Thank you for your post! I completely agree, unfortunately there is no one size fits all for teaching. It’s great to have examples of good teaching styles but unfortunately I believe that we have to have some trial and error in order to find what works best for us. While this is a time consuming process, it’s one that I believe everyone must go through in order to find what works for them.
Author: carteran
Comment on Keep Calm and Dismantle the Grading System? by carteran
Thank you for your post! The example that Kohn uses in his article is one that a professor used with me while I was taking his class at community college. We had a series of assignments throughout the course, each one building on the assignment before. The class was a communications class focusing on interpersonal relationships. At the end of the course, we had to schedule an individual 1:1 (one-on-one) meeting with our professor in which we evaluated our coursework and determined my final grade together. As an 18 year old, that was terrifying but also super exciting. I knew that as long as I participated in class and completed my assignments following the guidelines, I knew I was going to do well. Having the option to control my own outcome of the class (e.g. my grade) was very empowering and an experience that I’ll never forget. I wish more professors took this approach in the classroom with their students. Giving students that ownership creates buy-in, buy-on creates an atmosphere/dynamic in which students want to do well and want to engage in the classroom. Sounds like a win/win situation to me!
Comment on Is there a connection between assessment and motivation? by carteran
Matt, you’re completely correct. When I first hear assessment I have horrible flashbacks to two classes that I literally spent every class period terrified of for a year.
As far as grades, assessment and evaluation, I believe that you’re correct that student’s don’t perform as well because they are under such immense amounts of pressure. I think much like how our knowledge was gauged/tested in assessment written papers, classroom discussion of readings and possibly an oral “exam” or presentation would be the best way for professors to ascertain how much knowledge students actually have about a particular subject. Not all students test well and for that to be the predominately measure used in the classroom is not right or fair. Yes we have disability services, but only allowing students more time on a test doesn’t work if they don’t test well. Professors should exercise autonomy for students and allow them to learn mindfully in the classroom. I believe that if they make meaning for themselves, they’ll be more likely to not only learn but also retain the information that they’re learning.
Comment on Mindful Learning by carteran
Matt, first thank you for your post! I completely agree, I often wonder about what we teach our students vs. how we teach it. Our educational system (primary, secondary and post-secondary) looks as students as receptacles and trash bins to dump information to. They don’t always take the time to allow students to concepts and knowledge and make meaning of what they’re learning for themselves. I’m so thankful to call you a colleague in the field and look forward to taking the higher education world by storm with you!
Comment on Teaching Through Children’s Storybooks by carteran
I absolutely love this idea! Your idea made me think about a set of children’s books that I’ve seen for African American girls. The series talks about issues that African American girls and young women face but talk about it in a way that young African American girls can relate to. Using children’s books to talk about intense topics is great for students because is forces them to normalize a topic and speak in human terms to someone who may not understand.
Comment on Dilemma: To Blog or Not to Blog! by carteran
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I too have gone back and forth about keeping a blog for the work that I do within higher education. After much debate, I believe that blogging about your academic achievements and the work that you’re doing in your field could be extremely beneficial for you. Within your professional blog, I think it is okay for you to add points about your professional life but you do not have to tell people everything. You could possibly tailor it to how your personal life blends in with your professional and academic life (if at all). I think this would be the best of both worlds for you. Best of luck and I hope you start your own blog soon!
Comment on Moved to a point of cathartic release….. by carteran
Lehi, thank you for sharing your thoughts! I completely agree with your statement about the mentality of many of our faculty today. It’s unfortunate that many take joy in watching heir students suffer simply because they have the ability and authority to do so. I’m of the mindset of, I suffered and I don’t want those working with and under me to suffer as well. I want to be a shield and begin a revolution to treat students with decency and respect; to challenged them to expand their comfort zones; to help the get uncomfortable with things that previously made them comfortable but to do so in a way that creates an environment of care. There’s so much more to be said about this particular topic and I hope that we continue to dive deeper into it as the semester progresses!
