October 2008 - Posts

• Announcments 10-27-08

  Have you completed your first videotape observation and SGID?  If not, be sure to double check your calendar to make sure that everything is scheduled!  Also don’t forget about peer observations…when is your follow-up session?  Be sure to email your peer observation feedback to your consultant or Micah before your peer group meeting. Posted Oct 27 2008, 02:58 PM by mmeixner with no comments Filed under: TEACH, Reminders

• Teaching Philosophy Statement

  Hopefully by now you are all beginning to think about your Teaching Portfolios (due December 12th).  Here are two articles by Gabriela Montell from the Chronicle of Higher Education on the teaching philosophy statement.  The first article, What’s Your Philosophy on Teaching, and Does it Matter?, discusses the purpose of the teaching philosophy statement and the role it plays in job searches.  In the second article, How to Write a Statement of Teaching Philosophy, Montell makes recommendations for writing your statement and gives some great advice such as “Don’t Make Empty Statements” and “Make Sure It’s Well-Written.”  While some of her suggestions may seem super obvious, you would be surprised how often these elements are over-looked or taken for granted and how much a thoughtful and well-done statement will set you apart from other applicants.    As you work on your portfolio and your philosophy statement, don’t hesitate to talk to your mentor and/or your consultant!  We are all here to help and we all want this to be a marketable product for your future job searches!   Posted Oct 27 2008, 02:55 PM by mmeixner with no comments Filed under: TEACH, Teaching Portfolio

• Time for some humor

  It’s about that time in the semester when we can all use a little break and a good laugh.  Are you familiar with the Piled Higher and Deeper (PhD) Comics?  It is a great online comic strip that I think you’ll easily identify with and enjoy.  Here are three of my favorites: Free Food. It binds us.; Kind of a dork; Sleep...I totally identify with them all! :)    There are lots more where these came from...if you like them, join the listserv.  I think you'll enjoy it! Posted Oct 20 2008, 10:34 AM by mmeixner with no comments Filed under: TEACH

• How to get Students to Talk in Class

  Several of you have expressed dismay about your students’ in-class participation.  Here is a great article from Stanford that offers several strategies for How to Get Students to Talk in Class.  Some of the things they suggest are: decentralize the classroom—make students the focus and involve them in discussion with each other and not just you; give students time to think; encourage all comments, even those that seem off target; and the use of active learning strategies. Posted Oct 13 2008, 03:45 PM by mmeixner with no comments Filed under: TEACH, Discussion, Students

• Good Teachers...Bad Classes

  Have you experienced a class where things just didn’t work?  You tried and tried, but it just wasn’t going to happen.  The students didn’t seem engaged and for whatever reason, the class bombed.  Don’t worry…it happens to everyone!  Take a look at this article from Stanford University’s Speaking of Teaching: Why Good Teachers Have Bad Classes: And What You Can Do About It.  In addition to including some great tips, it also has a personal note, "Confessions of a Bore," that might make you feel better about your own situation. Posted Oct 06 2008, 11:57 AM by mmeixner with no comments Filed under: TEACH

• Announcements 10-6-08

  Activity Contract:  Your activity contract is due to your consultant on Oct. 9th.  If you have questions about what the activity contract entails, check out the TEACH Wiki and/or talk to your TEACH consultant.   TEACH Lunch Series: There is a TEACH Lunch Series this Friday, Oct. 10th at noon.  Past TEACH fellows will be sharing their experiences with teaching uncomfortable topics and teaching controversial material.   Posted Oct 06 2008, 11:44 AM by mmeixner with no comments Filed under: TEACH, Reminders, Upcoming Events