Teaching in higher ed, there are many times when we add requirements or resources to our class, only to wonder later if they are beneficial to the students. Below are some conversations with a freshman that echo my experiences with students over the last few years as...
I have begun making appointments with students who are not being successful and compelling them to come to my office to work out an action plan. I give them a written appointment like the one below: If I can get the student to come to my office for this meeting I talk...
I just got back from a conference and the most powerful session I attended was entitled “The Role of Care in Faculty Development.” Based on the work of Nell Nodding, the session focused on how in addition to caring for our students, we have to care for each other as...
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...
I have two sons and wonder with a sense of mystery what it means to educate them well. I grew up believing that education was somehow about taking a bunch of stuff which was external to me and making it a part of me. You know, taking that which is external and making...
