A Couple of New Books

Dr. Mike Tunning and Dr. Michelle Barber, as part of their effort to create an Academy of Chiropractic Educators, were kind enough to provide me copies of 2 new books, both of which I am finding highly informative. Both are worth your time and effort.

The first book is “Teaching Naked: How Moving technology Out of Your College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning.” (Bowen JA. John Wiley and Sons; San Francisco, CA, 2012). Now, before you think the author is recommending that we jettison technology, that’s now what he means by moving it out of the classroom. He wants student using it outside the classroom because that is how modern students learn. His focus is on what takes place during those classroom hours we have; how to better use the time and more effectively engage students. He describes ways to maximize face-to-face contact between student and faculty, focusing on “the human dimension” of learning. Thus, the book provides great ideas on how to engage our students, looking at how they prepare before they show up and how we engage them as they do. He yokes technology to this process, so it is used effectively and in a way that students easily understand.

The second book is “Crucial Conversations” Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High.” (Second edition. PattersonK, Greeny J, McMillan R, Switzler A. McGraw Hill; New York, NY, 2012). The book is devoted to the concept of a crucial conversation, which is an event with the capacity to transform people and relationships; it is a form of bonding that can occur through deep conversation and understanding. The book looks at a fundamental idea- that human problems occur when people disagree with each other about high-stakes emotional issues. We can actually see that in our own classrooms over concepts as fundamental as what chiropractic is. How do you feel when you propose an idea only to see others disagree with you and argue against yours? Are you irritated? Angry? Hurt? What do you do? How do you handle classroom discord? This book provides a superb example of what you might do to better communicate, and therefore teach, your students in such circumstances.

I recommend that you read these books- they have great ideas and concepts and easily translated methods you can begin using now.