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.
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