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This week, we are noticing. About the people and situations around us, about how humor does and does not work in our teaching, about starting new practices and finding new snacks. I also wonder about a ritual you have that helps your day go better. |
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Episode 633
Everyday Acts of Facilitation with Beth Cougler Blom
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If the world around us is the classroom, then the mechanic, the stranger on the bus, and the person ahead of us in line all have something to teach us about facilitation. Beth Cougler Blom calls it moving through life as a participant observer.
On episode 633 talked about how hard it is to be the first person to say hello in a room where you know no one, and what it costs us when nobody does. She's also candid about the mistakes she still makes after 20-plus years, and about how to fail well in public. I especially appreciated how much her latest book and this conversation reminded me to attend to what's right in front of me.
If we hone our noticing skills, then we can notice what's going on with ourselves when we're teaching. |
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About 50 Years of Classroom Humor
Make the joke about the content
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Researchers Zhou and Lee remind us that course-related humor helps people attend and recall. When we use unrelated humor, it gets remembered instead of the lesson. The authors frame humor as a skill that grows with experience, and they let non-spontaneous types off the hook: a well-chosen image or video counts. They write:
Laughter acts as a catalyst for active and focused thinking rather than being the ultimate objective of instructional humor. What a relief that we don't have to be 'naturally' funny and can use other skills, instead. I find I'm my most funny when it's unintentional, but there are some people who bring out my sense of humor.
Teaching and Learning with Instructional Humor, by Weichen Zhou and Jun Choi Lee
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Clio Greek Yogurt Bars
Now this is a snack I can get behind
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I promise I'm not in the bag with snack companies. You should also know that photo is not of our fridge (but you probably guessed that, already). It is just with recent health changes, I enjoy finding satisfying things to eat that both nourish my body and taste delicious.
I was traveling with my Mom to my nephew's wedding a couple weekends ago and was dreading being in airports without my normal food choices I have at home. I came across these Clio Greek Yogurt Bars and absolutely loved them. Dave happened to find them the next time he went to the grocery store, making this even more of a welcome surprise.
Clio Refrigerated Greek Yogurt Bars
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Who You Have Positive Gossip About
This practice is contagious
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Last week, I asked you to join me in a variation of a new Liberating Structure called Positive Gossip, which I learned about through a MYFest26. Here's my positive gossip about one of my lifelong biggest supporters: My Mom |
Bonni Stachowiak
I traveled with my 80-year old mom to my nephew's wedding a couple weeks back. She hadn't traveled in a long while. It was both exciting for her, but also exhausting (all the stimuli and difficult to process what to attend to).
She's always been among my biggest encouragers. During life's most difficult moments, we all need to feel like we have people who want to see us thrive. Her modeling of how to be fully present for another human being has profoundly shaped my life.
As I reflect back on the opportunity to participate in a facilitated positive gossip session, I am in awe of how infectious all that positivity was. I know there's a lot of research about the power of gratitude, though it is something else to experience it, through my lived experience.
Side note: The photos of the birds in the previous sections this week are from my Dad's photography collection on Flickr. I asked his permission to use some of his photos for a forthcoming Teaching in Higher Ed website redesign and had quite the adventurous distraction, as I curated some that would work in that context. If you like nature photography, you'll probably enjoy his photos.
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This week, I'm wondering:
What's a small ritual that makes your day better?
Hit reply to let me know. I'll choose a few to include in the next Field Journal. Let me know in your reply if you prefer to remain anonymous, as otherwise, I'll assume it is ok to include your name.
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A new video by Andrea Dorfman
Relatable to many of us
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Anytime something new gets released by Andrea Dorfman, I feel like time should stand still and we should all attend to it. I was not disappointed when I watched her new animation, though I feel like I should also make sure none of you have missed her classic: How to Be Alone.
This more recent creation looks at coming of age, identity, and will likely be relatable to many of us, whether you shave your legs, or not.
Hairy Legs
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THIS WEEK ON TEACHING IN HIGHER ED
Librarians Jane Hammons and Adrienne Warner share outdated research notions on the upcoming episode.
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Teaching in Higher Ed Podcast
Listen with us each week.
The Teaching in Higher Ed podcast brings together over 25,000 followers to conversations about the art and science of facilitating learning.
Get your ears on for the conversation. Listen through to the recommendations.
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Bonni Stachowiak
Committed to human flourishing through learning + teaching
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