Group items tagged

"This edited book represents a sliver, albeit a substantial one, of the scholarship on the science of learning and its application in educational settings. Most of the work described in this book is based on theory and research in cognitive psychology." This is a free e-book, published by the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, a division of the American Psychological Association.

"This edited book represents a sliver, albeit a substantial one, of the scholarship on the science of learning and its application in educational settings. Most of the work described in this book is based on theory and research in cognitive psychology." This is a free e-book, published by the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, a division of the American Psychological Association.

We're having a series of book club meetings (and a book club blog) on Ken Bain's book this summer. This interview is particularly interesting for the way Bain expands on his thinking since the book was published.

A new iOS app designed by faculty at Bryn Mawr and Notre Dame integrates the text of The Tempest with critical commentary, different actors' interpretations of critical scenes, and class discussions. The "book app" seems to be diverging in important ways from the "e-book."

A list of six recent good books on teaching and learning. These are widely available in OhioLINK, and on the CIP bookcase.

A news story on a web site which uses Google Maps to plot scenes from books. 

An "author platform" is "an ability to sell books because of who you are and who you can reach." In other words, it's part of considering your audience when you write - including considering how your ideal audience will find you.

Some interesting suggestions here (and in the "Part 2" post) for books on teaching and learning "that provide a new framework, new research, or new ideas on how to develop a strong institutional practice." Anything look interesting for our next book club?

The Kindle and iBooks only scratch the surface of what's possible with an electronic book. This is an intriguing list of mobile apps which make more full use of the digital abilities to link and present resources. I'll personally recommend The Tempest and Poetry Foundation apps.

Facilitating good discussion is actually really hard work. Perhaps that's why it's so frustrating when a class "just doesn't click." James Lang reviews a new book (and some shorter resources) which helps explain the steps of sparking discussion.

Facilitating good discussion is actually really hard work. Perhaps that's why it's so frustrating when a class "just doesn't click." James Lang reviews a new book (and some shorter resources) which helps explain the steps of sparking discussion.

A group of disabilities studies scholars have released a template letter designed to convince publishers to make more books available in accessible formats. It's a good reminder that everything is negotiable, but you have to ask. (Similar to author's addenda in the open access movement, if enough people start requesting these riders, publishers will see a new reason to change their standard practices.)

As we think about a J-term at Kenyon, it might be interesting to look at The Great VCU Bike Race Book as a model for demonstrating the connections between a set of shorter, more experimental courses.

Clay Shirkey, author of "Here Comes Everybody," examines the challenge posed to U.S. higher education by massive open online courses, or MOOCs. Shirkey is the author of "Here Comes Everybody," a book he says is about "what happens when people are given the tools to do things together, without needing traditional organizational structures." In this article, he describes the same dynamic at work in the disruptive potential of MOOCs to all but the most elite institutions of higher education in America. 

Interesting stuff in this article, from managing what can seem like a torrent of feedback, to thinking about the ways that different people respond to the same comments, to the metacognitive exercise of thinking about your own reactions. It's also worth noting that these tips come from a book that's not just for students - and the techniques might be useful for faculty and staff too.

A review of a free e-book on current research into the psychology of learning, written specifically to bring that work and its instructional implications to higher-education faculty.

Interview with James Lang, the author of "Cheating Lessons." The soundbyte from the interview might be this: "The fascinating discovery I made in my own research was that the features of a course that do tend to induce cheating were also ones that tend to reduce learning."

A review of the book "Minds On Fire", which discusses "subversive play" as an engaging pedagogy. Part 3 in a series on the "Reacting to the Past" series of "role-immersion" games; the other 2 entries are linked from this one.

Interesting review of a new book on writing pedagogy. The central message of the book appears to be one which I've heard many Kenyon faculty members discuss - deliver only a few critical messages to a student per writing exercise, based on their current stage of writing development. There's a much better chance that the student will take those one or two lessons to heart than if they're hidden in feedback which bleeds red ink.

An essay on six core titles on teaching and learning by Jose Bowen. (All 6 are in CONSORT and widely available in OhioLINK.) I particularly enjoyed Bowen's personal reflections on techniques he's taken from these books and applied in his own teaching of music.

This excerpt from Dee Fink's book "Creating Significant Learning Experiences" argues for using both "scoreboards" - clear and reliable grading criteria - and "applause" - praise for accomplishments - to motivate students. I was particularly taken with the exercise at the end of the section in which students and a professor collaborate on a letter to thank the student's previous teacher for contributing to the student's development.

Do you respond to students' reflective writing? How might their reflections change if you did?