Connect, Write, Self-Publish and Promote Your Book - all in one. Cure Writer's Block: Skribit. Electronic Papyrus » Blog Archive » E-teaching personality is go. Humor. Style. Attitude. Personality. Expressiveness. Are these characteristics in “e-teaching” friend or foe to e-learning? A theme in both educational theory and communication theory calls for educators and communicators to know their learners/audiences and target their learning styles.
This post is a reminder that teaching style is just as important as learning styles. The e-learning world can learn a lesson from popular media—when given a choice of similar topic material, people will establish preference and loyalty to certain voices and personalities in large part because of their personal style, charisma, cleverness, creativity, … personality. Interestingly, the personal style of the educator is often devalued as the culture of learner focus has grown. Though a recent study has challenged the strongly advocated learner-style focus in education, attention to learning styles is not likely—nor should it—go away anytime soon. This does not need to be an either/or world. Five Questions that Improve Student Writing. Before embarking on a writing assignment, I challenge my students to imagine a skeptical reader who expects them to answer five important questions.
Answering these questions demands critical writing and thinking, and helps the students develop thoughtful content, efficient structure, and clear sentences. These questions can help students with a variety of writing assignments across a range of disciplines. 1. What’s your point? Tell me directly, and fairly quickly, what you want to convince me of. Don’t make me guess, assume, or wonder what your thesis is. 2. 3. 4. 5. Christopher Baker is an English professor at Armstrong Atlantic State University, GA. Excerpted from Five Questions from Missouri, The Teaching Professor, December, 2008. Mnemonic Aids and Word Endings as Spelling Tips: Improve Spellin. Even though writers tend to rely on a spell checker when typing to check spelling and grammar, there are instances when the correct spelling of a word will come in handy. Being a good speller can help avoid embarrassment, poor grades, and improve an overall personal impression.
When spell-check isn’t an option, but no memorization is involved, have easy access to a current and reliable dictionary, such as a Webster’s Dictionary, or internet access to check spelling online. Situations will arise when spelling from memory is a necessity. Whether in school and taking a spelling test on paper, or having to prove spelling skills out loud in front of an audience, these tips will help the speller avoid common mistakes. Mnemonic Aids Assist in Difficult to Spell Words Certain words are hard to memorize, for example lieutenant.
Carol Orsag Madigan, author of Life’s Big Instruction Book [Grand Central Pub, 1995], also gives the example of the words separate and conscience. How Documentaries Teach Argumentative Writing: Using Film to Ins. Many college composition classes involve teaching students a number of different essay types and techniques of how to write them. Probably one of the most important lessons a college student can learn is the art of writing an argumentative essay, but sometimes this kind of essay is hard to teach. One simple way to teach a student how to argue a subject is using documentary films. Not only do students enjoy watching a film in class, but this kind of film can show students the techniques involved in arguing a point of view. Features of an Argumentative Essay Before an instructor chooses a particular documentary, he will want to be sure the film addresses the most important aspects of argumentation. In light of the film, he can ask himself the following questions: Is the film controversial?
Choosing a Documentary that Argues Many documentaries are good examples of argumentation. Some good films for this assignment are as follows: Preparing the Class Session What is the filmmaker's argument?