Texting During Class Revisited

Yesterday I posted comments about classroom technology distractions or opportunities, depending on your perspective. Here is a link to an email I received yesterday that should prompt some interesting discussion.

Texting, Texting, 1-2-3

One of our first discussions will be about classroom behavior. Why does it matter? If you can multitask and be more productive, shouldn’t I think that’s a good thing? Of course, the cognitive psychologist and the neurologist will both tell you that the brain can really focus on one thing at a time. Thus, multitasking takes a toll on both understanding the information that’s coming to you from your external environment and your ability to communicate effectively. You can see which side I’m on in this debate.

However, I am intrigued by the possibilities of tweeting notes via your cell phone. Often note takers try to write in complete sentences everything they hear – a virtual impossibility. So – using the texting process, the note taker would get the basic info in a format that is probably (not necessarily) easier to read than hastily formed handwriting. But, since the notes would be very, very brief, what would the student be required to do in order to make them meaningful?

Taxonomists -- a vanishing species?

Carol Kaesuk Yoon is a science writer for the NY Times. On August 10, she wrote about the ability of humans to name and organize living organisms, apparently using an inherent skill shared by all cultures. According to Yoon, scientists are closing in on the part of the brain that is responsible for this activity. Can you guess where that might be? Why would this ability be a necessary or even desirable trait? As Yoon puts it, the ability to name a carrot or a cat makes it possible for one to know whether to grate or pet it. How important is this to you and how can you use it to further your academic success? She also posits that computers are taking over the job of taxonomists. What are the implications of this statement?

The Digital Future

It's official. The NY Times says today that textbooks are a thing of the past. "Kids are wired differently these days...they don't engage with textbooks that are finite, linear and rote." What do you think about that? Do you prefer that all material required for coursework is conveyed to you digitally? What are the advantages of such a program? What's the downside? This course is going to focus on online resources as well as online storage of your study materials. Tell me how that works for you.

So You Think You Want to Be a Scientist

My favorite new website, LiveScience, has begun a series on what makes a scientist. If you think you want to be one, this might be a good chance to find out more about what those in the profession think of themselves - you can eavesdrop on their metacognitive experiences. Off the bat, some say one has to be curious and creative. Others say successful scientists are born with special abilities. What do you think?

Why Study Religion?

True or false: all Baylor students must take REL 1310 (Christian Scriptures) and REL 1350 (Christian Heritage). The correct answer is at the bottom of this post. The more relevant question is, why do you have to take REL 1310 and REL 1350? Don't you get enough religion in Chapel? What is the purpose of the two graded courses, and why does almost every Baylor student have to take them? The website for the Religion Department speaks to the study of religion as an opportunity to "inquire more deeply into the Christian faith, to gain an enhanced appreciation of the contributions of Christianity to the development of twenty-first century culture, and to prepare for life-long lay or career ministry." But, if you are not a religion major and not interested in a lay or career ministry, what is the purpose for you? These are demanding courses and, even if you have gone to Sunday School all your life, the material is pretty hard to understand sometimes. Dr. David Moseman, in his REL 1310 syllabus, hopes that by the end of the course "you will have a basic understanding of and appreciation for the biblical meta-narrative, i.e., the big picture; the various aspects involved in its interpretation; and its relevance for living life meaningfully."
Today's Chronicle of Higher Education has an essay by Dr. K.L. Noll, chairman of the religion department at Brandon University in Manitoba. He says that religion professors should not "practice of defend" religion in the classroom. It was published this morning, and already several have commented online. The first comment began "this is a disguisting piece of writing..." If you want to read the entire article, you can use the Baylor Library subscription. Go to BearCat and type in "Chronicle of Higher Education." Select the online version. On the page that next appears, select "Single Journals." You will be able to find the title "The Ethics of Being a Theologian" in the 7/27/2009 publication. I've emailed Dr. Moseman to see what he thinks of the question. I'll let you know what he says.
Answer to question - False. Some students transfer in similar courses and students in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC) take other courses instead.

How to Work with a Tutor

I discussed our tutoring program today with the program director, Steven Richard. We've talked a lot about how to train tutors and what the really great tutors do in a session that seems to help students make better grades. Here's a hypothetical situation:
Tutor - Hey, how're you doing today?
Tutee - Good.
Tutor - Are we talking about Brit Lit today?
Tutee - Yeah.
Tutor - What questions do you have?
Tutee - I don't have any questions. I just don't understand what the teacher wants me to write on essay tests.
Tutor - What are you reading?
Tutee - I don't know..Something about some people on a trip. It's so boring.
Tutor - What kind of questions will be on the test?
Tutee - I don't know. They're just all weird stuff I never thought about. I don't know what I'm supposed to write.
Tutor - So, what can I help you with?
Tutee - I don't know. I just don't understand it.
Tutor - Well, come back if you think of some questions.

So - what's wrong with this picture? Do you think the tutor helped the student? What would have produced a better outcome?

Whether you are a tutor or a tutee, here's a website that can help you figure this out.
Here's another site.