This article about timekeeping as a feminist practice is perhaps one of the most influential pieces that I’ve read about pedagogy this year. Prior to reading this piece I hadn’t considered how I could user a timer to ensure that all students in my class have space for contribution. Although I have used a timer
In a recent blog, I expressed some of the difficulties that come with choosing technologies. I stand by these claims, but I don’t want anyone to give up just because it’s difficult. In fact, I believe now more than ever it is necessary to make a habit of consistently upgrading our knowledge of technologies. I
Last week’s soapbox blog asked everyone to upgrade their use of technology. Now let’s get to the more practical advice–how to upgrade. There are several ways to improve educational technology skills. Take a look at the following list for ideas. YouTube Of course YouTube tops the list as the go-to place for how-to videos. Sometimes
I’ve written before about the benefits of using blogs in the classroom. We provide a free-for-Chapman-users platform for course blogging and for faculty websites on EduBlogs. In the past, users had to submit a form to request an EduBlogs site. However now users can simply go to sites.chapman.edu and Sign In (in the upper left
In a previous post I’ve written about the powerful experience of bringing students into the Center for American War Letters Archive (CAWLA), which is located in the lower level of the Leatherby Libraries. In order to extend the reach of the archive experience further than the walls of my classroom, I’m collaborating with librarian Doug
Collaborative learning is a pedagogical method often used to help students build advanced skills with material by using a social learning model. It is based in social learning theory, such as Lev Vygotsky’s foundational ideas on the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) (summarized, this means the learning one can achieve by being paired with and
Yesterday I was talking about final grades with my students. It’s that time in the semester that I tend to lose the interest of my seniors and others who are feeling more enthusiastic about their summer plans than about finishing out their coursework, so I was giving them some advice about seeing it through to
As I referenced in a recent blog post, self-determined learners with the motivation, drive, and resources can teach themselves amazing things online. (See the blog here about two boys who taught themselves skills such as driving a car and speaking English.) What does this mean for the future of learning and the future of the
As instructors, we know that our students consult Wikipedia when they want to learn the basics of a topic. And while this practice can sometimes be concerning, especially if the students solely rely on Wikipedia rather than using it as a springboard for deeper learning, there are many ways to engage the students with Wikipedia
This blog was inspired by two young boys. The first, an 8 year old, really wanted a cheeseburger, so he went to YouTube and taught himself to drive. He drove past four intersections and some train tracks with complete control of the vehicle–perhaps even more rule-abiding than the average driver. He was caught at the