It’s been three weeks since we talked about what makes an explanation effective, which seems like a good time for a refresher. Whether you missed out the first time around or just want a reminder, we present Say What You Mean – Effective Explanations in the Classroom for your viewing pleasure.
Having all the answers is hard enough, but figuring out a way to share them with others brings its own set of challenges. No matter the subject matter, being able to explain concepts and ideas in a way that makes sense to the audience is something every instructor struggles with. This session will explore the different things you can do to make sure your explanations are clear, concise, and engaging. We will cover the do’s and don’t’s of effective explanations so that what you mean and what you say match up with what you want your students to learn.
View the slides: Effective Explanations.
Fridays around here are only vaguely academic. That’s because scholarship is heavy work, and a little levity can go a long way towards recharging a research-weary academic. As for the links below, if we had to argue for their academic value, we might say something like, “Well, what do you think is academic about them?”
- How do you top someone who can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 7.65 seconds? Easy. You challenge that person to solve a Rubik’s Cube while juggling. And then he does it and you need a new way to top him.
- In the future, there will still be fevers, and the prescription for those fevers will still be “more cowbell”. But in the future, our methods for delivering said cowbell will become more advanced. In fact, the cowbell of the future arrived some time ago, thanks to Maverick Software LLC’s “More Cowbell!” app.
- @JasonElsom shared a dazzling infographic this week from Online College called “Are You Left Or Right Brain?” You’ve probably seen a lot of its ideas before, but the theory that the right side of the brain has a tendency to want to read lying down and the left prefers to read sitting up was news to us. Pay special attention to the debate the infographic caused in the comments and to the mention of learning styles.
And on a lighter note (if that’s possible), we bring you a study on the cutting edge of psychology: “cat therapy”. It doesn’t appeal to me. Does that make me Left Brain?
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