2007 after traveling to meet him at Harvard. Planning began in 2003 for UTA’s center, she said. It took two years — it started Aug. 27 with 12 graduate students — to develop partly because Schwartz was trying to create a relationship with school districts, he said.

Schwartz said some questions about the way people learn can be answered by using an EEG to study brain activity. An EEG is a technique for studying the electrical current within the brain, according to MedTerms.com. Electrodes are attached to the scalp. Wires attach the electrodes to a machine, which records the electrical impulses. Different patterns of electrical impulses can denote various problems in the brain.

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn senior staff   

Thursday, 27 August 2009 09:00 PM

Information

College of Education and Health Professions Dean Jeanne Gerlach gave a list of new positions.

John Buckwalter, associate dean of research and graduate studies

Ann Cavallo, professional education associate dean

Carrie Ausbrooks, assessment associate dean

Patty Motlagh, testing, certification and student affairs assistant dean

Adrienne Hyle, educational leadership and policy studies chair

Louise Fincher, kinesiology chair

John Smith, curriculum and instruction chair

The College of Education changed its name to the College of Education and Health Professions to better represent the Kinesiology Department and increase recruitment.

Kinesiology is about improving human lives said Jeanne Gerlach, College of Education and Health Professions dean. The college now includes Kinesiology because graduates will go into a profession which is similar to education but focuses on the human body.

“It will not only recognize all the good work we are doing now, but the change will make it possible to grow in different directions,” Gerlach said. “It will help us recruit students who may want to enter the medical profession — physical therapists, athletic trainers and occupational therapists.”

Kinesiology chair Louise Fincher said her department wants to develop a new health education program, but it will take at least a year. The department has a greater ability to add health-related programs with the name change of the college, she said.

“It brings a lot of credibility to our students and departments to recognize our role in health care professions,” Fincher said. “The new name better reflects the Department of Kinesiology.”

She said she is excited about the name change which reflects her academic programs.

The majority of the academic kinesiology programs prepare students for carriers in health professions, Fincher said. The department is poised to help reach Tier One status.

“I would like to see kinesiology grow in research productivity and continue to strengthen our education’s reputation,” said John Buckwalter, research and graduate studies associate dean.

The name change took one year to receive final approval by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, Gerlach said.

Exercise science senior Glenn Hodge said he considers the new name more accurate because just education seemed to imply everyone would be teachers.

“The name change makes it more clear to me as kinesiology is health professions,” he said. “I chose exercise science because I was fitness-minded and realized it’s the place for me.”

Administrative assistant Susan March said the nursing program is different than health professions.

“There is always some confusion,” she said. “Health-professions-related students often come to us and we direct them to kinesiology.”

Written by Shambhu Sharan, Contributor to The Shorthorn   

Tuesday, 28 April 2009 08:45 PM

Sharon Robinson, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, congratulates the College of Education for celebrating the 10th anniversary of the department Tuesday in Nedderman Hall. (The Shorthorn: Jacob Adkisson)

Ties with other schools and colleges in north Texas help create a stronger university capable of attaining national recognition, President James Spaniolo said during welcoming statements at the College of Education’s 10-year anniversary Tuesday morning.

Spaniolo said the one thing that distinguishes the university is its capacity to build partnerships, like with Tarrant County College, across the Metroplex and Texas.

“UT Arlington has the capacity, will and commitment to take the next step, over the decade or so, to become truly a nationally recognized university, and everybody’s contributing to it,” he said.

Spaniolo stressed the importance of education as the university strives to become a Tier One institution. He said the focus is typically on science and engineering, but the university is committed to both its instructional mission and its research mission.

“There’s nothing more positive than to encourage, I think, the support of our educational institutions. Because that’s where it makes a difference — in people’s lives.”

The College of Education was awarded the school status in 1999. In 2003 it became a college.

College of Education Dean Jeanne Gerlach said the college is the only one in the UT System that holds national accreditation.

Gerlach praised her colleagues as smart, experienced and having a passion for what they do.

Guest speaker Sharon Robinson, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in Washington, D.C., said she was glad to be part of the celebration.

She said the college doesn’t need to just teach students the tools they need to survive in the professional world — they can get that information anywhere. The college needs to teach students how to use those tools, she said.

“Our job now is not just to teach them those things,” she said. “… our job is to teach them to become competent users of that information.”

The future of the country, she said, rests on the shoulders of teachers.

Written by Shambhu Sharan   

Monday, 27 April 2009 06:47 PM

Information

History of the College of Education
 
1963 — Established in the Department of Psychology/College of Liberal Arts
1978 — Established the Center for Professional Teacher Education
1999 — Awarded status as a School of Education
2003 — Became College of Education

source: Donna Chandler, College of Education development director
 

The College of Education is celebrating its 10th anniversary since being named a School of Education in 1999, but the dean said the future will see more changes than the last decade.

Sharon Robinson, president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) in Washington D.C., will present challenges facing the education’s future from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today in the University Center Rio Grande Ballroom.

