Worth Sharing: Why Playfulness Is the Key to Success in the 21st-Century

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesTHIS is why my version of “gamification” is so important. The Most Important Skill of Today? Source: Why Playfulness Is the Key to Success in the 21st-Century   Not making room for play in modern adult life is a strategic … Continue reading

Worth Sharing: Students aren’t learning enough – a brewing crisis in higher education

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesToo many graduates are not prepared to think critically and creatively, speak and write cogently, solve problems, comprehend complex issues, accept accountability, take the perspective of others, or meet employer expectations. What are YOU doing in your classes to address … Continue reading

IS it What Straight-A Students Get Wrong, or is it what WE get wrong?

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteIt’s not the students’ fault. Not making marks random, and reducing the risks of failure are what gives students more room to really think. We owe them that. We need to get rid of compartmentalized grading entirely, and quit blaming … Continue reading

Worth Sharing: “Another nail in the coffin for learning styles” – students did not benefit from studying according to their supposed learning style

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteI am glad to see more evidence against this notion. It’s almost always a good idea to provide learning material in a variety of forms, but that’s not the same as “learning styles”.  It may now be time to bury … Continue reading

Worth Sharing: Turn Your Classroom Irritation Into Compassion

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteIt’s all too easy to be annoyed by students’ questions, until you realize their confusion might be your fault. Source: Turn Your Classroom Irritation Into Compassion There is a course at my former school that all computer science majors are … Continue reading

The Club Theory of Teaching and Learning

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteOr – How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Blue Rule I have a colleague (thanks Patrick) who has a “Club Theory” for how we teach a discipline. It involves a metaphorical CLUB with distinct bumps in it. … Continue reading

If you are a teacher, especially in Higher Ed, THIS IS IMPORTANT.

Approximate Reading Time: 5 minutesI’m not going to add anything to this post, as it deserves to stand on its own. I’ll comment in another post. By Margaret Dorsey (I know this is really long, but if you are a professor, or a teacher, or … Continue reading

Contract Grading? Really?!

Approximate Reading Time: 3 minutesI’ve known about the concept of contract grading for some time, but have never really seriously considered it. Then I saw this. This article explains it quite well. So, Seriously!? You are going to ask someone to decide, at the … Continue reading