What Should Learning Be?

Well, learning, from a behaviorists standpoint, is a persistent and measurable alteration in an organism’s behavior. We know we can measure the alteration in behavior fairly easily in our own test subjects (i.e. students). Give them some form of assessment and...

Learning to Teach Online by Taking Massive Open Online Courses

One of the assignments for the Teaching Solutions Class was to participate in a “M.O.O.C”, which stands for massive open online course. These college level courses are offered free or for a small fee. The student receives a completion certificate when all of the...

Learning is Loud!

The Mark & Helen Osterlin Library is the loudest library I have ever worked.  This past week it has been even louder than usual.  Maybe it’s the early snow or lack of sunlight, but there is definitely a loud vibe going on in the NMC library. We are a pretty...
Understood Betsy

Understood Betsy

Have you ever read the book Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield? It is a children’s book, but is has a lot to say about education and learning. It is about a very timid, unobserving child, Betsy (Elizabeth Ann), who changes into a brave, problem-solving girl due to a...
Trying to be a Creator–Even in November

Trying to be a Creator–Even in November

For a number of years now, I have taught my ENG 107 students about the idea of personal responsibility. We use On Course, a college success book written by Skip Downing, as the primary text in that class. The whole book is based on the choice between being a Victim...