Great post and great comments! My thoughts when reading was that I like the 360 degree feedback method, where you would get feedback from supervisors, peers, and students. This method allows you to have information on your performance and productivity from various levels and points of view. Student information is helpful, however you list many salient points of their negative use or biased-based feedback. If it is not part of your current methods of evaluation, perhaps you could solicit feedback on your own. When you seek what you are looking for from different directions your areas of growth can be seen from multiple areas giving you a greater opportunity for change.

Great post. I think your title “smarter, dumber, or lazier” leaves me saying it’s a little of all! Smarter in the fact we can immediately have our hands on information and collect in things quickly to help us better understand. Dumber that we can be useless without our computers or phones (like why should I bother to memorize that cookie recipe if it’s on line?). And lazier because we don’t have to really remember all the stuff we are skimming and reviewing as it is always at our fingertips(again, insert cookie recipe reference). Technology includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. It has become a necessity to many, while others it remains a luxury.

I appreciate your post and like the narrative approach philosophy to teaching. This sounds a lot like the classes I am having in my doctoral program. There is much discussion and participation by the students. At this level we are challenging our thoughts and engaging in critical examination of ideas. I think this could be valuable way to approach learning environments for many ages. How wonderful would it be to engage a group of young children to foster ideas, discussion, and engagement in learning? Nice posting.

Wow, your post has really gotten me thinking. So much of what our standard of learning is defined and measured by others. As a teenager, I recall hearing so much that I needed to participate in activities, sports, or take particular classes because it would “look good on my record”. I know what that means and the intentions of those commenting to me, but now I see how it was others’ interpretation of what would be good for me or helpful for me. While I have had piano lessons in the distant past and could only plink about on the keys now, I would say I fail with those standards of education. Nevertheless, all the education which I have paid for and sought after, coupled with the life experiences I’ve had enhancing my education I would consider myself an educated woman. Regardless of what anyone else may say!

Rant away! This post was wonderful! Yes I had an undergrad professor who was so passionate about the subject, I really looked forward to her class. The subject was of interest to me, but her being so revved up about things made it more exciting. It is difficult as a student to become so fully invested and alive for a course if the instructor does not help bring something in to keep that spark fed. As an instructor, I’m sure it is also just as difficult to remain passionate about your subject with students who are only there to check the box for a requirement. Hopefully there are enough passionate people on both sides to keep things interesting.