Portable Professor Program™

Dear Professor,

St. John’s Academic Computing Initiative continues to win praise all across the nation.  As many of you already know, the goal of the Academic Computing Initiative is to meet the technology needs of St. John’s students and faculty.  This goal is being achieved because of your participation in the Portable Professor workshops.  Introduced to full time faculty this past summer, Portable Professor, has received recognition for its ability to provide exceptional technology training.  To date, over 300 full-time faculty have attended either Portable Professor I and/or Portable Professor II.  The continuing growth, success and demand of the Portable Professor Program have paved the way for its next installment, Portable Professor III.

Portable Professor is composed of three separate daylong workshops. Each workshop is carefully designed to serve as a companion for technology-based aids that the E-Studio has created for you:

Portable Professor™ III
The workshop includes elements such as an introduction to Virtual Private Network; teaching using Podium Technology; using the Electronic Gradebook; introduction to St. John’s Central Version 2; Complex Library Searches; utilizing IBM resources; and posting content to the Web, creating a marketing piece and utilizing St. John’s communication tools.

Portable Professor™ II
Designed to help you address specific problems in and out of the classroom where information technology can assist. It includes elements such as creating interactive syllabi, presentations and Web sites and how to use Library journal databases.

Portable Professor ™ I
Will refresh your knowledge of the basics of classroom technology. It includes elements such as: using podium classrooms; managing computer files; using e-mail and calendars; creating backup CDs; using St. John’s Central course tools to enhance teaching; and placing your syllabi online.

As an incentive, full-time faculty members will receive a $250 gross stipend upon the completion of Portable Professor 2 and an additional $250 gross stipend upon completion of Portable Professor 3.  As required by law, the stipend is subject to tax withholding.

Please note: knowledge of the topics discussed in Portable Professor II are recommended prior to enrollment for Portable Professor III. 

To determine which workshop is appropriate for you, view the agendas and workshop schedules on St. John's Central or contact E-Studio at (718) 990-6402 or via e-mail at estudio@stjohns.edu.

Thank you in advance for your participation in these workshops. 

Sincerely,

James A. Benson
Dean of University Information Resources & University Libraries