Teachers Who Inspire Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy Virginia Tech February 2012 Gloria J. Howell, M.S.Ed. Blue Ridge Community College
Marlon and the inspiration that followed
Grab their attention Beginning of every class and even in your online classes
On this day in history …(history.com) February 9, 1964 The Beatles made their US debut on The Ed Sullivan Show
BEAR SAY TO IDIOT THIS GET CAN WE TIMES MANY HOW SEE LET’S KNEE UR FULL OF JOB IN JOB Give them brain teasers: In between Jobs, You’re full of baloney
Funny Signspotting.com
Rorschach Inkblots Add trivia when you teach “boring” theories
Break it up with funny pictures when you discuss serious topics
Tell a Story Breaks up lecture Engages students Teaches concepts Provides examples Teaches critical thinking Connects with students
Include Animation Goggle your topic / animation For this I Googled: neurotransmitters / animation
Feeling Connected Success
Critical Thinking What am I being asked to believe? What evidence is available? Are there alternative hypotheses or ways to interpret the information? What additional evidence (research) would help evaluate the alternatives? What conclusions are reasonable? (Bernstein, 2010)
This week in the “news”
Use TV Commercials
“I did not have sexual relations with that woman! It depends on what the meaning of the word is." Former President Clinton claimed that because certain acts were performed on him, not by him, he did not engage in sexual relations.
Get them doing something TWWA / TAWWA Put them in groups Move the furniture Go outside Stand up / sit down Get out the markers Sit on the floor Have them go online
Did you know… Adult learners… minutes Best attention span = Beginning Attention spans to 3-4 minutes
Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree me
Telling is not Teaching
Hearing is not Learning
It’s not all fun and games
Make sure they know you are serious Cheating and plagiarism tools Online testing technology Open book verses proctored exams
Be Creative Blogging Partner Paper Reading Buddies Avatar Project YouTube videos Séance What do I want my students to get? What are the challenges?
Grading Rubrics Students know what is expected Save time grading and giving feedback Easy to adapt from resources available
No more excuses Consequences Follow through no matter what No exceptions
Interaction with instructor Keep up with the technology Reply to s in hours Make it easy to be available Online Chat Web-conference Collaborate Virtual Office Skype, Oovoo, Dim Dim Facebook and Twitter
What do your students say? Design your own eval Have a meeting and ask them RateMyProfessors.com
Marlon If I knew then what I know now
Teachers Who Inspire Gloria J. Howell, M.S.Ed.