Teaching in Higher Ed

BLOG POST

For when you need a break from your Spring break

By | | | XFacebookLinkedInEmail

FOR WHEN YOU NEED A

It is Spring break at my university, so it is the absolute perfect time to be sick (meant to be read in a voice dripping with sarcasm).

Instead of focusing my writing this week on approaches to help us become more effective teachers or tools to enhance our productivity, I've got some recommendations for those of you who might be looking for a break from all that.

Books

Savvy, by Ingrid Law – Sean Michael Morris recommended this book back on episode #087. It is a delightful book for middle-age kids (and adults who love a captivating story). I'm so glad to know there's more to the story than just this first book.

Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream, by Joshua Davis – My colleague recommended this book and I knew I would enjoy it just from the title. It reminded me a lot of the hope offered in the book The Boy who Harnessed the Wind. Such a great adventure in learning and justice.

Videos

We, the Economy – 20 short films you can't afford to miss – I found these videos while on a bit of a Twitter exploration. Morgan Spurlock is just one of the many talented directors who contributed to these films.

Television

The Mindy Project – I've also been enjoying binge-watching The Mindy Project on Hulu. Her narcissism is fun to watch and we can tell that deep down beneath, she really does care.

TV: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – While I have yet to find any students who watch The Mindy Project, many of them are regular viewers of John Oliver's show on HBO. Technically, most of them don't watch it on HBO and they don't watch the entire show. YouTube has the clips of his 19-minute monologues, including his recent dive into the encryption debate going on  between Apple and the FBI.

That's it for now.

My next work-related book is going to be James Lang's latest book – Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning. He's on the Teaching in Higher Ed Podcast this Thursday, so keep your ears on your podcast player. It's a good one!

 

Bonni Stachowiak

Bonni Stachowiak is the producer and host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, which has been airing weekly since June of 2014. Bonni is the Dean of Teaching and Learning at Vanguard University of Southern California. She’s also a full Professor of Business and Management. She’s been teaching in-person, blended, and online courses throughout her entire career in higher education. Bonni and her husband, Dave, are parents to two curious kids, who regularly shape their perspectives on teaching and learning.

Essentials_CoverMockup-2

GET CONNECTED

JOIN OVER 4,000 EDUCATORS

Receive a free Educational Technology Essentials Guide and
weekly update.

Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
JOIN
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Comments

  1. Dr. B – I love the movie ‘Spare Parts’! I used it last year when I taught a Robotics class and just recently showed it to all my students the day before Spring Book. The students enjoyed it and even asked where they could buy it, as some classes didn’t get to see the entire movie. It is a reminder how those that have differences can come together and become victorious.

    • Dear Charlotte,

      I didn’t realize that Spare Parts was made into a movie. I guess I read that information while I was reading the book, but it quickly left my mind, because I was so caught up in their story.

      I’m adding it to my list of movies to watch that I keep track of on http://imdb.com.

      What an inspiring thing to show to your robotics students… Thanks for telling me about it.

      Bonni