Ask-Dr-Kirk

Quote For The Day

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.  Nelson Mandela

Free Software For Designing Rubrics

Here's free software for designing your own rubrics.  Thanks to Professor Barbara Nixon (Georgia Southern University) for sharing this site.

Workshop By Patti Digh

I'm attending a three day workshop that starts today that is facilitated by Patti Digh in Asheville, North Carolina. Patti is the author of a new book, Life is a Verb.  I first met Patti several years ago when I hired her to do a workshop on diversity for the Drake Business Link at Drake University. As noted on her website:

This unique retreat will explore these questions:

• How do we make meaning of our lives through story?
• What are the stories we tell ourselves about others? About ourselves? How do those stories reduce us?
• What learning and significances are right in front of us, in the stories of our days?
• How can we move beyond the limits of who we think we are into what we were meant to be?
• In what ways can we relinquish our “role” in order to discover who we might be beneath the mask?
• How can we live more mindful, intentional lives by saying yes, being generous, speaking up, trusting ourselves, loving more, and slowing down?

Our weekend will be oriented more toward learning (a process that leaves us changed) than toward problem-solving (a process focused on changing our surroundings). We believe learning is most meaningful when it is embodied, not just intellectual. There will be space and time for individual reflection as well as group engagement.

I'm looking forward to the workshop and believe I will be able to bring my experience back to share with my students.

Lots Of Good Advice At The Carnival of College Admission!

Dr. Mark Montgomery shares a round-up of advice for both students and parents. He asked me to share my thoughts on the job search process.  Check out my posts, "Ten Steps to Getting the Job You Want" and "What To Tell Your Students When They Are Asked Potentially Illegal Questions While Interviewing For A Job."

There's lots of good info there on the college admissions process, financial aid, and advice on college readiness.

Articles On Teaching In This Week's New York Times Magazine

The New York Times magazine has several interesting articles on teaching this week.

Thanks to Jennifer Russell (Academy of Art University) for pointing this source out to my attention (and now yours!)

Open Mic Night: Share Your Favorite Stories And Links On Teaching Or Training

Dear Readers:

Please click on successful-blog.com starting tonight at 7pm Central time.  We will be sharing links to free software, favorite quotes, best or worst student or employee stories, etc. You will get great advice and tools for teaching or training.  Also, feel free to share your own or just log in and say hi to me as I'll be hosting.

Dr. Kirk

Tell Your Students Your Pet Peeves

My students can tell you my pet peeves...just ask them.  I think that's the way it should be.  Wouldn't it be useful to know what really irriates your boss so that you don't do that?  Coming to class tardy bothers me.  Wearing a hat to class does not but it might someone else.  It makes sense to tell your students.

Professor David Richeson (Dickinson College)shares his here.

Share Your Advice, Websites, and Links on Teaching and Training

Liz Strauss has agreed to let me host Open Mic Night on Tuesday, Sept 23 starting at 7pm Central time and ending at ?  We will be discussing and sharing links on great websites, tools, advice, favorite quotes or stories, etc. on teaching and training. Please stop by at successful-blog.com and participate!

Tips For Search Committees: What Makes An Interview Question Inappropriate?

Having been on a number of search committees in the past, I realize that many faculty don't have a background in management and thus may not be aware of what questions they should not ask a candidate during the interviewing process.  Here's a great explanation of what makes a question appropriate or inappropriate and a list of questions not to ask and why.

The Growth Of Blogs

It is estimated that there were only 150 blogs in the late 1990s.   However, this number increased to 10.3 million blogs in 2004 and to over 70 million in 2007.  According to Technorati, an Internet site that tracks and indexes blogs, this number had grown to 112.8 million by July 2008, with 175,000 new blogs being added each day.

I'm curious as to how many teachers use blogs in their classes. 

Funniest Student Excuse?

Professor Horace shares what he calls the funniest student excuse ever:

Dear Professor Horace:
I apologize for not being in class right now. I left my shoes in my neighbor's room in the dorm. He's not there right now, and I can't come to class without shoes...

Anyone else have stories to share as we get into this new semester?

More Tips For Your Students on Asking For A Letter Of Recommendation

Got this email and link from Professor David Richeson (Dickinson College) recently.

Dr. Kirk,

I've been enjoying reading your blog for the last year or so.  You have some great ideas and post some very useful links.  I enjoyed your recent post, "How To Get A Great Letter Of Recommendation From Your Teacher".  In case you're interested, I've put together a very similar list on my website.  It addresses a few points not covered in your post:  Asking for a letter of recommendation   Enjoy the last days of your summer vacation!

Dave

I like his list of talking points that the student provides to help his/her professor write a good letter.  I also think the suggestion to "waive your rights" makes sense.  It does give the letter more weight with the employer or grad school and chances are the professor will send the student a copy anyway.

Computer Tip Of The Day

Just found a great computer tip.  If you type in the name of the website you want,

for example, type: delaneykirk

and then hit the Control key and then the Enter key, your computer will input the www. and the .com for you!

How Much Money Does It Take To Be Happy?

Here's an article that says that according to Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert, the ideal salary is $40,000 a year in order to be happy.  This covers basic expenses of housing, car, food, etc.  Anything more than that and we just want a bigger house, more expensive car...

Free Assessment Tool To Measure Intelligence

Here's a free assessment tool that measures your strengths in areas such as interpersonal, logic/math, musical, spatial, and language skills.  I find these instruments fascinating...

Is Spelling, Grammar, Clean Paper Important On Student Assignments?

A colleague of mine and I have very different views on paper assignments.  He believes it's all about the content and wants his students to focus on just getting their ideas and thoughts on paper.  I believe content is important but that presentation is equally important (spelling, grammar, clean copy of final assignment, etc).  He calls me a "word nazi."  I tell him he's encouraging sloppiness which won't help them when they get that "real job." 

I'm curious about others.  What expectations do you have of your students?

What Is A Delaney Card?

Dear Dr. Kirk:

Recently someone told me about a classroom management tool called Delaney cards.  Can you tell me what these are and did you invent them?

Just curious

Dear Curious:

Delaney cards were used by public school teachers to keep track of attendance and grades and to determine seating arrangements in the classroom. You can still obtain Delaney cards here.  And no, I didn't invent these.  They were developed by Edward C. Delaney, a graduate of Harvard University and history teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City.

Academic Humor: Seen On Bumper Sticker

A professor is someone who talks in someone else's sleep.