Courage to Take Risks

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In our second Innovators’ Toolkit, “Risk Taking and Managing Student Expectations,” we discussed the challenges of risk-taking in the classroom and strategies to address them.  As fellow Richard Bautch reminded me, one of our distinguishing characteristics drawn from our Holy Cross heritage and expressed in our mission is the “courage to take risks”.

Here is a round up of challenges and strategies discussed by our fellows: Continue reading →

reflections

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  • What have you learned so far that may prove valuable to your project?  (You might cite something learned in a workshop but you also might cite an informal conversation with another fellow or staff member or something you figured out on your own.)

It was helpful to see how others conduct their classes and deal with issues in their classrooms
It was good to be exposed to various ways technology is used in the classroom and to reflect on it

  • What progress have you made on your project?
    Arranged meeting with the library and scheduled test time for visiting artist lecture
  • What do you need to accomplish in the next week?
    Test run the lecture, figure out how to use library equipment
    Decide on the way to archive the lectures
    Decide on the assignments related to lectures
    Start putting together a list of artists interested in the experiment
  • Worries and joys?  What’s worrying you about your progress or your next steps?  Has anything got you excited or feeling energized about your upcoming work?
    I am very excited about my project! I think it would be very valuable to students and to the University
    Still worried a bit about technical implementation. Will probably feel better after the test run at the library and figuring out the details.

Blog Post 3: Mid-Institute Check-In

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Due Friday, May 22.  In this reflection activity, fellows will consolidate the learning and progress gained so far and will outline their near-term goals.  Write a few paragraphs in response to the following questions.

  • What have you learned so far that may prove valuable to your project?  (You might cite something learned in a workshop but you also might cite an informal conversation with another fellow or staff member or something you figured out on your own.)
  • What progress have you made on your project?
  • What do you need to accomplish in the next week?
  • Worries and joys?  What’s worrying you about your progress or your next steps?  Has anything got you excited or feeling energized about your upcoming work?

 

Blog Assignment 1: Project Management & Planning

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To document and share your project planning work, write a blog post that addresses the following 4 topics:

  • Identify major components of project work.
  • Identify resources (including consultations with colleagues and staff) needed to complete the project.
  • Articulate questions that remain that you don’t yet know how to answer or solve.
  • Reflect: What about your project plan seems most ambitious or challenging? Where do you anticipate problems or difficulties?  What do you see as the components for which you are most prepared already?
  • Timeline: Map project work against calendar.

Prep for Innovators’ Toolkit 2

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In preparation for Innovators’ Toolkit 2, Risk Taking and Managing Student Expectations, please do the following:

  1. Complete the “Teaching Risk” blog assignment.
  2. Read: Ebbeler, Jennifer. “‘Introduction to Ancient Rome,’ the Flipped Version.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 22, 2013. http://chronicle.com/article/Introduction-to-Ancient/140475/

Teaching Risk Blog Assignment 2, due 5/20/2015 at 10 am

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In preparation for Innovators’ Toolkit 2, Risk Taking and Managing Student Expectations, Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 – 11:30 am, please complete this blog assignment on your personal blog before the session.

Tell about a time you took a teaching risk, e.g., tried something new with your class.

  • What was the nature of the risk?
  • Why did you take this risk?
  • How did your students react? Why?
  • How did you talk to your students about this risk?

Select Innovation Institute sessions open to all faculty: May 20, 22, 26, and 27

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The Center for Teaching Excellence, Department of Instructional Technology, and Munday Library invite all faculty to join us for select sessions from this year’s Innovation Institute.

Although most of the Institute’s sessions are only open to the 2015-16 Innovation Fellows, this year we are opening up five workshops to any interested St. Edward’s faculty member (full-time, part-time or adjunct, and staff who teach). The open workshops are listed below.  If you wish to attend any (or all!) of them, please sign up so that we can anticipate attendance.  To learn more about the workshops and register please see the full workshop listing. Continue reading →