Curriculum Vitae (Brief)

J. D. Cootz

3200 College Park Drive — Conroe, TX 77384
Phone: 936.273.7048 — Email: jcootz@lonestar.edu

Education

Ph.D. Educational Administration Human Resource Development (focus on Organizational Development). Currently ABD. Texas A&M University. 2000-Present.

Level II Gerontology Certificate. Post-graduate work. Our Lady of the Lake University. 2002.

M.A. Human Sciences (Psychology and Sociology). Our Lady of the Lake University. 1997-1999.

B.A. Psychology, Minor in English. Our Lady of the Lake University. 1995-1997.

A.A. Associate of Arts. North Harris College (Lone Star College-North Harris). 1993-1995.

Experience

Professor of Sociology. Lone Star College-Montgomery. 08/2001-Present

Department Chair, Behavioral Sciences. Lone Star College-Montgomery. 01/2008-08/2012

Lecturer of Sociology and Psychology. Our Lady of the Lake University. 08/2005-05/2011

Lecturer of Sociology and Social Sciences. The University of Houston Downtown. 2001-2002

Case Manager/Counselor. Star of Hope. Houston, Texas. 04/1998-08/2001

Teacher. Psychology, Sociology, Biology. South West High School.

American Home Services. Home remodeling. 1993-1998

U.S. Army. 101st Airborne, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. MI (LI) BN, Soto Cano Airbase, Honduras. Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, Texas. Fort Dix, New Jersey. 1989-1992

Publications/Presentations

NISOD Presenter “Learning Networks: Cooperating Across the Curriculum with Themed Classes.” May 2013

NISOD Presenter “Learning Networks: Students’ Response to Themed Classes.” May 2013

Lone Star College System IT Symposium 2013 Presenter “iPad-Centric Instruction, Collaboration, and Efficacy.” March 2013

League for Innovation Conference 2013 Presenter “Cooperating Across the Curriculum: Creating Powerful Alternatives to Learning Communities at Lone Star College-Montgomery.” March 2013

TCCTA Convention GIFTS Sessions on iPad-Centric Classrooms. February 2013

HETL Conference 2013 Presenter “Learning Communities, Linked Classes, and Learning Networks.  What’s the difference?” January 2013

HETL Conference 2013 “Learning Communities, Linked Classes, and Learning Networks.  What’s the difference?” Abstract submitted. November 2012

Presentation for Lone Star College System Board of Trustees “Learning Networks at LSC-Montgomery.” November 2012

Communication Across the Curriculum Presenter “Themed Classes Across the Curriculum” Panel. September 2012

NISOD Presenter “Themed Classes Across the Curriculum.” May 2012

“The Tao of Classroom Management” Seminar for Developmental Instructors. June 2012

Presentation for Lone Star College System Board of Trustees “iPad-Centric Instruction, Collaboration, and Efficacy.” Presented at the Board’s Summer Retreat. June 2012

Communication Across the Curriculum Panel Member “mLearning Trends-Getting Past the Novelty.” February 2012

Faculty Development and Initiatives Group (Faculty-DIG) Workshops on iPads in the Classroom. FA 2011, SP 2012

Faculty Development and Initiatives Group (Faculty-DIG) Workshops on Classroom Management. FA 2009, SP 2010, SP 2011, FA 2011

Faculty Development and Initiatives Group (Faculty-DIG) Workshops on Syllabus Construction. SP 2010, SP 2011

Faculty Development and Initiatives Group (Faculty-DIG) Workshops on Technology Use in the Classroom. FA 2009, FA 2011

Third Thursdays Professional Development Seminars for Adjuncts FA 2008 – FA 2009

NHMCCD Catalyst “The Tao of Distance Learning.” August 2006

NHMCCD Catalyst “The Tao of Distance Learning.” August 2005

Digital Editing: Making Clips from Analog Sources. FA 2005-SP 2006

Digital Editing: Using Software to Capture Video. FA 2004-SP 2005

Using Audio/Video Clips in an Online Classroom. SP 2004

Windows Movie Maker in the Classroom. Presentation of Finished Product to Chancellor Pickleman and BASS Division. SP 2004

Research Experience

Creating effective and collaborative learning spaces. Research, design and implement THE Classroom. SU 2012-Current

Creating effective and collaborative instructional spaces. Research, design and implement THE Collaboration Space. SU 2012-Current

