I encourage my students to use their devices during class to look up information on the web. We work on case studies and many times the internet can help them find some information that will be of use. Increasingly, however; I find that the internet has become an...
A friend of mine (and a career educator) recently shared an article with me titled Shifting from Pedagogy to Heutagogy in Education. ‘Heutagogy’ is a term coined by by Stewart Hase and Chris Kenyon of Southern Cross University in Australia. It’s derived from the Greek...
I saw Stephanie Mills a few months ago at the pool. Stephanie is a local author and former composition teacher here at NMC. We chatted about her writing and what was new in our lives. I mentioned that I was just beginning as the CIE director and I felt like there was...
For some time now, I have been noticing something. And, I am wondering if anyone else is seeing it. It’s not so much visible to the eyes as it is discerned by the heart. I sense there is a movement underway. There is a question which is surfacing, arising, emerging, I...
One thing I've been working on this year is how to maximize the benefits of collaboration and group discussion. The goal is that the classroom become a place where students create meaning and knowledge themselves, and thereby increase feelings of ownership over...
Those unfamiliar with NMC’s Writing and Reading Center, or the concept of writing centers, might conclude - with good reason - that the WRC is about writing and reading. And it is. My introductory spiel to classes always emphasizes that if it’s writing or reading,...
Doing nothing is an option. Even when things are going bad, and something must be done, doing nothing is still an option. It may not be the best option, but it is still an option. I watched a student put together a circuit with a light emitting diode. The funny thing...
When I was a CIT instructor, I would think "Oh, no - not again!" Could I help this student? How??? I really wanted to satisfy each learner's request for help, but I might not be able to find a tutor. Many of NMC's second-year CIT students find local employment before...
When preparing your online course material there are things you can do to help ensure it is accessible for all students (including those with visible and invisible disabilities). Addressing these can make all the difference and doesn't take up much of your time to do:...