MIIS@work

…almost everything you need to know to be part of the MIIS employee community.

Archive for category Innovation

Where Should We Go For Your Winter Break?

Nov 13

Posted by Amy McGill in Innovation, Teaching and Learning Collaborative | No Comments

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thorsten84/2341818396/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thorsten84/2341818396/

On the possibly misguided assumption that faculty and staff have more free time to explore new territory during January, TLC has developed a survey that seeks your input on possible programming between semesters.  Do you want to learn to tell more compelling stories?  create more engaging presentations? edit that hour of video into the 4 minute segment someone might actually want to watch? bring a colleague from abroad to speak to your students without spending a dime? Please fill out this very brief survey and help TLC do the best possible job of meeting your needs.

Tags:

MIIS Team Attends and Presents at POD Conference

Nov 3

Posted by Lynn McDonald in Achievements, Innovation, Teaching and Learning Collaborative | 1 Comment

The 2009 Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD), recently held their annual conference in Houston, TX.  The theme of the conference, Welcoming Change: Generations & Regeneration was particularly relevant to the MIIS team who attended and presented.

Sarah Springer, Bob Cole, Peter Shaw, Leslie Buckalew, Amy McGill and Lynn McDonald attended the conference.  Bob and Peter presented session titled; Professional Conversations: An Open Source Framework for Individuals and Colleagues and Amy, Leslie and Lynn presented a session titled; Organizational Transformation: Shaping a Culture of Possibility.  These interactive sessions were well received creating a buzz around the conference that there is some great stuff happening in Monterey.

Some main themes of the conference were: understanding millennial students, using visuals as a method for development, strategies for creativity in the classroom, sustainability on campus, learning how to really listen/understand, learner centered teaching, cross-departmental teams and finding purpose and meaning in Higher Education.

Lynn, Amy and Leslie at their Presentation

Lynn, Amy and Leslie after their presentation

Tags: , ,

TLC Friday Sandbox Returns

Oct 14

Posted by Lynn McDonald in Events, Innovation, Teaching and Learning Collaborative | No Comments

Please join the folks at the TLC for a Friday Sandbox session on the new blogging community.  The Friday Sandbox started last year as a time/space where staff could get together and play with new technologies.  All skill levels are welcome and the goal is to experiment, have fun, and learn a thing or two.  The TLC hopes to have Sandbox sessions most Fridays and are looking for suggestions for new topics/themes.

In general, the TLC is always looking to help with idea development and innovation of all kinds.  Feel free to stop by Kade – they love visitors and sometimes  even have treats!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/truckpr/2990541126/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/truckpr/2990541126/

Tags: , ,

What's happening in Kade?

Aug 21

Posted by Lynn McDonald in Innovation, News, Students, Teaching and Learning Collaborative | 1 Comment

There have been many changes on campus this summer and Kade is no exception.  In the beginning of the summer, IT moved the printer, scanner and PC computers out of Kade.  Student printing is available in three locations: Pacific Lab (CF 442), Coleman library and Lab & Media Services (Morse A 101).

Kade hours will be posted at the beginning of the semester.

Kade is the exclusive hub for the Teaching and Learning Collaborative (TLC).  Staff who are a part of the TLC are:

  • Bob Cole
  • Sarah Springer
  • Kristen Byers
  • Lynn McDonald

Activities of the TLC staff:

  • Innovation: Pedagogical & organizational
  • Digital & New Media Development
  • Idea Development

We love visitors to Kade who are interested in exploring, learning and sharing.

Tags:

Idea Fair

Apr 13

Posted by Lynn McDonald in Events, Innovation, News | No Comments

Please join us the afternoon of Thursday, April 16th for a poster session where participants in the latest pizza process will share their ideas with the larger MIIS community.

Ideas include:

  • Coopetition
  • Entrepreneurship Incubator
  • Reconnecting Alumni
  • The Feedback Loop
  • Rebranding of the MPA Program
  • OneMIIS in CS
  • MIIS Bookstore & Information Bar
  • Micro-solutions

Following the event, the community will be able to provide feedback to the groups to help them reshape and improve their ideas.

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2009
Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Holland Center
Croce’s Pizza Provided!

Unbook Club Update

Mar 17

Posted by Lynn McDonald in Events, Innovation | No Comments

The unbook club met at Maha’s restaurant on March 9th to discuss our latest concept/book, The Art of Possibility.  This book really struck a chord in the group and the conversations were lively and interesting.

