Teaching in Higher Ed

Pinboard.in | A great bookmarking/archiving tool

By | | | XFacebookLinkedInEmail

When it comes to new apps, Dave is often a bit more willing to experiment than I am.

He's gone back and forth between the two read-it-later services: Pocket and Instapaper, more times than I can count. On the other hand, I made the switch to Pocket upon his suggestion and am not willing to re-learn a new system, just to capitalize on a couple extra features that Instapaper now offers.

That's why I think I was so suspicious about making the switch to Pinboard.in.

Dave had made the move and kept recommending it to me. At first glance, I wasn't sure how it would be better than the Delicious bookmarking system that I had been using.

However, I finally decided to take the plunge when I saw that I could have Pinboard.in bookmark/pin everything both inside their system, but also on my Delicious account. There just wasn't that much to lose.

pinboard

What is Pinboard?

From their FAQs:

Pinboard is a personal archive for links you find online. You save bookmarks to the site and can find and search them later from any computer. The site can automatically import your links and tweets from a number of outside services.

Pinboard also offers an archive feature that will save a local copy of everything you bookmark in case the original page goes offline, and let you search all your bookmarks by their full text content.

How do I use Pinboard?

Pinboard is so easy to use that a person might suspect that it only has one application: to save stuff. However, I wind up using it in a number of ways, including:

As a source for inspiration and ideas for blog posts and social media interactions

Once a week, I go onto my main Pinboard page that has all my pins in one long list down the middle. I take a look at the pins I've added in the last week and determine whether they might fit into my main blog post for the week, or if they might be good individual Tweets or Facebook links.

When people ask me for resources on a given topic

The power of Pinboard comes in when you set up a system of categories, or tags with your bookmarks. As soon as you save a bookmark, you have the option to add one or more tags at that time.

Later on, if someone asks me for my advice or resources regarding educational technology, I have an easy link to send them that has all the resources I've saved on a given topic.

https://pinboard.in/u:bonni208/t:EdTech/

twitterAs a way to capture resources from Twitter with one click or tap

I have Pinboard set up to automatically add any Tweets that I favorite to my pins.

While that sounds like it would get crazy to try to keep all those favorites organized, it really isn't all that necessary. I have it set to use any Twitter hashtags as tags within Pinboard. In most cases, there aren't tags, though, and they just wind up going in a category called untagged.

If I were inclined, I could manually go in there and tag them all at a later time. However, I haven't found that necessary, given the robust search features in Pinboard and the nature of the kinds of things I favorite on Twitter.

Recommended steps

If you are going to take advantage of Pinboard, be sure you have:

  1. Set up your account
  2. Added the button/extension to your browser's toolbar, so you can easily add pins while you're on your computer
  3. Add the Pinboard extension/share button to your iOS device, so you can easily add pins while you'er on your iPhone/iPad

[reminder]Do you use a bookmarking/archiving tool? If so, which one is it and why is it your preferred tool?[/reminder]

How to keep course files organized

By | | | XFacebookLinkedInEmail

I never realized that I was “different” until my friend showed such an interest in how I organized my files and folders for my academic life.

keep-course-files-organized

My Mom was always a person with a fond appreciation for file cabinets and keeping articles of interest around various topics. She definitely passed that on to me.

Now, neither of us wants that many physical files cluttering up our home. However, since storage space on our hard drives and/or in the cloud is relatively inexpensive today, it makes sense to hang on to stuff, in case it winds up being useful in the future.

The search features on computers today are so robust, that you could argue that having a good folder structure is no longer necessary. Some time ago, I trimmed the number of folders in my email program, so that I didn't have to scroll through so many when I was looking for something via my iPhone.

However, I still find it helpful to have a basic system of folders on both email and on my hard drive to accommodate those times when search doesn't get me what I need.

Keep course files organized

In any given semester, there are two main directories (folders) that I spend most of my digital time in:

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 12.29.11 PM 1) Semester-specific folder

This folder contains data related to a specific semester. For 2015s, I have my class rosters (which are also sign-in sheets), my schedule (which gets printed and hung up outside my office), and a folder for students' work in each of my classes that semester.

