Heath,

Thank you for your post! I agree with your idea that what works one semester may not work the next, so we need to be able to adapt. There is such importance in the ability to refocus on what is important in the classroom (what is the goal of this class? what are we trying to learn? how do we want to conduct ourselves?). I personally am going to try to also explain to my students why my policies are the way you are- you’re right, being open and honest about our choices can help students understand WHY policies are the way they are, and listening to them in their opinions can help us all to understand how technology affects their performances.

Hey there! I especially liked your sentence “Even our machines hang up at times when they are overworked even if they are designed to perform such tasks”. I think I could be the physical embodiment of this – part of my dysautonomia disease is when I get too over stimulated or stressed, my brain will blank out and sometimes I faint! Likewise, I really love the podcast episode you linked (I’m definitely an auditory learner!), and I think it brought up some really cool points that go well with your blog post. After all, multitasking really DOES waste time in the long run, at least as far as I see it- without concentrating, we aren’t completing work to the best of our ability, so it won’t work in the long run.

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I definitely sympathize with the technology policy decisions- I am also trying to decide whether to allow laptops/iPads, etc. I also really liked the example of having students sign a pledge then doing a reflection- I think that can be a cool way to encourage self-analysis on technology behaviors while still allowing students to make their own decisions regarding their choices in the classroom.

Hello! I really love your points here- although I am not a parent, I am a volunteer with youth and always find myself so surprised when they start making comments about their differences- be in in race, family life, etc. I definitely agree that the younger a child is, the more exposure to different types of people the better. While not necessarily easy, I agree with you that it is important, and therefore we should try our best.

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Hi! I really appreciated your thoughts about biases- I think it’s so important for us to analyze our own beliefs and biases that we may not be aware of in order to move forward. As educators, it can be especially important in making sure we are treating all of our students fairly. Great post!

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Fellow female instructor here and I definitely agree- I have noticed students seeming to expect me to have leniency for them- the article you linked pointed out the difference between being a friend and being friendly, and I think it’s definitely a delicate line to walk. I agree with you that being friendly and approachable is important, but also cultivating respect and having students understand that you’re not going to go easy on them!

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I definitely agree that equality is not the same as equity! Specifically, as an instructor we have such a responsibility to help our students succeed, but it can often feel like not enough. After an individual has a better understanding of a student’s unique situation and learning style, it’s definitely easier to adapt and give them the best opportunity to succeed!

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Hello!

I really liked your application of mindful learning and how it applies to various educational systems in different areas and cultures. I like the concept of mindful decision making as well- after all, I think we could all use a little bit more mindfulness in all aspects of life. I agree with your point that we are always learning in life, and learning from our new experiences. Nice post!

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Hybrid course teacher here! I definitely agree with your thoughts on applying lectures to the online components of a class, it’s such an interesting way to engage students and have them apply what they have learned in a “real” way!

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I definitely agree that integrating media and digital avenues is going to be a necessity in the coming years. After all, if we are not engaging students by reflecting the world they are living in, how will we be able to truly connect with them?

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