The big idea of the book is to change your outlook to create opportunities.  The Zanders use stories to emphasize their concepts and illustrate that we can be the solution.  Concepts such as giving yourself or others an A, making a contribution, tell the we story, its all invented and living your passion are given life in this book along with ways in which you can incorporate them into your life.  One concept from the book, rule number six, made an impression.  What’s rule number six?  Don’t take yourself so seriously.  What are the other rules?  There are no other rules.

The unbook club group felt like they had only scratched the surface in analyzing this book and decided to keep reading it and discussing it at our next meeting, April 6th.  The group will be meeting in Kade at noon – everyone is welcome!

Innovation Conversations – Every Tuesday at noon in Kade

Mar 17

Posted by Lynn McDonald in Events, Innovation | No Comments

Starting on March 17th, the pizza process will be hosting innovation conversations every Tuesday at noon in Kade 20 until the Idea Fair on April 16th.  The conversations will be an opportunity for pizza groups and innovators to develop their ideas with the help of some special guest participants.

Tuesday, March 17th – Lessons Learned from Last Year

Tuesday, March 24th – Project Logic/Start-up Tips

Tuesday, March 31st – Budgeting & Funding

Tuesday, April 7th – Branding & Marketing

Join us to learn more about how to shape the Institute and have a bit of fun while we’re doing it.  For more information and to RSVP, visit the Pizza Process Social Network or contact Lynn McDonald

Pizza Party Success!

Mar 5

Posted by Lynn McDonald in Achievements, Events, Innovation, News, Teaching and Learning Collaborative | No Comments

The Pizza Innovation Process is off to a good start. 47 faculty, staff & students enjoyed some pizza and brainstormed ideas to help shape MIIS. To get involved, join the Pizza Process Social Network.

The party started with a small group icebreaker activity where teams created pizzas with a topping for each member and a name that described the whole pizza.  The pizza process was then introduced followed by great conversations about the definition of innovation, barriers and drivers to innovation, and some tips for success in the process.  The party ended with pizza for all and ideas shared with the group.

If you couldn’t make the party, you’re not out of the process!  Interested innovators can join our social network and form a pizza group.  To “officially” register your group, set up an appointment with Lynn McDonald.  Groups should be diverse, passionate and fun to work towards finding solutions and making a better MIIS.  Ideas will be shared with the entire community on April 16th at the Idea Fair.

Last years pizza process produced the DMC, CNS Second Life and Delcats along with some good ideas that just didn’t stick.  Innovation is a risk, but also an invaluable learning experience with idea sharing and organizational development.  Groups this year will be working on building community, connecting with alumni, understanding and incorporating competition, building a knowledge base and so much more!

For more information, contact Lynn McDonald at lynn.mcdonald@miis.edu or ext. 4633.  Join us for this pizza journey!

Tags:

Pizza Process 2009

Feb 24

Posted by Lynn McDonald in Events, Innovation, News | No Comments

It’s back!  The process that brought us the Digital Media Commons, CNS Second Life and DELCAT has resurfaced.  It’s back with the hope of finding innovative ideas to help shape the institute.  The kickoff event will be an innovation pizza party on March 3rd, 12 – 2 PM in CF 434.  Please RSVP.

People always ask me “can we really keep creating new programs?” to which I reply that innovation does not always mean invention.  We’re looking for new perspectives to solve old problems and keep the institute moving forward.  Nike innovated the running sneaker not because it invented the shoe but because it made us think of sneakers in a whole new way.  Apple’s iphone is innovative because it redefined what a phone could do.

We’re looking to form diverse groups, give them pizza, and see what amazing ideas unfold.  The goals of the kickoff event will be to clarify the process, understand innovation and brainstorm possible ideas.  You don’t have to have an idea to be part of this process!  We hope to inspire groups to tackle known problems at the institute to find collective solutions.

Join us on March 3rd to start this innovation journey.  If you can’t make it on the 3rd, stay tuned for updates and contact Lynn McDonald if you want to get involved or start a group.

More Information

RSVP for March 3rd

Webinar on Using Google Apps in Higher Education

Jan 19

Posted by Amy McGill in Information Technology, Innovation, Teaching and Learning Collaborative | 2 Comments

Several members of the staff are planning to participate in a Webinar on Google Applications on January 21 at 11 a.m. in Kade 10.  All are invited!