Archives for January 2018

By Alison Jaenicke

Last November, the Lecturer Advisory Committee (LAC) hosted a professional development workshop entitled “Successful Student Engagement Techniques,” presented by Mary Ann Tobin, Instructional Consultant with the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence.

After the session, Mary Ann sent along the following message and supporting materials: “Based on the level of engagement and quality of discussion during the session, the attendees found it to be useful, and I enjoyed speaking with you all. As promised, I’ve attached my PPT slides to this message.

And here are some resources supporting the claim that struggling with new concepts and making mistakes actually improve our neural networks and facilitates deep learning:

• The Impact of Sustained Engagement on Cognitive Function in Older Adults
• Mind Your Errors: Evidence for a Neural Mechanism Linking Growth Mind-Set to Adaptive Posterror Adjustments
• Learning hurts your brain: Mice left to explore new environments get DNA damage in their neurons.
• This video features actual neurogenesis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osu_5ljihMo&feature=youtu.be

The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence offers workshops and seminars throughout the year. The LAC plans to explore the possibility of hosting another English Department-specific workshop in Burrowes sometime in late March.