LLCC Illinois SCOERs team receives 3D printer

LLCC Illinois SCOERs team members, Michele Leigh and Nicole SwansonErin Shanle, assistant professor of biology, and Jan Dowell, adjunct instructor of biology, are developing an open education resource (OER) textbook for LLCC ‘s Human Nutrition course as part of Illinois Support for Creation of Open Educational Resources (SCOERs) grant project funded by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education. The LLCC Illinois SCOERs team received a 3D printer as part of the grant program, and Carmen Allen, professor of computer science, will design and develop projects for students to complete as a part of the class. The Human Nutrition course will incorporate a gardening project for students to learn how to grow their own food and to begin community gardens. The 3D printer will be used to produce gardening hand tools to support the gardening project and models of macromolecules associated with human nutrition to assist with student learning. The Illinois SCOERs grant project supports lessening financial barriers of textbooks costs for students and increasing community engagement by promoting community gardening. As part of the grant project, a team of LLCC employees with a variety of skills and expertise has been formed to support the OER process.

The LLCC Illinois SCOERs team members and their team roles:
Carmen Allen, 3D Printing Coordinator
Jan Dowell, Industry Sector Representative
Kim Eddings, Accessibility Coordinator
John Freml, Instructional Designer
Tammy Kuhn-Schnell, Principal Investigator
Leslie Ross, Grant Librarian
Erin Shanle, Subject Specialist and Author
Brent Todd: Co-Principal Investigator and Proofreader
Amanda Wiesenhofer: Copyright Coordinator

CARLI representatives in photo: Michele Leigh and Nicole Swanson

Ada Range tree dedication today

Today at 3:15 p.m. a there will be a short and informal dedication ceremony at the tree that has been planted in Adrienne (Ada) Range’s honor. Ada is a former LLCC Natural and Agricultural Sciences faculty member who taught Anatomy and Physiology and who passed away in May 2022. The tree is located in front of the Millennium Center. All are invited to attend to honor Ada and share stories and memories. Anyone who has an “Ada’s Army” T-shirt is encouraged to wear it today.  Her family will also be present.

Inclusivity Series features Salsa Ambassador today in A. Lincoln Commons

Julio Barrenzuela wearing a hat that says "Salsa" and holding a microphoneLLCC’s Inclusivity Speaker Series today sponsors Julio Barrenzuela, the “Salsa Ambassador,” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons. Come and learn how to dance the Salsa!

Barrenzuela has been teaching Salsa for over 10 years in any place that he can, including nursing homes, facilities for those with disabilities and youth organizations. He says, “Music brings people together, and that’s what I want to do through my efforts. The hope is to make a difference by giving the community’s most unlikely people, be it from their wheelchair or jail cell, the opportunity to see themselves as salsa dancers and therefore members of a much larger ‘salsa community.’”

He is a veteran of the Navy and has a doctorate in cultural studies from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. He is currently president of CIELO, a culturally integrated organization dedicated to promoting the education, employment and culture of Latino Americans in communities that are within about a 60-mile radius of Springfield.

 

Sign up to help with United Way’s Day of Action

Day of Action. Friday, April 28th 2023. Pictures of people volunteering. United Way of Central Illinois. Thank you to our sponsors Rocket Fitness and Forsyth Insurance Group Inc.United Way of Central Illinois is hosting a Day of Action on Friday, April 28 from 1-4 p.m. Per United Way, “Day of Action is a program designed to promote volunteerism and demonstrate what we can achieve when individuals, organizations and businesses work together.”

LLCC will be sending a delegation of faculty and staff to show our support for United Way and our community. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Faculty and staff can choose to drive themselves to the Day of Action location (TBD), or carpool together in a LLCC vehicle.
  • We will be assigned a work location closer to the day of the event. As of right now, there are opportunities to do landscaping and painting. In the past, participants have helped sort food and clothing as well as tear down small structures.
  • Participants will receive a free T-shirt. Yippee!
  • You will have the opportunity to get to know some other awesome people that work at LLCC.
  • Since this is during the workday, no need to clock out while volunteering.

Interested? Check in with your supervisor to make sure you can participate, and then fill out the United Way Day of Action Sign Up Form by Wednesday, April 5. There are a limited number of spots, so talk with your supervisor today.

Questions? Reach out to Leslie Johnson, assistant vice president, student success, at leslie.johnson@llcc.edu.