“Teachers shouldn’t expect to make a difference in the life of every student. They don’t and won’t. But making a difference in one life is a powerful motivator. We never forget those students who tell we have, and we are further motivated by those teachers who once made a big difference in our lives.”
Blog » Lifelong Learning
Moral Education
Posted Thursday, January 21st, 2010 by Maryellen WeimerSteven B. Sample, president of USC, makes an interesting point in a recent online article. Universities, especially the elite research universities, make much of the accomplishments of alumni. University publications showcase what they’ve achieved, and celebratory events are scheduled when they return to campus. “What we do not want anyone to count, by contrast, is [...]
Thankful for Pedagogical Colleagues
Posted Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 by Maryellen WeimerIt’s the week for being thankful, and I’m thinking gratefully about my pedagogical colleagues—those faculty friends and compatriots with whom I can talk teaching.
I have colleagues who indulged my need to blow off steam—some student behavior is nothing short of outrageous; some department policies are nothing short of senseless; some department heads nothing other than [...]
Teaching that Promotes Lifelong Learning
Posted Thursday, November 19th, 2009 by Maryellen WeimerCan we teach in ways that develop students’ commitment to ongoing, lifelong learning? Yes, say the researchers listed below whose study explored curricular conditions and educational practices that influence the development of a lifelong learning orientation.
The study design is complex, not easily explained in a short blog entry, but its three-stage analysis of data is [...]
A Long Life of Learning
Posted Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 by Maryellen WeimerMy much-loved Aunt Barbara died last week, 10 days past her 100th birthday. It was time—her mind had left her several years ago.
Barbara loved learning and that love filled her final decades with richness and reward. She matched her broad and eclectic interests with a fierce commitment to mastering new ideas and skills. At 94, when she could barely operate her TV remote and was just about to move into assisted living, she begged me to help her pick out a computer.