How do you teach novice scientists to be thoughtful, critical researchers?
Apr. 10, 2014—By Cynthia Brame I recently had two experiences that spoke to this issue. First, I ran into my colleague Carl Johnson in the BioSci department at Vanderbilt. He said that he was finishing up getting ready to present at journal club, and that he needed to go take another look at the paper “to...
ShareFest: A Showcase of Emerging Communication Strategies – Today at 4pm
Apr. 9, 2014—ShareFest is a showcase of emerging communication strategies scheduled for 4:10 to 5:30 p.m. today at the First Amendment Center, with a reception following. Expect a fast moving, interactive format featuring a variety of innovative communications strategies used on campus. Speakers and topics include: Derek Bruff, Director, Center for Teaching – Visual Learning Victoria Greene,...
Digital Learning Graduate Fellowship Opportunity
Apr. 8, 2014—The Vanderbilt Institute for Digital Learning (VIDL) invites applications for graduate student fellowships for the 2014-2015 academic year. VIDL expects to award four graduate fellowships, each carrying a stipend of $5,500 per academic year for approximately five hours of work per week during the year. Applications are due April 24th. Details below. VIDL has several...
Forman Lecture on Physics Education: Learning Physics through Technology
Apr. 8, 2014—The Department of Physics & Astronomy’s annual Forman Lecture on physics education will feature Wilton Virgo from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The talk, scheduled for Thursday, April 11, at 3 p.m. in Stevenson Center 4327, is titled “Six Easy Bytes: Learning Physics through Technology.” Here’s the abstract: The globally connected science classroom has become...
Students as Producers in Social Science Courses
Apr. 7, 2014—by Julie Lapidot, CFT Student Assistant The following is a summary of a conversation on teaching the CFT hosted earlier this semester, part of our “Students as Producers” theme year. For more ideas on helping students become not only consumers of knowledge, but producers and creators, come to our Celebration of Learning on April 21st....
The Mindful PhD: Looking into the Fire
Apr. 4, 2014—by Nancy Chick, CFT Assistant Director In preparation for a talk next week, I was sitting on my floor next to my bookshelves, surrounded by open volumes of literature. (This is the literary scholar’s version of a kid surrounded by unwrapped presents.) I got sidetracked as I revisited one of my favorite passages in one of...
The Mindful PhD: Revisiting Boice
Mar. 21, 2014—by Nancy Chick, CFT Assistant Director I’ve been preparing a one-week summer workshop in humanities pedagogy for a few post-docs starting their positions this fall. My partner in this development is one of our Graduate Teaching Fellows, Jessica Riviere, who just dotted her i’s and crossed her t’s for graduating (or “walking”) in May. The confluence of...
STORYTELLING AND THE CRAFT OF TEACHING: Unlocking Your Passion, Monday, March 31st
Mar. 19, 2014—We are delighted to announce that story-teller Clare Murphy, on tour through the United States, will be performing at Vanderbilt on April 1st at 7:00pm in Wilson Hall 126. In conjunction with her visit to Vanderbilt, she is offering a very special workshop: STORYTELLING AND THE CRAFT OF TEACHING: Unlocking Your Passion Monday, March 31...
TAing to Thousands: A Graduate Student MOOC Panel
Mar. 19, 2014—What is it like to serve as a teaching assistant in a course with thousands of students? On February 24, 2014, the Vanderbilt Institute for Digital Learning, Center for Teaching, Graduate School, and Jean & Alexander Heard Library co-sponsored a panel of graduate students (and one undergraduate student) who have served as Teaching Assistants for...
Setting Expectations and Resolving Conflict in Graduate Education
Mar. 18, 2014—Professors Rique Campa and Judith Stoddart, Michigan State University, will lead an interactive session for faculty, teaching an interest-based approach to setting expectations and resolving conflicts among graduate students and faculty. The discussion will focus on ways to identify common interests that can help construct mutually satisfying options. This will be a “train the trainer”...