Ask-Dr-Kirk

Tip Of The Day: Keeping All The Students Focused During Team Presentations

I have my students give team presentations at the end of the semester as I know many of you do. One problem I've had is keeping the other students engaged and interested in each other's presentations. Last night I had them all write up two multiple choice questions on each presentation and turn these in as part of their participation grade. It kept them focused on the presentations and also gave me possible exam questions for the final.

What To Do That Last Day Of The Semester?

Professor Libby Gruner shares her tip on what to do that last day of class. This is always a struggle for me too. Usually I'm so busy finishing up the last chapter, having students do presentations and discussing the final that I don't feel I do as good a job of wrapping up the course as I could. Anyone else have tips as to what they do?

 

Happy Anniversary for Ask-Dr-Kirk!

Four years ago I started sharing my teaching tips as well as those of others on this site. I want to say thank you to all the readers who have commented on the blog or emailed me with their own tips, stories, and links. I look forward to another great year of teaching and learning!

Here's me at my first teaching job in 1982. I thought the bun made me look older and wiser :)

 

Professors Are Like Cats

Dr. Rob Jenkins (Georgia Perimeter College) makes the case that professors are like cats.

As he notes:

Like cats, professors tend to be highly intelligent, deeply self-actualized, and fiercely independent. They need to be stroked occasionally, but only on their own terms and in their own good time. Mostly, they just want to be left alone to do their own thing. They might not come when called—perhaps because they're suspicious of the caller's motives—but they may very well show up on their own when least expected.

Speaking from my 28+ years in academia, I definitely agree.

 

 

Tips To Jumpstarting Your Writing

Dr. Billie Hara (Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi) shares tips to a 20-minute program that will help you establish a writing schedule. The DRAW method stands for Declutter, Read, Assess, and Write and helps you focus on clearing your mind (and your desk!) to allow the writing process to occur. You can check out the details of her tips here.

Quick Presentations: The Pecha Kucha Method

As we get to that time of the semester when many of us have our students do presentations, you might look at this creative approach called Pecha Kucha which incorporates 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds, or a total of 6 minutes,40 seconds per presentation.

Some companies are even requiring applicants to use this technique as part of the interviewing process.

You can watch a Pecha Kucha video on using Pecha Kucha here.

Free Books!

Just found this site for those of you who enjoy reading (that would be all of us right?). You list the paperback books you own that you would be willing to swap and then pick the ones you want sent to you. It only costs you the postage. They even have audio books in addition to fiction and nonfiction. I'm thinking I'll stock up for the summer!

Tell Your Students To Consider A Blog When Job Hunting

Sarah Needleman writes about how recent college grads can use a blog to attract employers in an article in the Wall Street Journal.  As she notes, corporate recruiters are surfing the internet to "unearth job candidates, expanding their talent pool and gaining insights they say they can't get from résumés and interviews."  Recruiters also check out candidates' blogs to determine their writing skills as well as additional information on education and experience that can't be determined from a one page resume.  In addition, putting on a blog that you are job hunting allows you to network with many more people than just telling your friends.  Many companies are now googling their job applicants and savvy students can use  the internet to "sell" themselves.