Here are your Monday Minutes for March 22-26, 2021. 

Please make a point of reading this email every Monday (or Tuesday), as it highlights key department announcements, opportunities, and events, particularly events hosted by one of the Department of Education’s student clubs. It covers everything you need to know in a single email message. 

From the Department Head 

Dear students and colleagues,

March Mammal Madness logo. A heart-shaped earth.

March Mammal Madness originated at Mammals Suck...Milk, Dr. Katie Hinde's blog, where she founded MMM in 2013. Each year, the tournament has become more popular, elaborate, educational, and fun.

Inspired by (but in no way affiliated with or representing) the NCAA College Basketball March Madness Championship Tournament, March Mammal Madness is an annual tournament of *simulated* combat competition among animals. Scientific literature is cited to substantiate likely outcomes as a probabilistic function of the two species' attributes within the battle environment. Attributes considered in calculating battle outcome include temperament, weaponry, armor, body mass, running speed, fight style, physiology, and motivation.

Through the scientific information embedded in the bout descriptions, participants are educated about inter-species interactions, the importance of ecological context, how natural selection has shaped adaptations, and conservation management of endangered species.

Take good care,

 Ann Dutton Ewbank's signature 

Dr. Ann Ewbank

From the Education Advising Office

  • Students who applied for one-year departmental scholarships should expect to hear back about their applications in April 2021. Awards have not yet been announced.
  • Advising for Summer & Fall 2021 is now open. Elementary Education, Social Studies Broadfield, and General Science Broadfield students can advise with David and Cyndi via email (just email a list of proposed classes and any questions to your assigned advisor) or by appointment (Webex is preferred, but we can also call you).
  • Students planning to student teach in Fall 2021 must attend one of the following two virtual meetings:
  • Students planning to student teach in Spring 2022 must attend one of the following two virtual meetings:
  • The Education Advising Center is currently offering remote advising only.
    • Phone or Webex Appointments: M-F, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, as available. You can schedule appointments at www.montana.edu/education/advising/calendars.html.
    • And, as always, you can contact us via email or phone. We’re available to respond during normal business hours (M-F, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm).
  • All Monday Minutes are archived and available for your reference.
  • Make sure to check the MSU COVID-19 webpage frequently as university and system-wide updates are available all in one place.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources

  • The next two Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Education webinars by Dottie Susag of Humanities Montana will take place on March 24 and April 7 from 2:00-3:30 (Mountain time).  She will discuss The Night Watchman and Native Poetry. Please see the attached flyer. All past webinars are available here.
  • Dr. Bryce Hughes and our doctoral student Amber King recently presented a workshop on microagressions. A recording of the workshop can be found here.
  • Friday, April 2nd, 11am-noon: Equity-Minded Classrooms: Using an International Approach and Inclusive Teaching Strategies,facilitated by our PhD students Shihua Brazill and Marie Bathelot. They will share how to create equity-minded classrooms using an international approach and inclusive teaching strategies.  
  • Wednesday, April 14th, 1-3pm:  A workshop facilitated by Colleen McMilin and Genevive Cox on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion integration into the classroom. More details to come. 
  • The University of Montana recently hosted Dr. Beverly Tatum, author of Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? Check out the full talk here.

Events

  • The next Library Media Certificate webinar will be April 6th at 6-7pm MDT. Dr. Sarah Pennington will present Change Your Language; Change Your Perceptions. She will discuss how expanding our definition of what counts as "real" reading can support those who may not see themselves as readers based on our traditional definitions. Registration is required to participate in the webinar. All registered participants will receive a recording of the webinar.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

 

Take care,

David Reese
Academic Advisor
MSU Department of Education
[email protected]
406.994.5948
he/him/his

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