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Category Archives: Pedagogy
The 10 Best Books for College Teachers – Part 1
As a college teacher who spent many hours during the last ten years reading books, articles, and conference proposals on the art and science of teaching, I believe that the best books for college teachers are the ones that provide … Continue reading
“Yet we now know that a brief distraction can help when we’re stuck on a math problem or tied up in a creative knot and need to shake free.”
After having read my share of books about learning, I was initially reluctant to read this one because a reviewer said it is a “gift to guilt-ridden slackers everywhere.” Fortunately, it’s the review, not the book, that is misleading about … Continue reading
Posted in Pedagogy
Tagged Benedict Carey, How We Learn, learning, learning requires effort, New York Times
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“Asking someone to make a prediction represents a very simple route to raising curiosity and hence represents a very simple route to stimulating the brains of our students and preparing them for their learning.”
Can small changes in strategy result in significant improvements? This new book for college instructors by James M. Lang argues convincingly that they can. While some of the techniques are not new – my mother asked her students to make … Continue reading
“If we do not consciously and intentionally seek to change the norms in our classrooms, we are likely to find ourselves . . .with students paying only civil attention.”
Sociologist Jay Howard notes that in 1976 researchers Karp and Yoels distinguished between students who paid attention from students who created the appearance of paying attention, which they termed “civil attention.” If you ever had a hard time getting a … Continue reading
“The growth mindset is based on the belief in change.”
I’m coming to the realization that it’s not a lack of ability that holds most students back: their beliefs about their abilities hold them back. Carol Dweck calls their beliefs “mindsets.” She says that students have either a “fixed” mindset, … Continue reading
Posted in Pedagogy
Tagged Carol Dweck, change, Growth, How students see themselves, Mindset, pedagogy, teaching and learning
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“Listening and questioning are the basis for positive classroom interactions that can in turn shape meaningful collaboration, which can then build a culture of thinking.”
To increase learning in the classroom, don’t focus on curriculum or using new “tips and tricks” for instruction. Instead, Ron Ritchhart, a researcher at Harvard’s graduate school of education, writes that we should change the “culture” of our classrooms by … Continue reading
“We were motivated by our conviction that education, properly understood, is the process of cultivating creative and curious minds.”
Many textbooks for first-year college students take a “here’s how” approach to writing outlines, developing thesis statements, and citing sources. The authors of Habits of the Creative Mind begin with a much different premise. They believe that the focus should … Continue reading
“Learning to participate in discussion is a lifelong learning project, and most of us go to our graves feeling we still have a lot to learn.”
However, as authors Brookfield and Preskill note, that “doesn’t mean that we can’t get better at creating the conditions under which good discussion is more likely to occur.” We can increase the odds of being successful by planning carefully, having … Continue reading
“While methods vary, the best teachers often try to create what we have come to call a ‘natural critical learning environment.’”
Instead of answering the question “What method of teaching works best?” Ken Bain explores “What environment supports deep learning most successfully?” In the best environments, he argues, students try to solve problems they find intriguing, beautiful or important; they feel … Continue reading
“Do it because it serves your need to grow.”
According to Ken Bain, there are three styles of learners: surface learners, who aim to quickly memorize key words and facts; strategic learners, who aim for top grades and efficiency; and deep learners, who aim to “answer questions or solve … Continue reading
Best of 2015 Books
2015 has been a wonderful year for publishers and readers. My “Best of 2015” list consists of the books that I am most likely to read again. In the memoir category, Norway’s Karl Ove Knausgaard’s fourth volume of My Struggle … Continue reading
“What if we did take college teaching seriously?”
This book aims to answer that question by outlining a “sustainable, cost-effective way to support faculty who want to improve college teaching” (1). The lead author is Gail O. Mellow, president of LaGuardia Community College, who helped developed a system … Continue reading
Posted in Pedagogy
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“Usual advice for new faculty is sporadic, anecdotal, and unproven — no matter how well intentioned.”
This book is based on the author’s research, conducted over a period of 20 years, on the work habits of faculty members. He studied the behavioral patterns of academics as they taught, wrote, and interacted with their colleagues. From this, … Continue reading
Posted in Pedagogy
Tagged Advice for New Faculty Members, constancy, mindfulness, moderation, pedagogy, Robert Boice
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“We teach who we are.”
I spent most of the last decade in the company of people who are passionate about the art and science of teaching. It was wonderful. Looking back, one of the ideas that still resonates with me came from Parker J. … Continue reading
Posted in Pedagogy
Tagged develop self-awareness, Parker J. Palmer, Reflection, The Courage to Teach
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