March 3, 2009

GSCC to offer some classes on iPod; Festival date set

PRESS RELEASE

GADSDEN — Sessions for Gadsden State Community College instructors interested in podcasting are scheduled during the next several weeks and, based on the number of applications received it appears more programs will have to be scheduled in the future.

Sara Brenizer Poovey, associate dean for distance education, said sessions are planned to start at 8 a.m. on March 5 in the eLearning Lab at Inzer Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus. The classes are also scheduled for March 12 in the Ayers Campus Learning Resource Center at 9 a.m.

Poovey explained that the program will provide the instructors with the information they need to enable students to use their iPods and mp3 players as study tools. This will be accomplished through the use of Tegrity, the student achievement system first developed 14 years ago, which captures, stores and indexes classes for replay by every student. Tegrity captures video, audio, PowerPoint presentations and more, depending on the instructor's teaching style. Students can then download Tegrity sessions using their iPods and review the information as their schedule permits.

Educators know the more students can see, hear and experience a class, the better they learn. Students say it is great because they can easily find the information they need in a matter of minutes. With Tegrity's patented Search, students can locate specific words or phrases reviewing only the content they need.

The World at Hand—International Festival and Bazaar: Plans are underway for the annual International Festival and Bazaar at Gadsden State Community College and a capacity crowd is anticipated.

“It seems like the festival grows in popularity each year, so it is important that those who plan to attend get their tickets early,” said Dr. Paula Ross-Derrick, coordinator of international programs at Gadsden State.

Tickets for the event, scheduled for April 3 at Inzer Hall Cafeteria on the Wallace Drive Campus, will be on sale through March 26.

The theme for this year's program is “The World at Hand.” Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m., but the doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Attendees arriving early will have an opportunity to learn about the various countries represented and browse the items being offered for sale by the international students and vendors.

The dinner menu consists of a wide variety of international dishes, many of which are recipes provided by the students and prepared by Sodexho Food Services at Gadsden State. Among the items available this year are curried chicken, Mexican lasagna, black beans and corn relish, torta da abacaxi (pineapple tart) and Egyptian chocolate cake.

Students will have booths set up in the cafeteria to share information about their countries. Some of the booths will have brochures, while the embassies of some students have provided CD's and DVD's. Many students will be dressed in their native attire and will participate in a fashion show during the program.

Dr. Derrick said ticket prices will remain the same this year— $12 for adults and $8.50 for students. Reserved seating is also available. A table for six is $85 and a table for eight is $110. Proceeds benefit the International Student Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for several students each year.

For tickets, contact the International Office at 549-8438 or 549-8324 or by e-mail at cgray@gadsdenstate.edu or pross@gadsdenstate.edu.