Category Archives: Teaching and Learning

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

Posted in Assessment & Grading, Economics, Teaching and Learning, Wikis forTeaching/Learning | 6 Comments

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

Posted in Teaching and Learning, What is Education? | Leave a comment

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

W(h)ither Online Learning?

Let me start off by saying, I am a friend and supporter of our College of Graduate and Continuing Studies. I believe in what I understand their mission to be, that is, to offer a high quality, but lower cost … Continue reading

Posted in Teaching and Learning, UMW Teaching Center | 8 Comments