Creating effective learning spaces with instructional support. Research, design and implement THE Lecture Hall. SU 2012-Current

Creating effective collaborative spaces for faculty. Research, design and implement THE Studio. FA 2012-Current

Learning Networks of Themed Classes. LASSI and Self-Efficacy. SP 2012-Current

Learning Networks of Themed Classes. Completion and Success Rates of Students. SP 2012-Current

Use of Technology in the Classroom. Literature review in preparation for applying for the Chancellor’s Faculty Technology Innovation Grant. FA 2011-SP 2012

Use of Groups and Collaboration in the Classroom. Literature review in preparation for applying for the Chancellor’s Faculty Technology Innovation Grant. FA 2011-SP 2012

Synchronous versus Asynchronous Workforce Instruction: Success Rates of Human Services Students. Research conducted during sabbatical. FA 2009

Effective Teaching and Instruction. Interviews conducted for Qualitative Research Study. FA 2007

Courses Taught

Courses taught for Lone Star College System (online and face to face) include: Principles of Sociology; Principles of Sociology linked with English Composition and Rhetoric 2; Social Problems; Marriage and Family; Minority Studies; Social Psychology; Psychology of Adjustment; and Psychology of Personality. 08/2001-Present

Courses taught for Our Lady of the Lake University (online and face to face) include: Sociology of Communities; Marriage and Family; The Family; Organizations; Class, Race, & Gender; Sociology of Aging; Social Change; Writing in Sociology; and Research Methods. 08/2003-05/2011

Courses taught for the University of Houston Downtown (hybrid and traditional face to face) include: Minorities in America; Social Inequality; and Death & Dying. 01/2009-05/2010

Professional Development

League for Innovation 2013. Dallas, TX. March 2013

Texas Community College Teacher’s Association. Houston, TX. February 2013

Higher Ed. Teaching and Learning Conference 2013. Orlando, FL. January 2013

STEMtech Conference 2012. Kansas City, MO. October 2012

NISOD Conference 2012. Austin, TX.May 2012

Council on Family Relations Conference 2011. Orlando, FL. November 2011

NISOD Conference 2011. Austin, TX. May 2011

Communication Across the Curriculum Attendee/Presenter. Current

Angel Online Course Management System Instructor, Designer. Current

Technology in the Classroom. Online sessions, tech articles, list serves, subscriptions. Current

Special Projects/Initiatives

Outdoor Amphitheater on Lone Star College-Montgomery campus. Built of a combination of cement, rock and natural materials. Approximately 75 seats. Adjacent stone seating, picnic areas, speakers, and lighting are also planned. Currently in the planning stages. The amphitheater will be used for classroom space, a student gathering space, and outdoor performances of all kinds. SP 2013-Ongoing

THE (Technology Highlighting Excellence) Initiatives. The initiatives are based on reclaiming underused or undesirable areas on campus and transforming them into collaborative spaces. THE Classroom is an instructional space that places a premium on space and student collaboration. Technology, furniture, space, and instructional approach are the cornerstones. Also included in this space is an imbedded area for professional development. It takes place inside the classroom. THE Lecture Hall is an instructional space that takes a larger class (75 students) and builds in tutoring, writing support, and supplemental instruction. THE Collaboration Space is a collaborative space for students and faculty. The space and equipment facilitate collaboration and innovation. THE Studio is a collaborative space for faculty to work together, learn from each other, show best practices, and inspire each other. FA 2012-Ongoing

Butterfly Garden on Lone Star College-Montgomery campus. Native, non-invasive species. Both nectar and host plants are featured. Large berm is reclaimed for student and faculty use. Partnership with Lone Star College-Montgomery Facilities. Project is ongoing. Groundbreaking in November of 2012 and completion in Spring 2013. Maintenance and care are ongoing efforts. SU 2012-Ongoing

Learning Networks: An alternative to learning communities. Currently, two themes: Fear and Horror & Futuristic. This initiative is faculty driven, interdisciplinary, and has more than one service-learning component. Students are also encouraged to participate in shared activities that help address some of the weaknesses found in the data from the most recent Community College Survey of Student Engagement. Additionally, faculty members from all four academic divisions participate. Focus is on “How can we better engage the students at Lone Star College-Montgomery?”  To this end, data is being collected from several sources: LASSI pretest/posttest, affective pretest/posttest questions, SLOs for communication, SLOs for social responsibility, completion rates for students and how they compare to the rest of the college and system, and success rates for students and how they compare to the rest of the college and system. Planning started Summer 2011 with the first 16 sections offered during Spring 2012. SP 2013 had 20 instructors, 27 courses, and 31 sections. FA 2013 has 32 instructors, 21 different courses, and 40 unique sections. This projects to over 1,000 students. SU 2011-Ongoing

