News Archive

(03/26/09)

Janet Hurn Receives State Innovation Award

Janet Hurn, a senior instructor in physics at Miami University Middletown, who also serves as director of the Miami University Center of Online Learning, has received one of the University System of Ohio's first Faculty Innovator Awards . These awards are given to 10 faculty members and teams recognized for work they have done to introduce digital course materials in the classroom that enrich learning and make college textbooks more affordable for their students. Hurn and other honorees were recognized by Chancellor Fingerhut and Governor Ted Strickland on Tuesday, as well as on the floor of the Ohio General Assembly.

"Making college more affordable, including leveraging technology to reduce out-of-pocket textbook costs for students, is a priority of the University System of Ohio," Chancellor Fingerhut said. "We commend the awardees for developing outstanding, affordable materials for their students and want to share their 21st century ideas and practices with others across the system."

Many awardees completely replaced printed textbooks in the classroom and made digital materials available at no cost to students. Some offered students online eTextbooks and class notes, audio recordings, music files, and video/Flash animations that are not available for purchase elsewhere. Other awardees taught students how to use the latest digital technology in the classroom, including the social bookmarking of web pages, and have taught other faculty how to use technology to innovate in their own classrooms.

As a faculty member, Hurn has been providing both video and audio recordings of course content to students, allowing them to review material as often as needed to maximize learning. Audio and video materials have also been transitioned from CD format to Web-based podcasts and vodcasts (even less expensive). Anecdotal evidence indicates that students find Hurn's videos extremely useful and, in particular, increase their understanding of the more complex concepts covered in physics. In addition to her own courses, she has assisted Miami faculty developing their digital content by offering easy-to-use tech solutions, finding low-cost options for recording digital content and encouraging faculty to work with library staff to find digital resources to supplement or replace textbooks. This not only reduces student costs but also ensures that students have access to more timely material.

"I simply love to teach and to explore new and innovative ways for my students to learn," said Hurn. "I deeply appreciate that my colleagues found me worthy of nomination and that Chancellor Fingerhut and Governor Strickland are so supportive of 21st Century higher education. It was a truly exciting experience that I won't soon forget."

Miami Middletown's Janet Hurn (center) is congratulated by University System of Ohio Chancellor Eric Fingerhut and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland on receiving a Faculty Innovation Award earlier this week in Columbus.

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(03/25/09)

Miami Middletown Downtown April Events Scheduled

In April, Miami Middletown Downtown will present a slate of events that includes a book club, a writing group, an economic breakfast forum and The Cincinnati Zoo's Cat Ambassador Program. All events are free and open to the public. Miami Middletown Downtown is located at 4 North Main Street, former home of the Masonic Temple, in Middletown.

On Friday, April 3, an economic breakfast forum on The Rustbelt Rebirth: Rising from the Ashes of Economic Decline will meet at 7:30 a.m. This forum will examine how the economic hardships our communities face can motivate citizens to create positive change in their communities, highlighted by Sam Ashworth, co-organizer of Middletown Pride In Action. Free continental breakfast will be served, RSVP by April 1 to Mira Smith at smithmt4@muohio.edu or (513) 727-3431.

On Saturday, April 4, The Cincinnati Zoo's Cat Ambassador Program will meet at 2 p.m. Participants will see a showcase of three live exotic cat species during a 45-minute discussion of their adaptations and environment. Through interaction with a Cincinnati Zoo naturalist, participants will learn about these endangered predators and what is being done to meet the challenges to their survival. For more information on this Artist & Lecture Series event contact, the Office of Student Affairs at (513) 727-3233.

On Wednesday, April 15, the Booking It! Non-Fiction Book Conversations group will meet at 5 p.m. to discuss A House in Fez by Suzanna Clarke. Less of a tourist center than Marrakesh or Tangier, Fez is the largest car-free urban area and the best-preserved medieval walled city in the world. While on vacation, Australian photojournalist Clarke and her husband were bewitched by the exotic city, deciding to return and begin a search for a riad (a large home with an inner courtyard) to renovate. This enjoyable narrative chronicles the couple's navigation through a puzzling new world. For more information, contact Barbara Roberts at (513) 727-3337.

On Saturday, April 18, the Illuminati Writing Group will meet at 2 p.m. This casual writing and work-shopping group is for all levels and genres of writing. Peer critique and writing exercises will help you polish your craft while having fun with other local writers. For more information, contact Michelle Lawrence at michellellawrence@gmail.com.

On Thursday, April 30, the Chess Club will meet at 6 p.m. If you have ever wanted to learn the game of chess, help others learn, or meet and play with other chess enthusiasts, then the All the King's Men Chess Club is for you! For more information, contact Mauricio Benty at bentym@muohio.edu.

Miami Middletown Downtown is a multipurpose activity center designed to bring the campus and community together by providing flexible space for workshops, lectures, seminars, meetings, cultural events and more.

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(03/25/09)

Cincinnati Zoo's Cat Ambassadors to Visit MUM Downtown

Miami University Middletown's Artist and Lecture Series will present The Cincinnati Zoo's Cat Ambassador Program at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 at Miami Middletown Downtown.

This program is recommended for grades K-12 and adults. Participants will see a showcase of three live exotic cat species during a 45-minute discussion of their adaptations and environment. Through interaction with a Cincinnati Zoo naturalist, participants will learn about these endangered predators and what is being done to meet the challenges to their survival. This event is free and open to the public.

