Teach for Mastery
We have been seeing this phrase, or something like it, more often these days. There are quite a few instructors at NMC that have delved into this idea of Mastery Learning. I have been using this principle with my courses in conjunction with gamification. Using new...
Global Perspectives
Global Perspectives: How the World Works Global Perspectives: How the World Works is the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Study Topic for 2016-2017. The topic is broken into eight themes and this past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Michigan Region Mini Honors...
Keep coming back
The semester is winding down and the panic is setting in. There seems to be the immediate need to catch-up with the material. I was asked today if we are going to review all the stuff we learned in the semester. There was a disconnect in viewing the current...
Epilepsy Awareness
November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and because that diagnosis applies to several in our NMC community I thought a bit of information would be in order. Did you know: Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system which can cause seizures* 1 in 26 Americans...
Considering Situational Factors
A few years ago, I attended weekend seminar "Designing Courses for More Significant Learning" - a prior version of NMC's August professional development program. I used Dee Fink's approach twice in major course designs, and I've been pleased with the results....
VoiceThread Innovation Grant
Interested in VoiceThread? VoiceThread is a program that students can use to produce presentations online where peers and the instructor can view and record comments by speaking and/or writing. Kay and Laura are writing an innovation grant to pilot VoiceThread for...
Lessons from a Microwave
Our over-the-range microwave oven experienced a meltdown this week. After we'd turned in for the night, an unusual noise emanated from "somewhere else" in the house. A short jaunt through dark hallways found our microwave's door wide open, a bit of unexpected light...
Welcoming New Learning Communities for 2016-2107
Announcing six new learning community groups to NMC for 2016-2017. It is not too late to join a group. Most groups will meet about once a month for six months. Click here to see the complete group lists. Enjoy the time with colleagues and explore a new area of...
Ada
Ada is 7. She is an identical twin. She has autism and other developmental and cognitive disabilities. Everything is hard for Ada. She did not walk until she was two. She had two bouts of deafness in her early years. Talking is very challenging for her. She has...
Creating a Sense of Belonging for Students
Yesterday in my ENG 99 class, students at two tables were swapping Snapchat names so they could start Snapchatting each other. Another table saw them, and said, laughingly, “You guys are just doing that now? Our table did that the first week!” It was completely...