TYCA-West

TYCA-West’s 2008 conference was a good time! I thought I would share some of the good stuff the participants had to say about the conference in the conference evaluations. Besides saying that the session were generally “good,” participants mentioned that they liked the variety, found them “highly relevant,” and practical. Participants also mentioned that they liked the “collegial” atmosphere and valued the “good discussions.” Participants also liked the conference facilities and the food.
Folks were asked about what topics they liked enough to see again on the confernece program next year:

• teaching with technology,
• commenting on student writing/assessment,
• evaluating teaching,
• student evaluations, and
• family writing.

And folks were hoping they might catch some of these topics and would love to see them on the program next year:

• reading,
• developmental/basic writing,
• multi-modal composition,
• adjunct issues,
• scholarship of teaching and learning, and
• alternative texts.

So if you are thinking of proposing a session for next year’s conference, consider presenting something from one of the two lists above.
As for the negatives, more than one person wanted the sessions to end a little earlier in the day on Friday. Obviously they acknowledge that we all had a good time eating and drinking Friday night and value the networking that occurs over good food!

Happy conference participants at one of the sessions.

Whew…it’s THE day, the start of the 2008 TYCA-West Regional Conference. Everyone is slowly trickling in (had to negotiate the construction in Clarkdale). People are arriving, checking in, and settling down for the Keynote.

I (Shelley) will be Live Blogging the conference from my blog: http://www.committedtechnofile.com/

I will also be posting photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/puptoes74/tags/tycawest/

We need a few good presentations and awardees!!!

The Call for Papers has been extended until September 5th. Please submit a presentation (80 minutes) or a workshop (120 minutes).

Please also consider nominating some of your colleagues. They’re good people, they deserve recognition!

Each year TYCA-West gives out awards in an effort to recognize two-year college English teachers in our region who exemplify innovation and creativity.

In Spring 2008 the TYCA-West REC members voted to add a fourth award modeled after National TYCA’s “ Nell Ann Picket Service Award. The TYCA-West Service Award recognizes the time, talent, “vision and voice” of service and leadership. This may include work at the institutional/regional level (faculty mentoring, research, boards and committees, etc.) or “work uniting the goals and efforts of organizations and groups that promote two-year colleges”(from the Two-Year College English Association Handbook section 7.2).

Awards

• The TYCA-West Annual Teaching Award
• The TYCA-West Annual Part-Time Teaching Award
• The TYCA-West Annual Writing Award
• The TYCA-West Service Award

Each winner will receive a $50 award and recognition at that year’s TYCA-West conference.

Eligibility
Two-year college full or part-time instructors in English, composition, literature, technical writing, and closely related disciplines. Nominees should currently teach at a two-year college in Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, or Southern Idaho. Nominations by colleagues are preferred, but self-nominations are acceptable.

Deadline
Two weeks before the upcoming TYCA-West conference. (Friday Sept. 26, 2008)

Requirements for Each Award

• A cover letter listing the nominee’s school affiliation, status, and teaching experience
• Narrative describing the reasons for the nomination
• Supporting manuscripts (For teaching awards: syllabi, assignments, student writing, etc. For writing award: articles, essays, fiction, poetry, drama, etc.)

Send or Email Nominations by September 26, 2008 to

Mary Verbout
Yavapai College
1100 E. Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-776-2095
e-mail: Mary_Verbout <at> yc <dot> edu

We’re excited to have Dale Allender be the keynote speaker for TYCA-West 2008. Dale Allender is the director of the NCTE-West.

Here’s a link to NCTE West and Dale Allender’s bio.

http://www.ncte.org/about/over/west

TYCA-West Registration Form 2008

TYCA-West Conference 2008 Schedule Outline