eInside Events

Time is Running Out to Train Your Brain With Summer Tech Workshops, Aug. 4-7

Tom Mahon, manager of training and outreach for the
Division of Information Services, leads a workshop on
Google Apps.

Back by popular demand, Kent State University’s Division of Information Services is hosting an on-campus summer workshop series focused on tech tools used by staff and faculty. Visit http://training.kent.edu today to see all of the training offerings and to register for these free workshops. Ed Mahon, vice president for information services, explains that “these trainings offer us a great opportunity to provide information and trainings around useful and leading-edge technologies that faculty and staff can really use.”

The final summer workshops are available from Aug. 4 through Aug. 7. In 90-minute sessions, Kent State’s Division of Information Services will walk you through ways to use your apps more effectively:

1. Microsoft Word Basics
2. Microsoft Excel Basics
3. Microsoft PowerPoint Basics
4. Google Docs
5. Google Sheets
6. Google Presenter
7. Cloud Storage
   

Look for the “Train Your Brain” logo for more information
about the Fall 2014 Tech Training Series.

These workshops are an extension of last spring’s training effort when students, faculty, staff and university alumni quickly filled up seats in a series of technology workshops offered throughout February and March. With more than 50 sessions to choose from, attendees were trained in a variety of skills, including Google applications, computer troubleshooting, Adobe products, Blackboard navigation and social media usage.

“These trainings were clearly filling a need,” notes Jay Frye, director of information services service management and one of the leaders behind this initiative. “Attendees consistently provided positive feedback on the trainings and indicated that they wanted even more.”

Come see us to train your brain and make these apps work for you! Again, the full summer 2014 tech training course list, training locations and registration can be found at http://training.kent.edu.

Questions? Direct any inquiries to Tom Mahon, manager of training and outreach for the Division of Information Services, at tmahon@kent.edu.

Steve Sheinkin and Julie Cummins Headline Summer Symposium

This year’s Summer Symposium, sponsored by Kent State
University's School of Library and Information Science and
the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System, will take place
on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the Kent Student Center.

Authors Steve Sheinkin and Julie Cummins are keynote speakers at this year’s Summer Symposium on Tuesday, Aug. 5, in the Kent Student Center. The symposium is sponsored by the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science and the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System (NEO-RLS).

Educational Sessions include Common Core Apps, Weeding Non-Fiction and eBooks, Research as Detective Work (presented by Steve Sheinkin) and Emerging Technologies. Updates on the latest children’s and young adult titles also will be featured.

Sheinkin and Cummins will sign copies of their latest books during the lunch break. The Kent State University Bookstore will have books for sale. In addition to the keynote authors, symposium participants will have a chance to meet award-winning author Angela Johnson. She will sign copies of her latest book, All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom, and immediately following the symposium, guests are invited to a reception to celebrate the book’s release.

The symposium takes place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with concurrent sessions held in the Kent Student Center Governance Chambers. Cost to attend is $75. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

Register at http://bit.ly/SummerSymposium2014 today!

Opening Keynote

Sheinkin's 2012 title Bomb: The Race To Build and Steal The World's Most Dangerous Weapon, received a Newbery Honor Award, the Sibert Medal, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, and was a finalist for the National Book Award. His book The Notorious Benedict Arnold won both the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for nonfiction. His most recent titles are Lincoln's Grave Robbers, a true-crime thriller, and El Iluminado, a graphic novel written with Ilan Stavans.

Morning Breakout Sessions

Children's Literature Update
Presented by Carolyn S. Brodie, Ph.D., Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science
An update on the latest and greatest K-6 literature that is available to school librarians.

Common Core Apps
Presented by Meghan Harper, Ph.D., and Marianne Martens, Ph.D., Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science
A brief talk about the Common Core and some helpful apps to support it. This session will include hands-on iPad activities (iPads will be provided).

Almost Everything Librarians Need to Know about INFOhio and Education in Ohio
Presented by Paula Deal, INFOhio
What do all types of librarians need to know about Ohio’s New Learning Standards and upcoming student assessments, early literacy and career and college readiness? INFOhio has the information and the resources.

Research as Detective Work
Presented by Steve Sheinkin
"Often during school visits, while I'm describing the labor-intensive process of finding and researching stories for my books, a student will say, 'So, you do homework for a living?' I’ve learned to counter the charge by telling students that what I do is really more like detective work. In this workshop, I'll go through the step-by-step process I use to research stories, and try to make the case that the process of researching a true story is very similar to that of following clues to solve a mystery."

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Young Adult Literature Update
Presented by Christina Getrost, Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, and Mary Anne Nichols, Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science
An update on the latest and greatest young adult (grades 7-12) literature that is available to school librarians.