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(03/18/09)

Back, Creekbaum Named MUM Students of the Month

Jessica Back and Chelle Creekbaum have been named Miami University Middletown's Students of the Month for December and January.

Jessica Back, a senior from Camden, was nominated for the award for her efforts in planning the "Redskins to RedHawks" lecture. Back had seen this presentation in Oxford and decided to bring it to the Middletown campus. She coordinated dates and times, booked the room, arranged for audio visual, worked with faculty to bring their classes and worked on publicity. "Jessica saw a need and did everything in her power to see it to a successful end," said nominator Jan Toennisson.

Chelle Creekbaum, a senior from Middletown working on a Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree, was nominated for the award for her dedication to her studies, while balancing multiple family responsibilities. "Chelle epitomizes the quality of student Miami University Middletown serves best," says nominator Dr. George Esber. "She is a role model exhibiting the achievements of a non-traditional student."

The Student of the Month award is given in recognition of students who make a significant contribution to the campus either in or out of the classroom.

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(03/14/09)

Julie Zickefoose to Visit Downtown on March 26

Miami University Middletown's Artist and Lecture Series continues with a lecture by Julie Zickefoose, writer, artist and naturalist of Ohio's Appalachian foothills.

Zickefoose's lecture on Letters from Eden will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 at Miami Middletown Downtown. Reading from her work while showing her paintings and photographs, Zickefoose will reveal the deep connection with nature that keeps her walking her 80-acre Appalachian sanctuary outside Whipple, Ohio. This event is free and open to the public.

Since 1986, Zickefoose has made a living from her natural history illustration and writing. She does commentary for National Public Radio, and brings the world of nature to readers of her daily blog. Visit Zickefoose's blog at www.juliezickefoose.com/blog.

The Artist and Lecture Series will conclude on April 4 at 2 p.m. with the Cincinnati Zoo's "Cat Ambassador Program." This event will showcase three live exotic cat species at Miami Middletown Downtown during a 45-minute discussion of their adaptations and environment.

The Artist and Lecture Series is generously supported by the Bever Family. Miami Middletown Downtown is located at 4 North Main Street in Middletown.

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(03/13/09)

Miami Middletown To Host Spring Campus Visit Program

Miami University Middletown will host a Spring Campus Visit Program on Tuesday, March 31 from 9 am to 1:30 pm. Check-in will begin at 8:30 am in the Campus & Community Center.

Participants will have an opportunity to attend a college class, take a campus tour and have lunch with students and faculty.

For more information, call (513) 727-3216 or 1-86-MIAMI-MID toll-free or email mumadmission@muohio.edu or to register log onto www.mid.muohio.edu .

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(03/12/09)

Tom Sawyer is MUM's Next Free Friday

Miami University Middletown's Fantastic Free Fridays series continues its ninth season on Friday, March 20 with a performance at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. of Tom Sawyer presented by The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati.

This original musical follows Mark Twain's classic character as he paints a fence, fights pirates and meets Becky Thatcher. It is recommended for grades 3-8.

Fantastic Free Fridays performances are held in Dave Finkelman Auditorium and are open to the public. Groups interested in attending performances should contact Susan Joyce, music faculty member at Miami University Middletown, at joyces@muohio.edu, or by voice mail at (513) 727-3415.

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(03/02/09)

African American Film Festival Goes to Hamilton, Oxford

Miami University's Middletown, Hamilton and Oxford campuses will host an African American Film Festival March 17-20.

The free event includes screenings of four films: Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans, Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, Revolution '67 and Some Kind of Funny Porto Rican? A Cape Verdean American Story.

Producers, directors, writers and cinematographers associated with the featured films will lead discussion of their work. They are: Lolis Eric Elie, Juanita Brown, Marylou Tibaldo-Bonngiorno, Jerome Bonngiorno and Dr. Claire Andrade-Watkins.

Elie, writer and co-producer of Faubourg Tremé, is a national award-winning metro columnist, author and recognized expert on New Orleans food and culture. Juanita Brown, co-producer of Traces of the Trade, co-designed that movie's transatlantic journey and also served as a facilitator during some of the family discussions shown. Bongiorno and Tibaldo-Bongiorno are Emmy-nominated, award-winning husband and wife filmmakers. She produced and directed Revolution '67. Andrade-Watkins is a historian, filmmaker and second-generation American of Cape Verdean descent.

"The films are entertaining, with a strong educational, cultural and political value," said Dr. Babacar Camara, Miami University faculty member and festival convener. "They aim at fostering a greater appreciation of African American culture and the spirit of social change we are witnessing."

The festival goes to the Hamilton Campus on March 19 and includes a roundtable discussion with the filmmakers at 10 a.m. in 408 Mosler Hall, screenings of Traces of the Trade at 11:30 a.m. and Some Kind of Funny Porto Rican at 2 p.m. in 200 Wilks Hall. The last two screenings, Faubourg Tremé at 4:10 p.m. and Revolution '67 at 5:30 p.m., will be held at Miami Hamilton Downtown.

The festival will be in 102 Benton Hall in Oxford on March 20, beginning with a meet and greet at 8:30 a.m. Some Kind of Funny Porto Rican will be screened at 9:30 a.m., with a 1 p.m. roundtable discussion with the filmmakers and screenings of Revolution '67 at 2 p.m., Traces of the Trade at 4:45 p.m. and Faubourg Tremé at 6:45 p.m.

For more information on the Festival, contact Dr. Babacar Camara at (513) 727-3358, camarab@muohio.edu.

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