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 12.29.32 PM

In addition to the schedule that hangs on my wall, I create my version of Michael Hyatt's ideal week template. This exercise enables me to see how I want to invest my time throughout the semester and identify any barriers, in advance.

I spoke about how I use the ideal week template on episode 23 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.

Inside each of the semester-class folders will be the students' work, as the semester gets under way.

As I begin a new semester, I move the previous semester's folder into a directory named z-Archive. The naming convention on that folder allows for it to be listed at the bottom of my main university folder, since I don't need to access it often.

I use Dropbox for almost all my files now. They now offer 1 terabyte of data on their pro plan, so it makes good sense to invest in the service. I appreciate how I can create a link to a file with a right mouse click and choosing “share dropbox link.”

When you move a folder (to an archive folder, for example), any links that you provided to students for feedback are then broken. That's why I wait until a few weeks into a new semester prior to moving/archiving the folder.

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 12.46.32 PM 2) Course content folder

This folder has directories for each of the classes I have taught previously. The PowerPoints, exams, and other class resources are kept in the folders. The publisher materials also go here, though I tend not to keep archives, since much of the information is redundant and some of the files are quite large.

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 12.39.53 PMNote that the name of the courses folder begins with a 1-. Since I spend so much time in the semester-specific folder and the courses folder during a given semester, it helps to have them appear toward the top of the list of items, so I can get to them quickly.

Within the 1-courses folder is also a folder called z-Class ideas. This has course descriptions for electives that I have proposed previously, as well as class resources for courses that I was potentially going to teach down the road and needed a place to hang on to such materials.

Other tips

When people have asked me for guidance on file organization in the past, they have often shown me their current structure (or lack of it). It is hard for me not to turn in to a major back-seat driver in these cases, as they often show themselves to be working far harder than they need to…

Here are a few other suggestions for keeping your class resources organized:

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 2.01.19 PMUse aliases or favorites

On the Mac, there's a favorites list over on the left-hand side of each finder window. I keep my most commonly used folders there, including my semester-specific and course-content folders.

On the PC, you might consider using aliases, which let you create a link that takes you to the folder, which you can then place wherever you want to have easy access.

Avoid punctuation in file names

It pains me when I see a file name like: assignment.smith.final.pptx

Punctuation was never meant to be any part of a file name. While some operating systems allow for punctuation better than they previously did, it still isn't a good idea. Somewhere down the line, your file could encounter a system that doesn't like punctuation in file names and you may not necessarily catch why the error is occurring right away.

Direct students on what to name their files

It can be a big help if the students are told what to name the files that they submit for your courses. Yes, they may forget, and you will still need to tweak some of them. However, most of them will remember and it will save you that much more time in your grading process.

[reminder]What techniques do you use to keep your course files organized?[/reminder]

Bringing life to this time of the semester

By | | | XFacebookLinkedInEmail

It is a tough time of the semester. The grading pile is stacked high (in my case, virtually). Energy levels are low (my whole family just spent the last few weeks passing an illness to each person who lives in our home).

Bringing life to this time of the semester

While this is not my favorite time of the year, I do have a few techniques I use to bring a little life into my days and to keep myself plugging along.

Take regular breaks

While I don't typically adhere to a strict Pomodoro technique, I do try to remember to take a break every hour. My wrists are really bad, too, so I incorporate stretching in as often as I can into those breaks.

Use music for inspiration

NPR is a great source for finding music for every desired mood. If you need a reminder to avoid worry, Playing for Change has this great version of Don't Worry Be Happy.

If you need a good laugh, Weird Al Yankovic has a great grammar-related spoof called Word Crimes that is perfect for all the grading we're doing this time of year.

Track your progress

Sometimes it can seem like we aren't getting anywhere. I follow my Mom's advice from when I was a kid and would get overwhelmed. She recommended that I create (or revisit) a list of everything that needed to get done. Then, I could prioritize the most important item on the list and get moving toward done.

stickiesI use OmniFocus for tracking all my tasks, which really helps me feel like things won't slip through the cracks during the busier seasons (or, at least I'll know that they have been missed, if I am not able to get to everything). I also like to break tasks like “grade business plans” down into even smaller tasks and have a visual reminder on my monitor of how much further I have to go.

