I have always found grading students uncomfortable, so I adjust or change the assessment in courses whenever I can. I inherited a course once that had a paper, but writing a paper wasn’t a relevant skill for the course so I took it out and replaced it with a video which related to the presentation … Continue reading
The introduction to sustainability course I teach has one group assignment that students need to do if they want an A in the course. (I use a grading approach called specifications grading where letter grades are determined by the amount and type of work rather than the overall quality which all must meet a particular … Continue reading
I’m teaching a bio course this term and I’ve been looking for ways to engage students in lab type activities given that we can’t go into a lab. When someone sent me an article about why most of the human genetic traits we like to use in genetics lessons are inaccurate I was, shall we … Continue reading
As an athlete and coach I know how important it is to have a training plan that fits the individual. Not everyone will respond to the same cues or drills. This is part of our normal variability. The same is true with learning and in how we demonstrate what we’ve learned and yet most classes … Continue reading
I do my best to read things on a computer screen. I started this for a few reasons: 1) financial savings – I’m not paying for ink or paper, although I am potentially paying for more electricity; 2) less paper use, although the question of whether paper or electricity is the better choice environmentally does … Continue reading
This is a short post today because I can’t say anything better than Alan Alda can. As a teacher, teacher trainer, and someone who wants everyone to get excited about science, and get moving on climate change and other sustainability challenges, I was intrigued by Alda’s most recent book “If I understood you, would I … Continue reading
This is a personal opinion but something I have been thinking about for a while. I have taught a number of different science courses and I’ve taught and researched environmental education. One of my biggest goals in these settings is to teach skills. I believe that people need to a) know to ask questions, b) … Continue reading
As a teacher I’m always on the look out for strategies that can improve learning. Also as a teacher, I’m constantly learning. I have definitely taught some topics that I am not an expert in. But, as I go to learn that topic, I learn it with the idea that I have to teach it. … Continue reading
Ted Talk – Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are In her Ted Talk Cuddy starts by talking about how different students shaped their bodies in the business classroom but as a post secondary instructor for the last several years I think this could be taken further into the classroom. If power poses … Continue reading
