I find myself in a discipline in which there are a plethora of real world examples. Environmental engineers are involved on some level with almost every human interaction with the environment. In this way I think we are very lucky…
Author: Amanda Sain
Textbooks: Are they necessary?
Are textbooks going to become a thing of the past? Or is there still a place for them in the future of pedagogy? First, I think we have to define the purpose of a textbook. What is its function?Textbooks in…
Guerrilla Teaching
Would you welcome the idea of another faculty member coming into your classroom and engaging your class, while you are teaching it? I came across the idea of guerrilla teaching, and I have to say that I find the idea…
Teaching Philosophy – How will we be evaluated?
The teaching philosophy statement is a way to communicate the methods and strategies that you employ as you teach, and the reasoning behind why you’ve made the choices to implement those strategies. Unfortunately, since this is somewhat of an abstract…
Multitasking – Is there another option?
As I sit here working on this blog, I am simultaneously running some samples on a GC. Is it truly multitasking if I have 8 minutes between samples? Is focusing on one thing for 8 minutes, then switching to something…
The Positive Impacts of Diversity
Diversity is important. Having access to a perspective outside your own is invaluable. What can we to to promote diversity within our classrooms and our fields? I think the first things we must do is to be thoughtful and aware.…
College Exit Exams?
I’m sure we’ve all heard about the devaluation of the bachelor’s degree, and likening it to the new high school degree. Basically the idea is that you can’t get a job without a bachelor’s degree, even if that job doesn’t…
Nerdfighters, Crash Course, and Being Unironically Enthusiastic
What is a Nerdfigher? In their own words, “People who are made of awesome instead of bones and organs. It is their mission to decrease worldsuck and increase global awesome. Essentially, if you want to be a Nerdfighter, you are one.…
How do we implement change?
I come from a discipline where classrooms are very quiet places where students rarely speak up. So much so, that being in a course where discussion is expected and encouraged is strange to me. In fact, sometimes I feel…
Mo Money, Mo Problems
The average student loan debt in the US is $29,000! If you ask me what I would change about higher education, that’s my answer. Higher education has been made accessible through student loans for many people who may not have…