The college began within the College of Liberal Arts as the Teacher Education Section of the Department of Psychology in 1963, but became a school in 1999 and a college in 2003.

“We have grown 700 percent [since 1963],” said Jeanne Gerlach, College of Education dean.

To move into the future, Gerlach said the goal is to expand the college’s focus.

“We need to focus on global education, which is the future goal,” she said. “We incorporate knowledge of culture in society — we want to incorporate knowledge from all over the world.”

In addition to incorporating global knowledge, the college will focus more on creativity than memorizing, Gerlach said. She said she sees higher education expanding its distance learning classes around the globe. The recent economic downturn is not affecting higher education and the College of Education enrollment has increased, she said.

Gerlach said she’s looking into ways to make it easier for students to become teachers like increasing online classes and distance learning.

“We are looking into nontraditional way to certify teachers,” she said.

Distance education in the college began in 2000, Senior Associate Dean Perry Schoon said.

The College of Education will offer a master’s degree in 18 months, using multimedia via DVDs, video conferencing and online classes, Schoon said.

The college is the first college in the UT System to be accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The college received the accreditation in April 2009, which will last for the next seven years.

Written by Shambhu Sharan   

Monday, 13 April 2009 07:35 PM

From left, accounting senior Mimi Soulivong, biology senior Iris Baccam and kinesiology senior Magdalene Phanpiboul perform the Golden Lotus Dance at the Global Extravaganza on Friday evening in the University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom. (The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard)

International Week ended with music, dances and comedy acts during the Global Extravaganza in the University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom on Friday night.

International Education Director Jay Horn said the event is the highlight of the week.

“It was a great opportunity to see so many different cultures performing in one evening,” he said.

Twenty students from the Fine Arts Society of India performed Punjabi Bhangra, Garba, Dandiya and Lavanya dances with music in different Indian languages.

Marketing graduate student Bharath Tejasvi said he enjoyed performing a south Indian folk dance.

“It was a nice and good opportunity to showcase our diverse culture of India without any borders,” Tejasvi said.

Lanjiang Zhou, computer science graduate student, played guitar and performed traditional Chinese songs based on the story of a boy and girl. He also sang with other Chinese students playing piano, violin, bass and drums.

The African Student Organization performed Nigerian and Ivorian music dances.

Accounting freshman Ngozi Egbujor said she was excited about showcasing her style of dance to those unfamiliar with her culture.

“I performed the dance to embrace my Nigerian culture,” she said.

The Bangladesh Student Organization performed a dance with music that documented the lives of people in
Bangladesh. Four hundred attendees selected this as the best exhibit.

Salangai are worn during an Indian dance at the Global Extravaganza on Friday evening in the University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom. Salangai are ankle bells that emphasize the beat of the dance. (The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard)

Mohammad Rahman, BSO president, said the meaning of song is to make the world a better place.

Shuraih Latifi, electrical engineering graduate student, shared his comedy and made people laugh.

“Everybody is funny,” Latifi said. “You have to look at yourself and observe others around you,” he said.

Sevinj Mammadova, education graduate student, performed a Azerbaijan dance and said the Global
Extravaganza was a like visiting multiple countries — in one day.

Amali Fernando, ISO president, distributed awards at the end of the event.

English graduate student Jonny Rose said he particularly enjoyed the Indian dancing presented by FSA.

“I am impressed with Laos dance,” Rose said. “Laos girls were beautiful. The event was amazing.”

Written by Shambhu Sharan, Contributor to The Shorthorn   

Monday, 06 April 2009 07:51 PM

Students carrying banners representing 50 countries opened International Week, accompanied by the university’s samba band Monday, and ended in the Bluebonnet Ballroom with performances by the UTA Dance Ensemble and the Filipino Student Association.

Student Affairs Vice President Frank Lamas congratulated the International Student Organization during the opening speech for organizing the week at UTA and celebrating its 32-year tradition.

He said the university values different backgrounds, perspectives, life experiences, beliefs and ideologies.

The US News and World Report and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities have recognized UTA for its racial diversity and as a trailblazer in education for Hispanics.

Today’s program provided an opportunity to understand various parts of the world, religions and break down misconceptions about some beliefs, Lamas said.

“Diversity is essential in the achievement of the university’s academic mission,” he said. “The university recognizes the value of diversity in preparing students for employment upon graduation in the global marketplace,” he said.

Julie Holmer, International Student Organization advisor, said 22 students, with 100 organizing committee members, started organizing the event in January.

She said she was happy with the parade, dining services, exhibition and Filipino stick dancing, which is similar to jump roping with sticks.

Taiwanese Student Association members Peggy Wu and Po Ching showcased their country’s puppets, arts, maps and literature.

Music junior Nick Beaudet led the samba band and parade, while ISO vice president Gayatri Desai and psychology sophomore Nicki Chen carried the ISO banner.

“Although it was windy and cold, I enjoyed the parade,” Desai said. “The parade was awesome.”

Electrical engineering senior Caleb Nothnagle represented Germany because his grandfather is German and he wanted to represent his ancestor’s idealogy.

“It was fun,” Nothnagle said.