education – JCCC Billington Library

Using technology to change classroom learning

Cathy Davidson’s argument for using technology to change learning environments is the Book of the Day. Now You See It: How the Brain Science of Attention Will Transform the Way We Live, Work, and Learn argues that studying something she calls “attention blindness” in the brain shows how developments in technology being under utilized in learning spaces designed for the last century can be detrimental, and she’s got a good reason to think that. What started as her experiment of giving college freshman iPods (before they supported apps, and were just music players) lead to teachers and students turning them into learning tools.

The book follows that research to a compelling end, and a strong case for modern technology in the classroom, all centered upon how our brains react to it.

A thorough challenge to your school’s progress

You ever think that someone’s been arguing for the same change so long that they’ve been left behind? Today’s book argues that both sides can end up hurting school progress by getting hung up on certain ideas, regardless of whether or not they’re more traditional or progressive. In Same Things Over and Over by Frederick Hess, the author shows how debates rage on about hot topic issues like bilingual eductation or vouchers, many aspects considered standard in education are often overlooked (like defining grades by age, for example).

It’s an interesting book for both students, educators, future educators, or current and future parents.

Is your campus being bought and sold? This book thinks so

Today’s book, The Lost Soul of Higher Education by Ellen Schrecker, posits that outside interests are leading an idealogical assault on academic freedom. From corporate influence on material taught, distribution of funds, and using the current economic state to scare initiatives into action or inaction, the author compares the intrusion of outside interests on campuses across the US to the obstacles faced during the McCarthy era – and she would know, she’s a Cold War scholar.

So pick it up and see what you think. It should be of interest to anyone working, attending, or paying for higher education.

Need a topic for your paper? Check out Opposing Viewpoints

Do you have an argumentative paper, or you need a current topic to tackle for an assignment? One series of books we have, Opposing Viewpoints, was made just for that.

Today’s Book of the Day, Homeschooling: Opposing Viewpoints, edited by Noah Berlatsky, is a collection of scholarly articles and news sources portraying both those in favor and those against homeschooling. This is how all of the books are set up, and also how the companion database is portrayed (must have campus login for database). The books are on the shelves, just do a title search for “Opposing Viewpoints” in our catalog (or click here and I’ll do it for you. We’re cool like that). If you’ve never checked out the series before, I highly recommend it. It’s a great place to get started for a lot of different assignments you’ll get across different classes.

Leading Academic Change

Faculty chairs are a new thing at JCCC, so there’s still some realizing that needs to take place about what the job can entail. So grabbing a book like today’s BotD, Leading Academic Change: Essential Roles for Departmental Chairs by Ann F. Lucas (and friends), can only help. The library is currently creating LibGuides for this and other faculty-related concerns, which will appear in the Education section when available. There are, of course, tons of resources in there for students, as well, so hit up our LibGuides for some quality readers advisory and subject-based reference!

Book of the Day Aims to Teach

So this guy, Gardner, he comes up with this theory about their being 8 kinds of intelligences, and there’s a lot of research out there about it.

So our book for today, Teaching & Learning Through Multiple Intelligences by Linda and Bruce Campbell with Dee Dickinson, has a chapter for each kind of intelligence, and breaks down the multiple aspects of teaching, assessment, test-taking, and oodles of other considerations needed for educators to do their job to the best of their ability. With that model repeated in each chapter, it sets the tone for handling each student, and something future and current educators might want to consider, or at least explore if curious about Gardner’s proposed learning behaviors

Unfortunately, the author is not the same Bruce Campbell I wanted it to be.

Book of the Day

I’ve seen both sides of the online class. I’ve never been a teacher of an online course, but my colleagues past and present are active parts of this. I know from many past conversations that teachers worry their students are phoning it in on the other side of the computer, if they’re even sitting at the desk at all. I know that students have a long list of complaints about how they’re either wasting their time or not engaged. Both sides end up frustrated with software.

But here’s something I’ve also seen: Both sides end up getting mad and often don’t share what could be done.

Please, if you are on either side of this situation, look at a book like today’s BotD: Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction by Rita-Marie Conrad and J. Ana Donaldson. I believe that online learning and incorporating Web based material into learning to be potentially fantastic opportunities. With a breakdown in communication, though, the class loses value. When the students can’t visually express their displeasure or the instructors unable to visually assess interest, positive changes are harder to come by. Teachers: check this book out and get some ideas. Students: check this book out and don’t be afraid to give your teacher some suggestions.