Each time I finish grading a business plan, I remove the sticky note from the bottom of my monitor. That process gives me a visual indication of just how far I've come and how much there is left to grade on that particular piece of the virtual pile.

Establish a reward

Walter Mischel, the researcher responsible for developing the marshmallow test, reminds us of the importance of self-discipline and delayed gratification.

I find that when the temptation to stop what I'm working on and to “eat” my marshmallow early starts to crop up, it helps to have already considered what reward I will give myself when I've accomplished the end-of-semester tasks.

As geeky as this is, I think for me it is going to be to dive in to watching videos on how to learn OmniFocus better and also to start playing with the CATME tool, introduced to us by Dr. Chrissy Spencer in episode 25.

[reminder]What will you reward yourself with, once you're done with the grading and all the other end-of-semester tasks? [/reminder]

Plugging in to Teaching in Higher Ed

By | | | XFacebookLinkedInEmail

A few episodes ago, I recommended the podcast called Serial.

It is the first podcast that I have heard described as one you're going to want to binge-watch. The good news is that there haven't been that many episodes released yet, so you have plenty of time to catch up with the rest of us obsessed fans.

Lest you think that there's no practical value to listening as a professor, there are plenty of lessons in there about effective storytelling.

TOP-5

If you are just checking out the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast and blog, you won't likely experience quite as much suspense as you will if you listen to Serial. However, we have had some great guests agree to come on the show and share their wisdom.

Top five podcast episodes

  1. Role immersion games in the higher ed classroom with Dr. Marc Carnes (author of Minds on Fire)
  2. How to move a course online and other community questions with cohosts Bonni & Dave Stachowiak
  3. How to get students to participate in discussion with Dr. Stephen Brookfield
  4. Back to school episode with Dr. Sandie Morgan
  5. How technology is changing education with Audrey Watters

Five essential blog posts

While the following blog posts aren't necessarily ranked via objective criteria, such as hits, they stand out as essential reads to those looking to better their teaching:

  1. Creating measurable learning objectives
  2. Cultivating character
  3. Stop yourself from becoming a digital hoarder
  4. Shaping first impressions in the college classroom
  5. The dangers of making assumptions as educators

If you have just joined the community, the resources listed above are a great place to start. I hope you'll join the conversation happening in the comments section of each episode and blog post.

Help students answer the dreaded career question

By | | | XFacebookLinkedInEmail

Dreaded career questionAdvising season just ended at our institution.

We are fortunate in that we have a dedicated advisor for our major, so I don't wind up investing too much time in the process of helping students map out their classes.

Conversations during these two weeks tend to focus on careers and the selection of a major.

Students often have stress around this process because they don't know what they want to do. This lack of vocational clarity is a source of concern, despite the number of times we stress that most people don't wind up doing what they majored in during college.

One question I've started asking students is:

What are times that you have felt the most alive in the last few weeks?

My intention is to help them identify times that they have been in a state of what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls flow. He coined the term and describes it as:

…being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost.

Csikszentmihalyi's book Flow was recommended by Dr. James Lang on episode 19 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.

LifeHacker has some other good advice for students on how to discover their career path. There are even some who are trying to make finding a career more like playing a video game.

The other area I strive to get students thinking about is developing competencies versus identifying specific desired jobs.

One resource is the labor department's o*net website. They map specific jobs to the skills that are needed to perform well in that type of a role. They also identify what kinds of experience and education people typically have in a given position.

There's also something to be said for learning how to cultivate one's own happiness. For this quest, we can turn to quite a young source. Logan LaPlante is 13 years old and says he wants to be happy when he grows. up.

All of these questions can be tough and I don't pretend to have any easy answers. Even this New York Times best selling author was unable to get a job at The Container Store, despite her love for organization and excitement at the prospect of greeting others with a similar passion (and her desperate need for health benefits, as she fights breast cancer).

Instead of having the answers, maybe our job is to ask more questions?

[reminder]How do you help your students answer the question of what they're going to do after college?[/reminder]