Before I take leave upon my 17 years as a facilitator of learning, one of my favorite courses that I loved to offer as a challenge to the human mind, Thinking Critically and Creatively, is being phased out of the curriculum by the summer of 2018. Before this fundamentally seminal course for any other course or program becomes merely a whimper in the halls of academia, there is a chorus line of students singing its praises: Continue reading
As instructors we can be a Stepping stone or a Stumbling block or we can be an Opportunity or an Obstacle –to learning, understanding, and application — which one(s) are you? Let’s take a dip into the past, (circa 470-399 B.C.E.) where intellectual stepping stones and opportunities abounded and are still relevant today. Continue reading
On May 2, 2017, about 3:15 pm my wife and I walked hand-in-hand into Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to be recognized, celebrated, and honored as a retiree. I was anticipating a joyous time, seeking to savor the applause and fleeting last hurrahs. Continue reading
Do you have a reverence, respect, and love for nature? How are you living in harmony with it – not just on April 22, but each and every day? As instructors, have you a learning plan in your courses for responsible and active deep ecology? “The expansion of human power has hardly begun, and what we are going to do with our power may either save or destroy our planet. The earth may be of small significance within the infinite universe. But if it is of some significance, we hold the key to it. In our own age we have been forced into the realization that there will be either one world, or no world.” –Abraham Joshua Heschel. Are we moving in the direction of a wrenching and sorrowful demise of our planet? Or are we moving in the direction of a universal, collective consciousness that it is now or never? Continue reading
On March 17, 2017, Fox Valley Technical College will host Dr. Saundra McGuire, she will present “Teach Students How to Learn” which triggered in my mind that there is nothing new under the academic sun. Continue reading
A Critique and Rearranging of Choices of Successful Students (from Downing. On Course, 6E. 2011 Wadsworth, a part of Cengage Learning Inc.)
Recently, I was sitting at my desk in my office, and I glanced at a sheet posted on my bulletin board, viz., “Choices of Successful Students.” Continue reading
“Mindfuless is the practice of aiming your attention, moment to moment, in the direction of your purpose – that which defines you, sustains you, and gives your life meaning, direction, and fulfillment. It is called mindfulness because you have to keep your purpose in mind as you watch your attention. Then, whenever you notice that your aim has drifted off, you calmly realign it.” (Frank Andrews) Continue reading
As part of a course evaluation, one student wrote: “I love your enthusiasm when you are teaching, it is contagious and made me want to come to class.” Consequently, I began thinking, what is it that I do? How does one articulate what one does? Where does it come from? Is it contagious? Continue reading
Stop by the iRespect table and take the iRespect Pledge between 11- 1 p.m. in the Commons from March 7-10, 2016. Join in on the movement to show your commitment to nurturing an inclusive NWTC.
My mind harkens back to Rodney Dangerfield who was an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter and comedian known for the catchphrase “I don’t get no respect!”
In this summer of 2016, I have revisited a couple of books ( What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker, 2004 and Lessons From The Classroom by Hal Urban, 2008) and here are some of the salient ideas about the qualities of the art of teaching: Continue reading
