“The more you know, the more you know you don’t know.”― Aristotle When I first began teaching I had a very clear idea of how I wanted to teach. As I became immersed in professional development courses, advising students and teaching my own classes, my teaching philosophy has continuously morphed. The more I learn about teaching, […]
It almost seems every class has one assignment that just doesn’t hit the mark quite satisfactorily somehow. Whether it is the classroom dynamics or the structure of the assignment, it just doesn’t work as we may have intended or expected. Indeed, as an instructor it is a struggle to find the right activity for your […]
I have been a gamer since I was 5 years old when I began to play the Nintendo NES. There were games like Super Mario Bros and Donkey Kong. The games did not have the most in depth story line, but I remember them all. I remember every time I failed a level and how […]
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is the net worth of a video? With free video resources such as Youtube and the ease with which instructors can curate and create their own, augmenting traditional print materials with video content in online, blended, and face-to-face classes is common practice. Videos have the capacity […]
This week I was asked about the science of teaching. A relatively new faculty member asked about resources to would help him be a better teacher. The part I loved about this inquiry was that he didn’t just want a list of tips and tricks, he wanted the research behind the tips and tricks. Those […]
Dear Colleagues It is with mixed emotions that I write this post and share that Michelle Pacansky-Brock has decided to leave CI. Michelle has accepted a new position as Faculty Mentor, Digital Innovation with the California Community College system. She will be coordinating professional development efforts related to emerging technologies in online teaching and learning […]
Textbook prices are soaring. Since the late 1970’s, the cost of college textbooks has increased by more than 1,000%. If the cost of milk had increased by this same rate, today we’d be paying more than $17 a gallon. Through the 1980’s the price on textbooks increased 3 times the rate of inflation, and since […]
Digital comfort is not synonymous with growing up in the digital age. While most students use popular social media platforms, only a few are comfortable exploring new tools and applications. This is even truer amongst faculty trying to keep up with each new technological application presented. Digital tools are increasingly user friendly and essential for […]
“Education is the kindling of a flame. Not the filling of a vessel.” – Socrates Student centered learning is the main stated mission for California State University – Channel Islands (CSUCI). This is a lofty goal and is often a challenge to implement. Less planning is required when creating an instructor driven lecture that requires […]
Whatever your feelings about the recent election, we can probably agree that conversations among people of differing perspectives have grown more difficult. Such conversations have never have been easy, but the recent election cycle seems to have inspired more yelling, less listening, and a lot of anxiety. While universities have been some of the increasingly […]
