This week in higher ed news, embracing imperfection in the classroom and discovering students’s hidden talents.
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Redesigning teaching. In an interview with ACUE, Michael Wesch discusses what inspired him to change his teaching and explains why instructors should understand their students’ lives inside and outside the classroom. (The ‘Q’ Blog)
Embracing imperfection. Taking risks and encouraging students to accept that their work may not be flawless can inspire creativity and experimentation for both students and instructors. (ProfHacker)
Writing outside the box. A composition instructor explains why the essay topics he assigns are mere suggestions and encourages students to write about what interests them. (Vitae)
Detecting secret skills. Ellen Fiedler writes that different learning approaches in class, research projects, and one-on-one mentorship can help unearth students’ hidden talents. (The Scholarly Teacher)
Democratic involvement. Many colleges are exploring ways to promote civic engagement in students, such as integrating ideological issues and fieldwork into curricula. (The Chronicle of Higher Education – Paywall)
Facing problems. In response to new challenges this year, colleges should confront issues head on and find ways to increase school value for students, Lisa Rudgers and Julie Peterson say. (Inside Higher Ed)
Liberal learning. Wesleyan University President Michael Roth opines that liberal education must foster an exchange of ideas across disciplines, promote intellectual diversity, and support the sharing of knowledge if it is to thrive. (The Washington Post)
Background schooling. A college junior explains how his chosen disciplines help him reframe his identity. (The New York Times)
Community college benefits. Responding to the suggestion that community colleges should strictly provide vocational training, one dean clarifies that two-year colleges offer an array of educational pathways. (Confessions of a Community College Dean)
Art of organizing. Google Forms allows instructors to upload documents, making it easier collect and organize student work. (ProfHacker)
Revealing personas. Presentation is integral to teaching, and instructors should be their genuine selves in the classroom, Rachel Toor writes. (Vitae)
