Grounded, but home alone.

Imagine if you will.... a young child grounded from video games & computers is home alone on a snow day. Chores for the day are to do the dishes and take the dogs out at 10 & 2. Parental units wont get home till 5 and 5:30.

When do you think the dishes will be done? 

Important Dates

• Wednesday, February 27: Off campus housing fair
• Monday, March 4: Last Day To Drop A Class Without Grade Penalty
• Saturday, March 9: Spring Break begins
• Sunday, March 17: Spring Break ends
• Monday, March 25: Last day to change grade option from P/F to A-F
• Tuesday, March 26: Course request for fall 2013 opens

Senior Reminders 

• Friday, March 8: Last day to apply for Spring 2013 graduation in order to receive a diploma at Spring Commencement in May and have your name appear in the Commencement Bulletin.

Helpful Tools

Two weeks ago the blog discussed learning styles and last week teaching styles. Today we will merge the two – teaching to a students learning style.

Years ago I was taking a geometry course (never again, by the way). The instructor would use colored markers on a white board to demonstrate different theorems.  All was good until one day when he was explaining a theorem I couldn’t wrap my head around. I explained I didn’t get it and to explain it again. Well, he explained it 3 times the same way and I still didn’t get it. Finally he said to me, “it’s the section in orange.”  Frustrated with his inability to explain it to me and his refusal to explain it to me in a way I could understand I replied to him with, “well that isn’t going to help me unless you color code the test.”

What does this have to do with anything? He was attempting to teach the material in a style he was comfortable with. But I, the learner, needed something different and he could not deliver.

If all teachers give instruction that is always hands on the auditory learners will be walking in circles the entire time. Now reverse that; if all instruction were auditory those visual learners will be doodling in their notebooks the entire time.

What research has found is the best approach is to match the style of teaching to the material not the student’s learning style.

I am NOT suggesting you approach your instructor about changing his/her way of teaching. I am giving you this information so you know what to look for. If you instructor is adjusting his/her style to the material – fabulously. You won’t fail geometry. However, if you do have an instructor who doesn’t change his/her style then you know you have extra work to do.

PS – I’ve never found a use for geometry outside of playing pool.

http://chronicle.com/article/Matching-Teaching-Style-to-/49497/

Random 

The whoopee cushion was invented by a 14 year old Roman Emperor, who used it frequently on guest. He was assassinated by the time he was 18.

Ut Prosim

Feeling good about spending money on someone else rather than for personal benefit may be a universal response among people in both impoverished countries and rich nations, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221104357.htm

Sandbox

My Schedule

In Scholar under the MSE Undergraduate Advising Tab use the sign-in tool to select a meeting time. Please know it will be necessary to click on “expand all recurring meetings” to see all available dates, then click on the date you would like to schedule a meeting and the available times will show.  

Currently, meeting times are available through March 8.   

I will be out of the office on Wednesday, February 27 & Friday March 8.