Thanks for the post. It was easy to read and informative. I would like to focus my comment today on the part that says “I believe that instruction should be learner-centered and engaged as much as possible. I consider my role as that of a facilitator rather than a teacher – in fact, I learn from all my students.” I couldn’t agree more. Well done. I would like to say that one of the best parts of this statement is that it is moderated specifically speaking about the lines “as possible”. At time it wont be possible to make the lesson as student-centered as would be ideal, but it is important to TRY. Again, thanks for the post.

Great questions. Thanks for keeping them short! I have a few questions of my own about ownership of intellectual property in a university. For example, if a professor’s research is developed while that professor is associated with the university, it, and any profits, don’t necessarily belong to that professor. This has been a point of contention in higher education. While I am on the subject of what I still don’t understand, I know that patents, Copyright, and plagiarism is all different; however, I can’t articulate the differences from memory. Again, thanks for the post.

Well done! This post looks great. It shows that you thought about it. I would like to focus my comments on the portion of the post that says “Knowing your students, their limitations and vulnerabilities and incorporating such tools in the lecture that would help them overcome these.” I share this belief. Students should be told that it is fine to have weaknesses and shortcomings. Everybody does. They shouldn’t feel insecure in school. They should bring everything they know and be humble enough to learn more. This is the kind of environment were true learning happens. One in which the students can be secure in their vulnerability. Thanks again for the post.

Thanks for the post. Although I am only one person, I have had good experiences with a flipped classroom. The class that I was in was a stats class in the human development department and I was the only male. Part of my positive experience was that the instructor, also female, stayed engaged throughout the entire class, which, to my understanding is one primary objective of having a flipped class i.e. more direct interface with the teacher. I suppose the lesson is that the teacher is responsible for the class and needs to be truly present. Thanks again for the post.

Good post. I am looking into something like this as part of my research. I would like to focus my comments on the part of your post that says “teachers didn’t change because they don’t have enough time. Innovative teaching practices can take time – especially in STEM fields (the focus of this study). ” I believe that time constraints are valid and the responsibilities of the innovators to make innovation so appealing and usable that professors make the time to use them. PowerPoint is a good example of this. Professors got tired of creating, maintaining, organizing and dragging around overhead slides that they were willing to learn the new and better technology. Thanks for the post.

Thanks for the post. I would like to focus my comment toward the portion of your post where where you said “face-to-face…was where I really thrived.” I agree. I have the same experience. I believe that the future of education will be in close collaboration with technology like online learning; however, I don’t believe that traditional, face-to-face teachers will, or should, go away, but I believe that teachers today should incorporate technology where possible and appropriate. I hope that in the future online learning will become more supplemental to the primary lesson that is provided by a human professor, an expert example that can demonstrate how humans should interface with the content under discussion. Thanks again for the post.

Thanks for the post. This is topic is highly relevant to my research topics. If you haven’t read the book by Clay Christensen “Disrupting Class”, you should give it a try. It might provide additional insights. I would like to focus my comments on the portion of your post that says “Online learning has become a fundamental component of a school’s course offerings.” I agree and I believe that the future of education will be in close collaboration with technology like online learning. I don’t believe that traditional, face-to-face teachers will, or should, go away, but I believe that online learning should incorporate technology where possible and appropriate for the reasons that you mentioned later in your post i.e. accessibility, affordability etc. Again thanks for the post.

Thanks for the post. I have other friends from the middle east that have made similar comments about the gender disparity in education. I believe that with the proper inputs from concerned and caring people women will be granted equal opportunities. I would like to focus on one particular comment that you made. You said “The main objective is to create a classroom that allows students to feel like they belong and that they are all equally valued.” I am impressed by this. To feel belonging is an important, commonly overlooked aspect of equal opportunity. Thanks again.

Thanks for the post. I think that you and I are mostly aligned on this topic. Everyone should be allowed to determine when they are ready for a “brace space.” This is one of the considerations of stepping into the college environment which should be uncomfortable at times. If it isn’t uncomfortable, it is likely that your worldview is not broadening or your perspective being enriched. I do also believe that it is very important for people to have a controlled environment (i.e. safe space) where they can make sense of the things that have been learned. So, in summary, I would say that for the most part, college should be a brace space, and home, for the most part, is the safe space. Thanks for the post.

Thanks for the post. I really liked your backpack analogy as well. Specifically, I liked the part of your post where you said. “We have a backpack of features specific to each cluster. Simply, whenever we meet a person who looks like a member of that cluster, without having a enough knowledge about his/her background, we assign those feature to that person.” I feel that I am a assortment of converging cultures, ideas, and influences. I don’t assign myself specifically to one group or another. This is what make me, and every other person on earth a truly unique, individual with infinite, unmatched worth. Thanks again for the post.