Weeding Non-Fiction and eBooks: Yes, You Can, and Yes, You SHOULD!
Presented by Belinda Boon, Ph.D., Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science
We all know weeding is necessary to maintain up-to-date and useful collections, but how much is “too much," especially when budgets are tight (or non-existent)? And how does one even begin to weed e-materials? This session offers practical tips for weeding specific Dewey categories and highlights the issues involved with weeding ebooks.

Common Core Apps
Presented by Meghan Harper, Ph.D., and Marianne Martens, Ph.D., Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science
A brief talk about the Common Core and some helpful apps to support it. This session will include hands-on iPad activities (iPads will be provided).

Closing Session

Emerging Technologies
Presented by Holly Klingler, emerging technologies librarian, NEO-RLS
Looking for info on the latest techno-trends for teachers, schools, students, and patrons, but don't want to be overwhelmed by too many techie details? Join Klingler for a discussion and a friendly show-and-tell program where you can learn about what's in and what's out in the world of technology.

Closing Keynote

Julie Cummins is a published author of children's books, including The Inside-outside Book of Libraries, Country Kid, City Kid, Tomboy of the Air: Daredevil Pilot Blanche Stuart Scott, and more recently, Women Explorers and Flying Solo.

Reception

Celebrate the launch of Angela Johnson's new book, All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom, with cake and punch in the Marantz Picturebook Collection room in the School of Library and Information Science.

Visit http://bit.ly/SummerSymposium2014 for more information about the symposium and to register.

Porthouse Theatre Concludes 2014 Season With Oliver!

Musical classic will engage you with its drama and outstanding musical numbers

The menacing Bill Sykes (Brian Keith Johnson) dangles
Oliver (Cameron Nelson) as the Artful Dodger (Patrick
Kennedy) looks on.

Porthouse Theatre, Kent State University’s outdoor, summer theatre located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center, concludes its 46th season with Oliver! that opened on July 25. Performances run through Aug. 10. A bonus matinee performance will take place on Aug. 9.

Directed by Porthouse Theatre artistic director Terri Kent, Oliver! is a musical masterpiece with music, lyrics and book by Lionel Bart that contains outstanding musical numbers such as “Consider Yourself,” “Who Will Buy,” and “I’d Do Anything.” Oliver! makes Charles Dickens’ classic novel come to life and will capture audiences with its pathos and drama. Performances are Aug. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 at 8 p.m.; and Aug. 9 and 10 at 2 p.m.

The production features Actors Equity Association members Brian Keith Johnson as Bill Sykes, Patrick Kennedy as Artful Dodger, Rohn Thomas, Lucy Anders, Mackenzie Duan and Kent State School of Theatre and Dance director Eric van Baars as Fagin.

Cameron Nelson stars as Oliver Twist.

Oliver! also features Kent State School of Music Assistant Professor Timothy Culver, Lissy Gulick, Kent State School of Music Assistant Professor Marla Berg, Christopher D. Tuck, Ethan Montoya, Miriam Henkel-Moellmann, Courtney Nelson and Elliott Litherland.

The Artful Dodger (Patrick Kennedy) and Oliver (Cameron
Nelson) consider their new friendship.

The Boys’ Ensemble is comprised of Mary Grace Bentivegna, Anna Clawson, Samuel Culver, Spencer Desberg, Wesley Howell, Jack Kendrick, Margaret Mahaney, Ethan Montoya, Cameron Moss, Carly Nelson and Stanley Niekamp.

Porthouse Theatre’s 2014 Young Professional Company is comprised of Lucy Anders, Jessica Nicole Benson, Mackenzie Duan, BFA ’14, Grace Falasco, BFA ’14, Miriam Henkel-Moellmann, BFA ’11, Daniel Lindenberger, BFA ’10, Elliott Litherland, Darian Lunsford, Dylan Ratell, BFA ’14, Christopher D. Tuck and Shelby Shepard.

Oliver! is choreographed by MaryAnn Black, Porthouse Theatre’s assistant artistic director, and music directed by Jonathan Swoboda, assistant professor in Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance. Lighting design is by Kent State School of Theatre and Dance alumnus T.C. Kouyeas, and scenic design is by Kent State School of Theatre and Dance alumnus Nolan O’Dell. Costume design is by Sarah Russell, MFA ‘09, sound design is by Brian Chismar, MFA ’13, and technical direction is by Ryan T. Patterson. Actors’ Equity production stage manager is Derric Nolte.

For tickets, call 330-672-3884, purchase online at www.porthousetheatre.com or in person at the Porthouse Box Office located in the Roe Green Center lobby of the Center for the Performing Arts at 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent. The box office is open Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The box office accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, checks and cash.

Note: Gold Center tickets refer to the best seats, senior pricing applies to individuals age 60+ and student pricing applies to those 18 and under or with valid college ID.

Single tickets, ranging from $28 - $37 for adults and seniors, and $16 - $24 for students, are on sale now.

Special rates for groups of 20 or more are available, as are student rates.