Shift in the focus of student projects. The idea was to incorporate assignments in my classes that force students to approach their work at a higher level than the norm. Rote, lower level classwork is tossed out in favor of higher levels of engagement. Students still have to master the course material. However, their products are of a higher level because of the emphasis on critical thinking, synthesis, and practical application of knowledge. In essence, elements of Bloom’s Taxonomy and Vygotsky’s Scaffolding are combined to help students achieve. Student products have been featured in newspaper articles, in the Writing Across the Curriculum Journal, in the online version of the WAC Journal, at the Communication Across the Curriculum Conference, and in Honors Day Presentations. SP 2007-Ongoing

Interests

The Innovative Classroom

Ludology: Implementing it in the classroom

Flipping the classroom

Effective and appropriate use of technology in the classroom

Professional Development: Imbedded in the Classroom

The learning process: How does learning occur?

Fundamentals of effective training

Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences

The relationship between training and learning

The effect of multiple intelligences on training and learning

Implementation of online learning courses

The future of education delivery

Academic Service Activities

THE Initiatives- formed Spring 2013. Focus on effective use of space, technology, and classroom design. Purpose is maximizing student success through effective classroom strategies. Measured through student success and student completion. THE Classroom, THE Collaborative Space, THE Lecture Hall, THE Collaborative Hall, and THE Studio.

The Box- formed Spring 2013. Focus on helping faculty with innovations. Everything from pursuing grants to proposing projects to increasing student engagement.

Chancellor’s Faculty Technology Innovation Grant Recipient 2012-2013. iPad-Centric Instruction, Collaboration, and Efficacy.

Learning Networks: An alternative to learning communities. Two themes: Fear and Horror & Futuristic. Spring 2012-ongoing.

Phi Theta Kappa Adviser January 2012-December 2012.

Campus Technology Advisory Council (C-TAC) 2011-present.

The Horror Picture Show Student Organization Sponsor 2011-present.

Plan and host follow-up workshop to Fall and Spring Guest Speakers Fall 2010-Spring 2012.

Veteran’s Affairs Taskforce contact person Fall 2010-present.

Mentor 70% Sociology Faculty Spring 2010-Spring 2012.

Lone Star College-Montgomery Digital Editing Support Group 2008-2011 (Founder)

Lone Star College-Montgomery Film Series 2007-2009.

Lone Star College-Montgomery Distance Learning Council 2002-2011

Lone Star College-Montgomery Faculty Fellow for Distance Learning 2007 (Fall)

Lead Faculty for Behavioral Sciences 2007 (Fall)

Department Chair for Behavioral Sciences 2007-2012

Faculty Development and Initiatives Group (Faculty-DIG) 2006-2012

Faculty Fellow 2005-2006

Job Talk Mentoring Initiative 2005-2006

Educational Programs Council 2002-2007

NHMCCD Writing Awards Committee 2003-2007

Montgomery Scholarship Committee 2003-2007

Montgomery Testing Center Task Force 2002-2004

Community Service Activities

BELS Division Holiday Service Project FA 2012.

BELS Division Service Project for the Homeless SP 2012.

Learning Networks Food Drive SP 2012, FA 2012, SP 2013, ongoing.

Learning Networks Organ Donation Drive SP 2012, FA 2012.

Learning Networks Blood Drive SP 2012, SP 2013.

Living Word Lutheran Church. Welcoming Committee 2007-2009.

Living Word Lutheran Church. Meals for the Needy 2007-2008.

Lone Star College-Montgomery Christmas Giving Tree. 2002-ongoing.

Awards

2013 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Nominee, Lone Star College-Montgomery

2012 Heights of Excellence Award (President’s Star)

2012 Heights of Excellence Award (Shining Star-High Quality Instruction)

2011 Faculty Excellence Award, Lone Star College-Montgomery

2011 Heights of Excellence Award (Faculty-Development and Initiatives Group)

2007 Faculty Excellence Award, Our Lady of the Lake University

2000 Teacher of the Year, South West High School