As I go through New Student Orientation this month, I think about another incoming class of first-year students coming to campus, wondering if they: (1) know what they are here to do, and (2) have any ideas what they expect from the institution. Yesterday, after my colleague Jennifer and I finished speaking with the students and parents about our School (of Health and Human Sciences) at the Welcome Session, I came back to the office with a need – a need to watch Sir Ken Robinson’s Ted Talk “Bring on the learning revolution” (find it here at: http://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html). I always feel ready to make a change after I watch this video!
The last time I watched this video, it inspired me to change my HHS125: Personal and Academic Success in Health and Human Sciences course this past Spring (2013) Semester. In previous semesters, students completed the various self-awareness exercises and activities during class time (with brief discussions), then reflected on their work in personal journals outside of class for homework. This past semester, I had them do the exercises, activities, and journaling outside of class, then used the class time for discussion/sharing the results and/or what they learned through the process with everyone on class. What an enlightening experience for them – and for me! To make a long story short, many of the comments made in class talked about feeling like part of a family – and this happened in two classes, each with around 15-20 students that met for 50 minutes a week once a week! This experience became my attempts at a “learning revolution!” So, for the Fall Semester, what will I do for an encore? More on that in another post…
To see my HHS125 2013 Spring Semester course syllabus and course evaluations, visit https://thedreamdean.wordpress.com/hhs125-personal-success-course-info/.
And if you have time, check out a couple of other great Sir Ken Robinson TED Talks that are pertinent to education and creativity:
- Says schools kill creativity – http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
- How to escape education’s death valley – http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley.html
And don’t forget to register for the “Educating for Purpose, Inspiring for Life” Conference in September; for more information, visit: https://thedreamdean.wordpress.com/2013-conference-educating-for-purpose-inspiring-for-life/
The Dream Dean 