DR. GREGORY FRANCOM, a professor of e-learning, has published the first-ever multiplatform interactive digital textbook on educational technology. His book, “Educational Technology for Teachers,” is designed for undergraduate university classes. It is a handbook for K-12 teachers who want to learn technology tools and follow research-based guidelines for learning in the Information Age. “Educational Technology for Teachers” features over 70 interactive elements, including video, slideshows, visual stories, image tutorials, sample projects and quizzes. DR. GINNY LEWIS, professor of German, has translated Zsigmond Moricz’s Hungarian novel, “Sárarany,” into English for the first time. The translated title, released in July, is “Gold in the Mud: A Hungarian Peasant Novel.” It tells the story of peasant Dani Turi, who longs to rise above his low social status and make money off the land he farms, but is hindered by wealthy landowners. This is the second book Lewis has translated, and she plans to translate another. She has also written a book in German. DR. SARA SCHMIDT and DR. ALLEN BARCLAY, Northern State University School of Business faculty, were both selected for the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) grant. They will participate in a nine-week course focusing on online learning effectiveness and quality delivery methods. This was a competitive grant – two of the five selected to receive it came from the NSU School of Business. ELYCE KASTIGAR coached the Aberdeen Swim Club to its first state championship since 1982. Kastigar, who also coaches the NSU swim team, then cheered her daughter Hannah at Junior Nationals in California. Hannah Kastigar placed fifth in the 400-meter individual medley and appeared on the awards stand. DR. MARCELA FAFLAK presented a workshop about music education in the United States at the J. William Fulbright Commission Center in Prague on July 17. Faflak teaches piano, keyboard literature and piano pedagogy. Her workshop was attended by about 10 music students and professionals interested in American music education. Sarka Stehnova, NSU international student from the Czech Republic, attended and shared her positive personal experience. Richard O’Rourke, NSU international adviser, was available via Skype during a presentation. DR. STEVEN USITALO, associate professor of history, published an article, “Murav’ev and Radiščev: Forging and Encountering the Myth of Lomonosov,” in the journal Russian Literature. In June, Usitalo participated in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Silberman Seminar. This year’s theme was “Teaching about the Holocaust in the Soviet Union: Perpetrators, Collaborators, Bystanders, and Victims.” In July, Usitalo attended a Russian studies conference in Belgium. He presented his monograph: “The Invention of Mikhail Lomonosov: A Russian National Myth,” and delivered a paper on Russia’s first “museum,” the Kunstkamera. DR. JON SCHAFF, NSU political science professor, offers expertise on many political issues – locally, statewide and even nationally. Over the years, he’s been quoted in national media outlets such as U.S. News; ABC; Roll Call, a Washington, D.C.-based publication; Financial Times; and USA Today. Calls increase during an election year – his opinions were sought regarding South Dakota’s political races this fall. He fields calls on all political topics, but Schaff said his areas of expertise include the presidency, Congress, American political institutions and American political thought. DRS. ALYSSA ANDERSON and JON MITCHELL led NSU biology/environmental science students this summer in an effort to identify and test mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus. The NSU biology team had mosquito trap stations located at eight sites in Brown County. This is the second year that NSU participated in the statewide mosquito tracking effort. The team helped expand the Brown County test region beyond the city of Aberdeen. DR. CONNIE RUHL-SMITH and RICHARD O’ROURKE represented NSU at a Washington, D.C., forum that focused on internationalizing U.S. college campuses. The EducationUSA Forum, held in June, brought together 550 university representatives with more than 60 EducationUSA regional educational experts and advisers from around the world. They discussed strategies for helping international students to study in the U.S. and promoting U.S. study abroad. Ruhl-Smith is director of international programs/director of special initiatives. O’Rourke is NSU’s international recruiter. NORTHERN TODAY 4 FALL 2014 NORTHERN NEWS FA C U LT Y AND S TA F F N EWS
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