How to ask questions of faculty
Once again Cal Newport has solid advice for college students: Don’t be afraid to ask questions when confused in class. Use the following format: <this is my interpretation> + <this is what confused me> + <this is what I want to be clarified> Yes, yes, yes: don’t ask a vague question such as Can you […]
On excuses for unintended consequences
Oh, my: I head out of town for a week, and when I get back there’s a trail of tears blogs on curriculum narrowing: Charles Barone, January 17 Robert Pondiscio, January 18 Eduwonkette, January 18 Eduwonk, January 17-18 Eduwonkette, February 4 Eduwonk, February 6 Ken DeRosa, February 6 Robert Pondiscio, February 7 Joanne Jacobs, February […]
A warning to college teachers
Ouch: I’d like to thank you all for doing away with the education of the past that encouraged thinking, and for signing on to a new style that’s more formulated for today. My future boss will really appreciate the robot qualities you have instilled in me. After all, it’s a cubicle world, and we’re going […]
Huge conferences are inherently dysfunctional
This is not unique to the American Educational Research Association, but I was part of three sessions or papers submitted to AERA, one of which was accepted (par for the course), and I agreed to serve as chair of another, on condition that I not have to stay in the conference city (NYC) for the […]
Probably not what Tallahassee or Beltway policy wonks intended
So some Florida teachers were fired because they were abusing students, letting a classroom get out of hand, not being prepared … but the state has forced the reinstatement of the teachers because the districts did not rely on test scores to make the personnel decisions. Can someone explain to me how this makes sense?