Colleagues,

The Professor in the Classroom (vol. 13:5) "Five Learning Dangers of Competition in the Classroom" arrived this past week. It includes Tips on Communication Skills. This tri-fold focuses on five dangers associated with competition as it occurs or is used in the classroom. Competition: does not encourage improvement for most students, it does encourage the division of "winners" from "losers", it can distract from the real focus of learning (i.e., deep understanding), it tends to encourage cheating, and it fosters extrinsic motivation. This number of PITC focuses on the desirable balance between competition and collaboration. The tips on communicating skills includes one about not giving up on students--even if their performance is sub-par at the end of a course. Einstein failed algebra but did not give up on himself and his teachers did not give up on him either. "If you remain an advocate, you may find that the failing student winds up rewarding you the most." This number of The Professor in the CLassroom is definitely worth a look.

National Teaching And Learning Forum (vol. 15:6) October 2006. This number includes articles on "The High Risks of Improved Teaching" (a very good reflection on some dangers associated with trying to improve one's teaching by radically revising a course), some techniques for improving critique and critical engagement sessions with students, a research paper on learning in intensive course formats (such as ACCEL, perhaps?), a continuation of an article on measuring change using fractal patterns, and an intriguing piece from Linc. Fisch about authority and equivocation--which teaches more and when? This is a very good number of NTLF. It is certainly worth the time if any of these topics deal with strategies and questions you may have.

They are both available in the 3 wall pocket locations on campus as well as in the College of Business (per Allison Ambrose) or at the ACCEL Center (per Neala McCarthy). Enjoy them with something warm and seasonal--of the liquid variety.

NEW PROGRAM FROM THE CENTER

In recent discussions, the advisory committee of the Center has suggested that the CTE underwrite the cost of having speakers come to campus to work with individual departments or clusters of departments who are interested in reviewing and (perhaps) modifying their teaching strategies. The first of these "teaching in the disciplines" seminars is scheduled for January when the three departments of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Nursing will welcome a speaker to campus for a seminar on teaching in these health-related fields. The details of the presentation are not settled yet but the advisory board wants every department to be aware of this new programming thrust being undertaken by the Center.

THINK about how your department or program might best make use of this opportunity to invite a presenter to campus to work with your faculty on alternatives to your current teaching styles and approaches.

Talk to any member of the advisory committee about your questions, ideas and suggestions for this program. The Center is planning to commit between $1,000 and $2,000 to each presentation or consultancy.

Strongest Link Teaching Circle met on October and discussed Elizabeth Pogue’s use of small groups in her cost accounting class and the evaluation the students complete of one another as a classroom assessment and teaching technique. Christine Urish has been working with information from Delaney Kirk’s website: http://www.delaneykirk.com/  that deals with tips on effective classroom management and effective teaching. Following is a website provided by Christine that is free to use for developing grading rubrics [go to the one on collaborative work skills (UNDER WORK SKILLS heading), you can select behaviors you’d like to address and it creates the rubric for you]:

The Teaching Circle, Alternatives to Lecturing met on October 11 to discuss strategies for engaging students in class. The members of the circle brought examples of strategies that effectively engaged students in the learning process. The November circle meeting is scheduled for Nov. 8 at 4:00 p.m. in Ambrose Hall 231. There will be snacks as usual. Please contact Carol Lyon or Jessica Gosnell for more information.

The center's book and periodical collection is in process of being catalogued by the O'Keefe Library and integrated into the general collection. This should make the Center's collection (the books especially) easier to find and use than ever before. The News will have continuing updates on this integration project as it proceeds. The ultimate goal of the project is to make the materials collected by the Center most easily available to faculty--both in terms of where it is stored and in terms of how information about it is available electronically.

CTE PERIODICAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE

Three other publications subscribed to by the Center are available in several places on campus.  The Teaching Professor, The Professor in the Classroom and the National Teaching and Learning Forum are available as they arrive in three wall pocket locations: in the old snack bar area in Ambrose Hall, in the Cosgrove Hall private dining room near the drink dispenser, and in the coffee shop on Harrison St.-- as well as in ACCEL and through Allison Ambrose in the College of Business.

Back issues of these publications are CURRENTLY kept in the Ambrose Room on the third floor of the Library along with the Center's book collection. Stop at the library director's office to have the Ambrose Room unlocked for you. Soon the collection will be moved and integrated into the general library collection.