News & announcements from the ‘Blog’ category
Liberal arts and workforce development
Thursday, December 20th, 2012The value of Liberal Arts and Workforce skills continues to be in the news. Revisit previous post. One recent article focused on false promises and splits that are emerging between those who can go to college for Liberal Arts and those who are expected to get “training’. More recently, helping students learn ‘soft skills to ‘know’…
Technology and Activism
Tuesday, December 11th, 2012More has been in the news lately about using podcasts, twitter, and skype in the classroom. A recent article focuses on the use of twitter. Another project is using social media to connect social justice activists. Other student groups working with local labor unions use social media and old fashioned, hit the streets organizing efforts to…
Online Pedagogy
Friday, November 23rd, 2012More emphasis about online pedagogy has been discussed more. A relatively new online journal, Hybrid Pedagogy, focuses on teaching online, moving beyond the technical aspects of delivering online course content. Connectivism and Connective Knowledge is an open online course that explores the concepts of connectivism and connective knowledge and explore their application as a framework…
MOOCs
Thursday, November 15th, 2012Massive Online Open Courses [MOOCs] have received more attention. An article described the Big Three companies and others describe the training potential. A short video describes MOOCs and their potential. MOOC’s are creating partnerships with colleges to offer college credit for the online courses. More community colleges are entering agreements to use MOOCs, including Massachusetts…
Value of the liberal arts
Sunday, October 7th, 2012Recently as the emphasis to workforce development and ‘job’ skills training has escalated, more research and emphasis on the value of liberal arts is emerging as an important ‘work’ skill. Habits of mind explores why students need to have these underlying traits: “curiosity, open-mindedness, and intellectual courage, thoroughness, and humility.” Another previous article explored that the Liberal Arts…
Upcoming Professional Development
Saturday, October 6th, 2012The Learning Assistance Association of New England [LAANE ]Conference at GCC on Friday October 26. All Day. LAANE supports educators who are working with under-prepared, at-risk, and nontraditional students in their pursuit of a post-secondary education. The conference theme is “Student Success: There’s an App for That” with keynote and break out sessions. Contact Norman Beebe or…
Questions about Online Learning
Saturday, September 29th, 2012Online Teaching is reportedly increasing. Recent articles vary from Why I changed my mind about teaching online to the more skeptical view of Catherine Stimpson, noted feminist scholar, in her article On becoming a Phoenix: Encounters with the Digital Revolution. Indeed who will ‘serve’ colleges including the debate between the course management system, Blackboard and…
Resources from Professional Day Fall 2012
Friday, September 14th, 2012Carol Gray presented to our adjunct faculty orientation. The presentation [Welcome Adjunct Faculty! (online version)] provided tips for classroom activities, communication, contractual rights and obligations, and other resources. Teaching and Learning in Community was also presented at Faculty Opening Day by Mary Ellen Fydenkevez, Meredith Twombly and Kate Devlin. The presentation [Teaching in Communty_prof_half_day] presents ideas about how…
To grade or not to grade: Grading rubrics, outcomes and measurement of student work
Thursday, August 30th, 2012To Grade or Not to Grade 2 The adjunct faculty presentation on 8/28/12 includes links to sample syllabi, why have grading rubrics and national resources. Handouts included Activity: Think about what you want students to learn: Activity What students remember in 10 yrs: Grading Rubric: Class Notebook Self Assessment S12 Short Research Paper- Grading Paper Rubric Online…
Learning: Introverts and Group/Team Work
Thursday, August 30th, 2012Professional development opening day at GCC discussed group work expectations and introverts in the classroom. Susan Cain, author of Quiet has a TED talk, to help us think about incorporating introverts in group activities.
