Reflecting on my PIDP Learning Experience

Well, I’m nearing the end of another PID course, so I thought I would take a moment to look back and reflect on what I've learned. One of the most important things I have learned I throughout the PID program is the importance of having a good, clear curriculum – one that is streamlined and relevant …

The Importance of Lifelong Learning

What do you think of when you think about lifelong learning? Does it sounds like you need to go to college for the rest of your life? Does is sound like you need to have your nose in a book 24/7? What does “lifelong learning” mean? According to Wikipedia, the definition of lifelong learning is …

Essential Skills

This week I took a short break from reading Brooksfield for my PIDP 3260 and I did some research online. I was thinking about my students and how they all come from such different places in life.   Some of them are fully “equipped” to handle adult education and others really struggle with it. The fact …

Hands-On Learning

(PIDP Week 6 - My thoughts on an interesting education-related article) I read an article online by RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching), which said the following, “Somewhere between kindergarten and the senior year of high school, many students lose their natural love of learning. Sadly, it is replaced by apathy and disaffection. As students struggle …

My Thoughts on Brooksfield Chapter 6: Lecturing Creatively

Photo credit to:  Christophe Volet for The Chronicle Lecturing – a snooze fest or an exciting learning adventure? Well, it all really depends on the teacher. Brooksfield says, “Like any technique lecturing can be done abominably. But just because something is mishandled by some teachers doesn’t mean the method as a whole is inherently flawed.” …

Are There Ethical Professors?

There was a popular situation several years back (2009) concerning Ward Churchill, a former Professor at the University of Colorado.  Psychology Today wrote, “Ward Churchill got into trouble for things he wrote about the 9/11 attacks and politicians called for his ouster. Meanwhile, charges of academic misconduct started to surface, including plagiarism and fabricating facts. A faculty …

Resistance to Learning

While doing my required reading for my PID course, I came across a quote from Brooksfield in Chapter 16 that read, “People will generally resist activities for which they see no justification. If the learning that students are asked to undertake seems to have no purpose or connection to their own interests and concerns, they’ll …

Who I Am, Where I’m At

I currently am a Welding Instructor at the College of New Caledonia. By currently I mean that I have a contract until July 7, and after that who knows! There is more work in the fall, but my position has to be reposted and I have to interview for it with my collegues and hope …

Micro-Aggressions in the Classroom

For my PID, I was reading “The Skillful Teacher: On Technique, Trust and Responsiveness in the Classroom.” In Chapter 9, I hit one of those “touchy” chapters. You know, one of those chapters that have a tough topic that people tend to debate over. It was about racism in the classroom. I’m not here to …

Point-Based Grading Systems: Benefits and Liabilities By: Maryellen Weimer, PhD

After reading this article from Faculty Focus, I can't disagree more with Ms. Weimer on the benefits of point-based grading systems. Well I disagree with her reasoning on the liabilities of it. In our world of pass/fail in schools, I think students LOVE it when they receive a number grade on something. If I tell …