Designing Space for Learning-Part ll

via Lego.com

As a final project, I have explored designing a course that I most likely will be teaching. The “backwards design” or “beginning with the end in mind” ( Robert Johnson, publishing genius) really stimulates my thinking. It actually clarifies the essential parts of a course.

Designing space that actually encourages learning-Get the heck out of here!

via Apartment Therapy

The idea of the learning space as an “enterprise zone”, really appeals to me. One of my major dreads, as future faculty is presiding over a class that is very much like a wake (without the great food afterwards). The idea that the “learning environment” can live up to its name is encouraging to me. Since I will be teaching nursing the assessment-environment and knowledge-centered environments are essential parts of preparing students for the profession (which needs to be done well, since the health of our loved ones and ourselves may fall into their hands ). Now to “make it so, Number One”, that takes creative thought.

A vote for Large Classes

Rodney Dangerfield and Keith Gordon in the 1987 comedy 'Back to School' - courtesy of IMDB

As those of you who have been closely following my blogs know, ((I see you Snarky, Jeff and Britt), I am all about democracy, equity and access in higher education. The discussion/presentation last week in class opened my mind to the idea that that large classes are potential vehicles for addressing these constructs. The focus on the quality of the teaching, as opposed to the forum, in which material is learned/taught gives me hope and encouragement. After all I would go to see the “Eagles” in the Hampton Coliseum and not wait for them to appear at the Phoebus VFW hall because of the size of the venue.

What’s love got to do with it?

In attempting to construct a teaching statement, I am trying to combine information from the learning taxonomies with the seven principles with passion for the work. It is making my head hurt. I believe that being good at any career starts and ends with the love of the work. How to capture and reflect all this into a document is the question.

“This is a fine mess that you’ve gotten us into Ollie”

The above quote is from Laurel and Hardy one of the most popular comedy teams of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema. Composed of thin, English-born Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and heavy, American-born Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) they became well known during the late 1920s to the mid-1940s for their work in motion pictures (from Wikipedia). Anyhow, when the more forceful Oliver would get the reticent Stan into some new experience that had questionable results, this is what Stan would said. This is my comment about Twitter. I have joined up as strongly urged by Jeff and Britt, and have no idea what kind of adventure is ahead. The process was as easy as when I got a car loan for my Ford Pinto in 1976, and we all know how that turned out. But, never- the- less, I am in. Bought the ticket, taking the ride.

Tagging and bookmarking as ways to encourage student-to-student interaction

via flickr

It has been my experience that students have been socialized to interact primarily with the teacher in the beginning of their undergraduate education. It is the instructor who assigns the grade, therefore it follows, that is where all knowledge is viewed to reside. The online learning environment provides an opportunity to change that line of thinking. Tagging and bookmarking allow the online scholar to see what her fellow students are thinking about a particular topic. This change in perspective provides an opportunity for each student to see himself as a giver of knowledge, as well as, a recipient, making the whole learning experience more than about the grade. I like that.

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