Creative Commons
This work by Steve Greenlaw is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Category Archives: All
The most important job of a university teacher is designing the learning environment
What does a teacher at the university level do? This is a question I’ve pondered for some time, as I’ve been following changes in higher education, for example, the growth in the for-profit sector, and the growth in on-line learning. … Continue reading
Does poor nutrition cause the swine flu? (No)
I’m writing in response to Laura’s post here on a piece by Thomas Friedman. Friedman’s piece reminds me of why I could never be a regular, on-a-schedule, blogger. Because if I don’t have anything to say, I’d have to write … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Teaching and Learning
1 Comment
Teaching as Modeling Disciplinary Practice
Over the Christmas holidays last winter, as I began to plan for my Spring courses, it struck me that it was a truly fascinating time to study macroeconomics and finance. Yes, I realize this is much like the neurosurgeon remarking … Continue reading
Teaching as Coaching?
This is another in my irregular musings about teaching, learning and how grading should help rather than hinder the latter. Does the textbook have a responsibility for student learning? No, it’s just a source of course content. Does the teacher … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment & Grading, Teaching and Learning
8 Comments
More on the balance between liberal arts teaching and scholarship
Terry Dolson and I have been conversing about the balance between scholarship and liberal arts teaching. This is a response to Terry’s last response, in which she says: I believe that if faculty could see clearly that the WAY they … Continue reading
Vision for the Future of Teaching & Learning at UMW
If the preeminent value at UMW is teaching excellence, which I believe it should be, then the UMW Teaching Center should play a prominent role at our institution. This is in contrast to the former Teaching Innovation Program, which seemed … Continue reading
Posted in Teaching and Learning, UMW Teaching Center
3 Comments
Learning as Work vs. Play
A curious thing happened last Friday in my intro class. We have been studying the theory of the Firm and one of the themes I emphasis (which gets short shrift in the textbooks) is that successful firms are profitable precisely … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Teaching and Learning
3 Comments
More on the tyranny of content coverage
Leslie Madsen-Brooks just posted another excellent example of the kind of post I would flag and redirect to the UMW Teaching Center website if we had that ability. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I view my primary responsibility … Continue reading
Posted in Teaching and Learning
1 Comment
Course Design as a Creative Endeavor
Designing a course is a creative endeavor. I don’t mean just creating a new course, but rethinking, re-presenting a course you have taught before, even many times before. This design creativity seems so personal to me, but I imagine every … Continue reading
Posted in Teaching and Learning
1 Comment
First Year Writers
The biggest thing I’ve learned from teaching a first year seminar is how freshman writing differs from upper class writing. Today I handed back the second formal paper my students have written and here is what I told them: The … Continue reading
Posted in First Year Seminar
8 Comments