Monday, February 15, 2010

Classroom Victories

I found a very cool forum with a stream on classroom victories. Tales of success!  Uplifting! Enlightening! Inspiring!

I know some PHCC faculty have similar tales to share.  Please, share them there, or share them here - but share!

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,64526.0.html

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Why Is It So Hard to Change?

The League for Innovation has posted a discussion about a new book: Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives? The primary obstacle is a conflict that’s built into our brains, say Chip Heath and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed bestseller Made to Stick. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems—the rational mind and the emotional mind—that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. The rational mind wants to change something at work; the emotional mind loves the comfort of the existing routine. This tension can doom a change effort—but if it is overcome, change can come quickly.

Read more, then come back here to comment.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Is It Too Easy to Get an A?

A post on Higher Ed Morning poses an interesting question: what direction does higher education need to take to halt or slow down grade inflation?  What about the trend over the years toward higher grades – and less time studying?  According to the author, research has shown students are putting in half as much time studying — often less than 10 hours a week — than they were 40 years ago.


Check it out:  http://www.higheredmorning.com/is-it-too-easy-to-get-an-a.


Then come back here and post your comments.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

"If Current Trends Continue . . . .

The next generation will be the first to have less education than their parents. ... We are now 10th in the world for the percentage of people with college degrees." --

Carol Lincoln
MDC, Inc.
at the DEI Strategy Institute, Feb. 2, 2010